What is the Brazilian butt lift (BBL)?
The Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a procedure that enhances the size and shape of your buttocks using your own fat. This makes it a natural way to create a fuller, rounder, and more youthful look. The fat is taken from areas like the stomach, thighs, or back and injected into the buttocks.
This procedure is popular among people of all ages and body types. It’s sometimes referred to as BBL with Lipo 360.
BBL Safety and Dr. Rodriguez’s Role in the BBL Task Force
In recent years, there has been concern over the safety of the BBL, particularly the risk of Pulmonary Fat Embolism (PFE), a serious complication. There were several reported BBL deaths due to PFE during the period 2014-2017. To address these concerns, a multi-society Gluteal Fat Grafting Safety Task Force was formed in 2017.
Dr. Rodriguez was a key member of this task force, which set new BBL safety guidelines in 2019. These guidelines ensure that fat must only be injected into the subcutaneous layer (just under the skin) and never into the muscles, as this increases the risk of PFE.
Why Dr. Rodriguez’s Expertise Matters
As a member of the Gluteal Fat Grafting Safety Task Force, Dr. Rodriguez played an important role in creating the best practices that keep BBL patients safe.
His involvement ensures that your procedure will follow the latest safety techniques. Be sure to ask your surgeon where they inject the fat and if they follow these critical safety guidelines.
What problems does the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) address?
My butt is too flat! I want round, prominent, and perky buttocks.
BBL can help if you want:
- Fuller, rounder buttocks
- A more balanced body shape
- To fix flat, sagging, or asymmetrical buttocks
- To improve your shape after weight loss
Are You a Good BBL Candidate?
You’re a good candidate for BBL if you want to improve the shape and size of your buttocks using your own body fat. You can be thin framed, but you must have some pockets of fat.
Skinny BBL
Dr. Rodriguez has performed BBL's on thin women weighing only 120 pounds. With the use of thin cannulas, he can get into small tissue areas and collect a larger amount of fat compared to surgeons who use fat cannulas.
How is a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) performed?
The BBL procedure involves three steps:
- Fat Extraction
- Fat Processing
- Fat Injection
Dr. Rodriguez’s Proven Technique
With over 25 years of BBL experience, Dr. Rodriguez has refined his technique to ensure safe, reliable results. As a Task Force member, he helped develop the guidelines that make this procedure safer. His process includes careful fat removal, purification, and reinjection for long-lasting results.
Fat Extraction
Fat is removed from areas like the stomach, back, flanks, or thighs using thin cannulas. Dr. Rodriguez uses smaller cannulas to extract the most amount of fat and to give you the smoothest liposuction results. Larger cannulas can cause uneven results and fluid buildup.
Fat Processing
After the fat is removed, it’s purified with centrifugation. The fat is placed in test tubes and they spin around at a certain speed. The 'good fat' stays at the bottom of the tube, and the oily fat floats to the top. Only the 'good fat' is used.
On average, only 35-50% of the fat collected is suitable for reinjection. Dr. Rodriguez ensures only the highest quality fat is used for grafting.
Safe Fat Injection: Above the muscle
As a member of the Gluteal Fat Grafting Safety Task Force, Dr. Rodriguez follows all the guidelines that he helped establish. The primary guideline is to inject above the muscle into the subcutaneous layer.
There are two ways that surgeons can inject. The fat goes into your buttocks either by:
- Pumping technique: large quantities of fat are pumped in with a machine
- Manual Injection: small controlled injections of fat with a syringe
Pumping Technique
Dr. Rodriguez does not use pumping techniques as he believes it introduces risk.
Fat injection pumping techniques were designed to pump large quantities of fat into the buttocks (several hundred cc's) at one time. The sole reason for this device is so that the procedure could be performed more quickly.
But does 'quicker' compromise safety?
Injection pumps can speed the procedure to 2 hours or less, as the fat is pumped very quickly. Dr. Rodriguez believes that fat-pumping techniques are not safe.
Dr. Rodriguez believes that when large quantities are pumped at one time, surgeons can not tell if the fat is all staying above the gluteal muscle. In large quantities, the fat can migrate to large veins.
Manual Injection Technique- Safer, Always Above the Muscle
Dr. Rodriguez did an AMAZING job...My butt has no lumps and no hardness. It is nice and fluffy. It feels and looks so natural. I feel confident and I have less anxiety.
Dr. Rodriguez uses the manual injection technique to place small amount of fat (2-5cc) into the subcutaneous layer, just below the skin. This area is way above the gluteal muscles.
He does not use a pump, but instead uses syringes. He injects slowly, carefully, and in small amounts with a syringe. The technique involves hundreds of micro fat injections. This technique is key to keeping fat above the muscle and reduce the risk of PFE.
In addition, the manual technique also gives Dr. Rodriguez more freedom to place the fat in the exact places that the patient desires more fullness. This can be the hips, or to make a more prominent buttock shelf.
Dr. Rodriguez’s manual technique allows him to control exactly where the fat is placed. This ensures that it stays in the safe subcutaneous layer, as recommended by the Task Force.
How much fat is injected into each buttock cheek?
The average amount of fat that I inject into each buttock's cheek is 580 cc. But this is a high density fat with all fluid already extracted.
Much larger quantities can be injected for higher BMI patients who have a generous fat distribution. These patients can expect to get up to 1000cc of fat for each cheek.
Read more about the average fat injection amounts of my Brazilian butt lift patients in my blog post.
