Brazilian Butt Lift

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, CA

Facial fat grafting in Northern California

The Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the U.S. and continues to be in widespread demand among both women and men. With minimally invasive techniques, surgeons can enhance the shape and volume of the buttocks by utilizing your own fat deposits. 

One of the advantages of the Brazilian butt lift is that it not only enhances the buttocks but also improves body proportions. By removing unwanted fat from other areas, patients can achieve a more sculpted and contoured figure. The fat is completely biocompatible and grafts permanently to the body, so results remain present for a lifetime as long as the patient maintains their weight. 

If you desire a fuller, rounder, and more lifted buttock appearance, a Brazilian butt lift may be the right choice for you. Contact Plastic Surgery Associates at (707) 537-2111 for our location in Santa Rosa, CA and schedule your consultation with one of our highly experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons- Dr. Francisco Canales, Dr. Heather Furnas, or Dr. Eric Culbertson. You may also inquire using our contact page. During your consultation, they will thoroughly evaluate your anatomy, discuss your desired outcomes, and create a personalized surgical plan to help you achieve the perfect posterior contour.

Before and After Photos

About Fat Grafting 

cosmetic nose surgery

A BBL involves utilizing liposuction techniques to extract fat from a donor site- a part of the body with an adequate amount of fat for harvesting. The fat cells are separated from blood and interstitial fluid, the fluid that contains nutrients for cells. The process of reinjection is also called autologous fat transfer since only your own tissue is used. The donor site, often the abdomen, hips, thighs, or flanks, undergoes sculpting- further amplifying a more feminine waist-to-hip ratio. Since the procedure requires a certain amount of fat, patients should have a body fat percentage that falls somewhere between 20% and 30%. (1) 

How Safe Are BBLs?

Multiple recent efforts have been made to make BBLs safer than ever for patients. In 2017, a recent establishment of new guidelines by the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) called for surgeons to follow certain practices for BBLs. They advise surgeons to use a specific-sized cannula (the device used to harvest fat cells) and a certain angle and depth at which to insert it. Even the rate of extraction is outlined in their recommendations. With the implementation of these new practices, complication rates for the BBL have significantly decreased. (2) As a practice that prides itself on its board-certified surgeons and anesthesiologists, we take into account the latest research to guide our procedures.  

Candidates for a BBL

Rhinoplasty nose surgery

Ideal candidates for a BBL are patients in good health with adequate fat deposits; those with a low body weight may not qualify for a BBL. Patients should also have taut skin with quality elasticity– the injections of fat will not be able to correct loose, sagging tissue. If you are looking for an all-natural alternative to butt implants, a BBL may be the cosmetic rejuvenation you’ve been searching for. 

Personal Consultation

It takes an artistic eye to perfect this body contouring surgery as well as years of training, experience, and learned skills. California plastic surgeons Dr. Francisco Canales, Dr. Heather Furnas, and Dr. Eric Culbertson can garner gorgeous, natural-looking results at Plastic Surgery Associates of Santa Rosa. During your personal consultation, your surgeon will review your medical history, evaluate your health, and speak thoroughly about the results you would like to see. Book your appointment today online or by calling (707) 537-2111, and we will be happy to get you started with the scheduling process or provide you with more information. 

Preparation

Prior to your BBL, your surgeon may order various blood tests to ensure that you have no underlying conditions that need to be addressed. A couple of weeks before your procedure appointment, you will have to stop taking medications that thin the blood; these can result in unwanted bleeding and slow down the recovery process. If you are a smoker or consume nicotine, you should aim to quit at least 1 month before to optimize your circulatory system.

Finally, you may need to rearrange aspects of your home so that you will be able to navigate and rest as needed. To preserve the contours of your BBL, you will have to refrain from sitting for at least 2 weeks– with the exception of using the restroom. You will be able to lie down on your side, so you may want to consider investing in a wedge pillow. Once your surgeon allows you to resume sitting, you will need to use a donut pillow to take pressure off of your buttocks as much as possible. For the duration of this initial recovery period, we recommend that you stock up on comfortable clothing, easy meals, and OTC medications to reduce any discomfort. 

Procedure Steps 

BBLs are outpatient procedures that are performed under general anesthesia and take approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete, depending on how much fat is harvested and reinjected. Once your anesthesiologist administers the appropriate anesthesia, your surgeon will make incisions of only 2 to 3 mm in the donor site to inject tumescent fluid, a mixture of lidocaine to provide subcutaneous numbing, epinephrine to restrict the blood vessels and prevent blood loss, and saline solution. This makes the harvesting of fat cells much safer and easier for the surgeon. 

