Dr. Steven Wallach works closely with his patients to determine the best way to achieve their desired aesthetic, and can artfully amplify your derriere with a tailored gluteal augmentation procedure. He provides attentive, empathetic, and skilled care and performs today’s most in-demand cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures. If you are interested in learning more about the Brazilian butt lift and whether it is right for you, contact us today at (212) 861-6400 to reach our Manhattan office, or through our online contact form.
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showAbout Brazilian Butt Lifts
The buttocks have long been a signifier of youth, health, and sensuality in both women and men. In fact, Aristotle considered a round set of buttocks one of the most beautiful parts of the human body! (1) A Brazilian butt lift is an aesthetic procedure that can improve the appearance of your buttocks with long-lasting and effective results. The procedure requires two steps:
- Fat harvesting via liposuction
- Carefully placed injections of the fat to sculpt the buttocks
Fat is first collected using liposuction. A cannula is a thin tube that is attached to a vacuum pump that suctions fat from the body. This fat is then purified and used to augment the patient’s buttocks. A surgeon will inject the fat cells into the patient’s backside at various treatment points to create a fuller, rounder, natural-looking derriere. After several days, the fat cells injected into the subcutaneous layer in the buttocks develop their own blood supply, allowing them to thrive in their new location. (1)
Brazilian Butt Lift vs. Butt Implants vs. Dermal Fillers
Three possible options exist for buttock enhancement: BBL, synthetic butt implants, and injections of dermal fillers. A Brazilian butt lift provides results that can last forever. There is no risk of rejection or allergic reaction since the procedure uses fat from the patient’s own body rather than a synthetic implant.
BUTT IMPLANTS
Butt implants are silicone prosthetic devices that are inserted beneath the fatty tissue or within the muscle of the buttocks, resulting in a fuller, rounder behind. Silicone butt implants carry a low risk of rupture, though there are other possible complications such as implant displacement. Butt implants can be permanent, and are typically recommended for patients without adequate donor fat for a BBL.
DERMAL FILLERS
Injections of the dermal filler Sculptra can be used to smooth the surface of the buttocks and correct surface irregularities. Sculptra is currently FDA-approved to add volume to soft tissue in the face, but is used off-label for minimally invasive buttocks enhancement.(2) However, because of the amount required to achieve a noticeable difference, it is not as commonly performed as other gluteal enhancement procedures. Sculptra promotes collagen regeneration in the dermis and can be an effective way to smooth and firm the skin of the buttocks as well as to add subtle volume. Renuva is another product that has been approved as a facial filler but has been used off-label for body enhancement. It is a construct that allows your own fat to grow naturally in the product’s lattice structure. Studies have shown that the product can provide long lasting results
Benefits
A Brazilian butt lift is the most popular form of gluteal augmentation today, because of the many benefits this procedure offers. Advantages of a BBL include:
- Increases hip-to-waist ratio for an hourglass figure
- Eliminates areas of unwanted body fat to enhance desired contours
- Natural look and feel, since natural fat is used
- Allows for a more shapely butt to be sculpted to the patient’s specifications
Candidates
Like any cosmetic procedure, not all patients are good candidates. Ideal candidates for a Brazilian butt lift are in good overall health, have realistic expectations, and possess enough fat to harvest. Additional factors that make an ideal candidate include:
- Being at a stable weight
- Being unable to eliminate unwanted fat through diet and exercise alone
- Not smoking or using other nicotine products
- Having good skin elasticity
- Desiring buttocks that have better volume, projection, and firmness
If you are thin or lack viable stores of fat, Dr. Wallach may recommend butt implants for gluteal augmentation. Additionally, individuals with certain underlying medical conditions that prevent them from undergoing surgery safely will not be candidates for this procedure.
Your BBL Consultation in Manhattan
Dr. Steven Wallach is a board-certified plastic surgeon with numerous publications and honors, and a leader in the medical aesthetic community. In your one-on-one consultation, Dr. Wallach will provide you with a general overview of the Brazilian butt lift, and determine whether you are a good candidate for this procedure. He will also discuss your goals, address concerns, answer questions, and explain your options for optimal gluteal enhancement. If you are ready to learn more about the Brazilian butt lift and if it is right for you, contact Dr. Wallach today by calling (212) 861-6400. Visit our blog and learn more about how our procedures help patients to gain confidence and a better quality of life!