Watch the BBL technique video which explains all of the steps in the procedure
Type of Anesthesia Used
BBL can be performed with either IV sedation or General Anesthesia. Dr. Rodriguez prefers IV sedation for several reasons, one of which is to reduce the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots to the lungs.
It is well established in medical practice that IV sedation lowers the risk of DVT because it doesn't dilate blood vessels as much as General Anesthesia. Less dilation means fewer chances of blood clots traveling to the lungs.
Dr. Rodriguez’s Theory on General Anesthesia and PFE
While the link between General Anesthesia and Pulmonary Fat Embolism (PFE) is not a proven finding of the Gluteal Fat Grafting Safety Task Force, Dr. Rodriguez has a theory that General Anesthesia could increase the risk of PFE.
According to his theory, General Anesthesia dilates blood vessels more than IV sedation, making it easier for fat to enter the veins. Additionally, mechanical ventilation during General Anesthesia may cause pressure changes that could push fat into dangerous areas.
Therefore, to minimize all pulmonary risks, Dr. Rodriguez uses IV sedation, which he believes is a safer alternative for BBL procedures.
Lastly, to ensure the utmost safety with your procedure, only board-certified anesthesiologists will administer your anesthesia.
What are the BBL preoperative requirements?
Before surgery, you’ll need to:
- Keep your Body Mass Index (BMI) below 35
- Stop smoking 4 weeks before surgery
- Avoid aspirin, Motrin, and herbal supplements for 2 weeks
- Get a physical exam and blood tests 30 days before surgery
- Avoid food and drinks after midnight the night before surgery
BMI Requirements
Dr. Rodriguez accepts patients with BMIs up to 35, which is higher than many surgeons. If you have health conditions like diabetes or heart disease, you may need a lower BMI for safety.
What is Brazilian butt lift (BBL) Post-Op recovery like?
Following post-op instructions is key to a successful recovery. You will need to:
- Rest and drink plenty of fluids for the first week
- Sleep on your stomach for 3 weeks
- NO sitting on your buttocks for 2-3 weeks
- In week 3, very infrequent and limited sitting on a Roho cushion is allowed
- NO driving for 3 weeks
- Wear a compression garment for 4 weeks
No Sitting for 2-3 Weeks
To ensure the fat grafts take successfully, you must avoid all sitting on your buttocks for 2 weeks after surgery. In the third week you can sit briefly for a few minutes every few hours on a Roho cushion.
No Drains or Massages Needed
Dr. Rodriguez’s technique uses small cannulas, so there’s no need for drains or post-op massages, which are often required by other surgeons.
What are the risks and possible complications for a BBL?
Like any surgery, BBL has risks. The most serious risk is Pulmonary Fat Embolism (PFE), which occurs when fat enters the bloodstream and reaches the lungs. This is a life-threatening complication that can cause death.
Concerns over PFE led to the formation of the Gluteal Fat Grafting Safety Task Force, where Dr. Rodriguez played a key role, as one of 19 members selected worldwide. You can read about the history of why this Task Force was formed in my blog here.
What is Pulmonary Fat Embolism (PFE)?
PFE happens when fat is injected too deeply into the muscles, where it can enter large veins and travel to the lungs. To prevent this, fat should only be injected into the subcutaneous layer, the space just under the skin, far from the muscles. The Gluteal Fat Grafting Safety Task Force found that injecting fat below this layer significantly increases the risk of PFE.
Fat should only be injected above the muscle into the subcutaneous space - Dr. Rodriguez
Key Guidelines for Safe BBL:
The way to reduce PFE risks with the BBL procedure, include:
- Fat must only be injected into the subcutaneous layer, not into the muscles.
- Manual injection techniques are safer, as they allow for better control.
- Avoid using high-pressure fat injection pumps, as they increase the risk of fat being pushed into dangerous areas.
Dr. Rodriguez follows all these techniques, using a manual injection technique with IV sedation to ensure the fat is safely placed above the muscle, reducing the chance of PFE.
Learn more about the June 2019 Gluteal Task Force BBL Safety Advisory here.
Other BBL Risks and Complications
In addition to PFE, here are other possible risks:
- Swelling and bruising (common and temporary)
- Numbness and pain
- Fat resorption (some fat may not survive, leading to touch-ups)
- Asymmetry
- Infection (rare with proper care)
How Long Does the Fat Graft Last?
If the fat is harvested, processed, and injected correctly, the result should be long-lasting. The procedure should not require touch-ups or a second round of fat injections.
How much does a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) cost?
The total cost of the Brazilian Butt Lift depends on how many liposuction areas are performed. The more fat removed, the more enhancement you will see as a result.
Total BBL costs for procedures performed in 2024 are as follows:
| Brazilian butt lift (BBL) cost: | 2024 Price |
|---|---|
| lipo abdomen and flanks (lipo 360) | $11,000 |
| lipo abdomen, flanks, and scapular (back) | $12,500 |
Total cost includes the surgeon's fee, OR fee, Anesthesia fee (board-certified physician), and 2 post-operative garments.
Can I finance my Brazilian butt lift (BBL)?
Yes, financing options are available to help manage the cost of your BBL. Call us at 410-404-8100 or see our financing page for more information.
Ready to explore what's possible? I invite you to schedule a personal consultation, where we can talk about your goals, answer your questions, and create a plan that's uniquely yours.
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
Together, we'll find the perfect approach to help you look and feel your best.
Modified on |
Board Certified Plastic Surgery, ASPS Member
NOTICE
Patients depicted in our before and after galleries have provided their written consent to display their photos online. Every patient is unique, and surgical results may vary. Please contact us if you have any questions.