The Other Brazilian – The Brazilian Butt Lift

Women have been asking for a Brazilian for years now but until recently they meant a very particular type of hair removal—with today’s modern cosmetic surgery techniques a Brazilian may mean something completely different. A relatively new cosmetic procedure that is gaining popularity is the so-called “Brazilian butt lift.” While many woman clamor for liposuction seeking a lean, slender posterior, in many ways the Brazilian butt lift provides just the opposite: a fuller, curvaceous backside.

 

 

What does a Brazilian buttock lift involve?

In order to perform a Brazilian butt lift, fat must be harvested from another area of the body so that it can be placed in the buttock area. Surgeons must first 'wet' the fat to be used in the transfer, using a wetting agent. This is similar to the tumescent technique that is used in most liposuction procedures. Relatively small liposuction probes are used to help ensure that the donor fat is drawn out in a gentle, measured way. The fat is usually taken from the abdomen since it is usually abundant and is considered highly transportable. The fat is flushed to remove impurities and blood, and then reinjected into the body, using a larger needle this time ensuring that the donor fat sustains minimal trauma.

 

While it would help fat absorption, the areas that receive the purified fat are not pre-treated with wetting agents as the donor tissue was. This would distend the recipient site and cause the surgeon to misjudge the amount of fat necessary to achieve the desired result. The donor fat is placed in stages and the aesthetic result is continually reassessed during the Brazilian butt lift procedure. The process continues until the buttock region is sufficiently full and symmetrical.

 

After the operation, a bandage that restricts movement is applied for 48 to 72 hours, which helps ensure the fat 'settles' in its new home. A catheter may need to be inserted to help keep physical activity to a minimum. An elastic undergarment is worn for 7 to 10 days after the dressing comes off, and patients should also restrict physical activity in the period this is worn.

 

While the Brazilian butt lift procedure is relatively quick and painless, the recovery can be challenging. For instance, patients are often cautioned not to sit down for a week (!) after surgery. Standing or lying is permitted, however. Also, the buttock region can be surprisingly tender and sore compared to other areas of the body.  

 

Who can undergo a Brazilian Butt Lift?

As with other types of cosmetic surgery, patients should be in good health, especially for fat transfers to be most effective. Some extra body weight is not a problem and obviously some extra fat is necessary for transplantation. Another consideration is skin tone or laxity. The recipient area must be able to physically permit the placement of donated fat yet too much skin laxity or inadequate skin tone may be problematic.  Age is not necessarily a limiting factor for Brazilian buttock lifts if other criteria are met.

 

Finally, Brazilian butt lifts are not always effective. Patients need to be prepared for the possibility that not all treatments will work as expected and sometimes, for circumstances beyond the surgeon's control, some Brazilian butt lift procedures may fail completely.