Preparation
To get the best possible results from a BBL procedure, you should follow pre- and post-operative instructions as closely as possible. To prepare adequately for your Brazilian Butt Lift procedure, you should:
- Quit smoking at least a month before surgery and avoid alcohol in the weeks before your procedure
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle
- Take the necessary time off of work to recover: patients take at least a few days to two weeks off for recovery
- Create a comfortable place in your home to recover
- Avoid medications and herbal supplements that might cause excessive bleeding in the weeks leading up to surgery
- Arrange for a trusted adult to drive or escort you to and from the procedure, and stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery
- Arrive in loose-fitting clothing and obtain the necessary garments and supplies for recovery, including compression garments and a BBL pillow
Procedure
Brazilian Butt Lifts are performed in an accredited surgical facility under general or local anesthesia and take about 2-3 hours.
Once the anesthesia has taken effect, the donor areas will be infiltrated with tumescent fluid to ease the removal of fat before liposuction is performed. Dr. Wallach will make small incisions adjacent to the donor areas for liposuction, which will allow for the cannula to be inserted, and the entire treatment area accessed for fat removal. Fat can be harvested from the abdomen, flanks, thighs, and back to emphasize curves and create contours that will highlight the newly sculpted buttocks. The harvested fat is then treated to isolate the healthy, living fat cells from other fluid and debris that is collected during the liposuction process. It is then prepared for injection. As the patient lies on their stomach , Dr. Wallach will use specialized injection techniques to place the fat at different levels in the existing fatty tissue in each buttock, ensuring that the results are symmetrical, and in line with the patient’s desired results. Because not all of the injected fat will survive the transfer, an excess of fat cells will be injected to accommodate fat absorption.
If gluteal implants are being placed, the patient is placed prone on the table and an incision in the buttock crease is used to place the implants. The implants are commonly placed within the muscle or subcutaneously.
Recovery
After your procedure, we will release you to your designated caretaker to drive you home. This person should also stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours of your procedure to ensure that you remain safe as the anesthesia wears off, and to assist you as needed. Recovery from the Brazilian butt lift procedure will take about six to eight weeks. Your buttocks will be the most sensitive, but the majority of your discomfort will come from the areas that have been treated with liposuction. It’s normal to have some drainage of residual fluid from your incisions, and Dr. Wallach’s office will let you know what to expect during this crucial first phase of your recovery. You’ll be given a prescription for pain medication to make the first few days of your recovery more comfortable, and you’ll return to our offices for follow-up appointments so that we can monitor your progress and answer any questions that you have. You will need to wear a compression garment that shapes the body and controls swelling, and you’ll wear this for the next few weeks to protect your results. You will also be advised not to sit on your butt unless absolutely necessary for the next 2-3 weeks to protect your results. Dr. Wallach’s office will provide you with other helpful instructions to ensure the best results possible.
Results
Recovering from a BBL takes patience, but the results are well worth it: the procedure has a very high satisfaction rate. A Brazilian butt lift can reshape your buttocks while re-contouring your body for a slimmer, more curvaceous frame. At the six-month post-procedural mark, the majority of fat that did not graft successfully will have reabsorbed back into the body, and you’ll be able to begin to see your final results.
These tips can help you maintain your new and improved figure:
- Follow aftercare instructions from your surgeon.
- Avoid direct pressure to the buttocks until cleared.
- Use a BBL pillow or donut while driving.
- Maintain a consistent, healthy weight.
- Maintain a healthy diet.
- Don’t smoke.
How Much Does a BBL Cost in New York City?
A BBL cost will start at around $9000 but will go up as the complexity of the procedure increases. The cost will vary depending on the extent of liposuction being performed and the other details of your treatment plan. A BBL is a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by insurance providers. We can provide a cost estimate during a consultation, as well as discuss financing options for the procedure.
References
- Cansanção AL. Abstract: Brazilian Buttocks: Fat Grafting Technique Standardization. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016;4(9 Suppl):29-29. Published 2016 Sep 16. doi:10.1097/01.GOX.0000511262.75725.8a
- Durairaj KK, Devgan L, Lee Bs A, et al. Poly-L-Lactic Acid for Gluteal Augmentation found to be Safe and Effective in Retrospective Clinical Review of 60 Patients. Dermatol Surg. 2020;46 Suppl 1:S46-S53. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002598