With many big-name celebrities showing off their curves, cosmetic enhancements such as Brazilian butt-lifts have been creating quite a buzz over the last few years. In fact, last year alone the procedure saw a 26 percent increase from 2015, according to annual statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In the United States, doctors and surgeons performed 17.1 million surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures last year.
So, what exactly is a Brazilian butt-lift, and what is the process?
How Does a Butt Augmentation Work?
There are actually two kinds of butt augmentations. The first one uses synthetic implants, while the second one involves the transfer of your own fat from an unwanted area to your buttocks region. This second method using fat grafting is more commonly referred to as a Brazilian butt-lift.
With this procedure, the patient is sedated, and the surgeon begins by making small incisions to suction excess fat out of the body, essentially performing the liposuction part of the procedure. Most commonly the fat is extracted from the abdomen, thighs or love handles area of the back. The fat is then optimized for injection back into the body. Many small injections of the fat are made on the buttocks in order for it to be properly distributed. Then, it’s time for recovery.
Fat Grafting for Buttock Augmentation
After comparing the options for buttock augmentation, some choose the Brazilian butt-lift because the results look more natural, said Dr. Christy Walker, a cosmetic surgeon in Plano, Texas.
“Plus what many women love about the procedure is that we take excess fat away from an area like the abdomen or thighs to use for the augmentation,” she said. “So essentially they’re getting liposuction and a butt-lift at the same time.”
What Happens After the Procedure?
In most cases, a few hours in recovery is all that’s needed before it’s time to go home. Any medications for healing, pain and prevention of infection will typically go home with you along with the details on how to care for your body after the procedure. Your medical team will likely provide you with a support garment as well as instructions on how long and how often to wear it.
“It’s important to avoid sitting down for long periods of time for at least two weeks after your procedure,” said Walker. “This can damage the fat and in turn diminish the results achieved.”
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the results last years. The ASPS notes that maintaining a consistent weight and a healthy lifestyle are key to long-lasting results. Weight loss and weight gain can change the shape and size of your buttocks after the augmentation and for years after.
Although scarring is unavoidable, scars should fade over time, said Walker. The results of the procedure are evident immediately; however, over the course of a year, some fat may be reabsorbed by the body, so true results are more accurate after the first year.