Once the fat is purified and prepared into syringes, your surgeon will evenly disperse the fat in areas of hollowness and volume loss, massaging the fat into the subcutaneous layer. The tiny incisions may be closed with sutures or left open to prevent fluid from building, then covered by surgical tape and gauze. In some cases a drain may be used to optimize your results from the liposuction. Finally, your surgeon will place you in a compression garment to protect the fat cells as they adapt over the coming weeks, promote quality contours, and reduce swelling. 

Recovery and Results 

After your procedure, it’s normal to notice swelling, inflammation, and bruising in the liposuction areas and the buttocks. 48 hours after your procedure, you will be able to change your bandages and shower. If a drain was used, it will be removed within 1-2 weeks. As previously mentioned, we will require you to refrain from sitting for 2 weeks, so after this time period, you will be able to return to work with some accommodations, such as a standing desk. You will be able to resume more physically strenuous work and exercise after 2 months. Your surgeon will monitor your healing process and determine when it is safe for you to use a donut pillow for sitting.

You must wear a compression garment at all times during the first month of your recovery to allow the fat cells to properly adapt to the buttocks. The optimal garment is made of strong, but stretchy material that is comfortably tight around your body. It should also have no wrinkles or folds that could affect the quality of your aesthetic outcome. About 4 to 6 weeks post-procedure, you will see your final results. 

Cost of a Brazilian Butt Lift in Santa Rosa, CA 

We understand that financial considerations play a role in your decision-making process. While the cost of a BBL is an investment in yourself and your confidence, we also offer financing options to make it more accessible. Our knowledgeable team will be happy to discuss these options with you during your consultation. Our surgeons bring years of experience and expertise to every procedure they perform, promoting the highest level of safety, satisfaction, and natural-looking results.

If you’re ready to enhance your curves and achieve your desired silhouette, we invite you to schedule a consultation at Plastic Surgery Associates. Contact our Santa Rosa, CA office at (707) 537-2111 or use our contact form to take the first step today. You can review our blog if you would like to see what other procedures we offer. 

FAQ

How much fat is used in a BBL? 

Most BBLs incorporate 200 to 399 ml (0.8 to 1.6 cups) of fat per buttock, but in some cases as much as 1000 ml can be injected safely. 

Do BBLs leave scars? 

Since the incisions used for BBLs are only a fraction of an inch, the scars are quite small. Follow your surgeon’s instructions for protecting and cleaning your incisions, and they should fade significantly within 6 months to 1 year. Ask your doctor about when you can incorporate scar treatments or silicone gel to encourage faster healing. 

How do surgeons avoid injecting too deeply? 

Surgeons who are highly trained in BBLs understand the importance of using a rigid cannula that won’t allow for further penetration into the gluteus muscle. They also receive intensive training on using a particular angle for insertion. The subcutaneous fat layer lies directly beneath the skin, so every injection is superficial. In some cases, an ultrasound is used to precisely monitor the location and depth of fat injection, ensuring placement of fat above the muscle. (3)

Are BBL results permanent? 

The results you notice 2 months post-procedure are your final results. Fat cells reside permanently within the body, but they can atrophy, or shrink, with weight loss. You can further amplify your results by working out your gluteus muscles once your surgeon says it is safe to do so. 

Schedule an Appointment

Shape your rear

This procedure has become so popular due to the fact it allows people the chance to get the round and shapely buttocks they have desired. As the world around is honed in on a healthier, rounder bottom, the Brazilian butt lift has become one of our most sought-after procedures at Plastic Surgery Associates of Santa Rosa. If you are looking to attain an enhanced fullness to your buttocks and are seeking a natural alternative, we welcome you to contact Plastic Surgery Associates of Santa Rosa in Santa Rosa, CA to make an appointment with Dr. CanalesDr. Furnas, or Dr. Culbertson.

References

  1. O’Neill RC, Abu-Ghname A, Davis MJ, Chamata E, Rammos CK, Winocour SJ. The Role of Fat Grafting in Buttock Augmentation. Semin Plast Surg. 2020;34(1):38-46. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3401038
  2. Luis Rios, Jr, MD , Varun Gupta, MD, MPH, Improvement in Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) Safety With the Current Recommendations from ASERF, ASAPS, and ISAPS, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 40, Issue 8, August 2020, Pages 864–870. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjaa098 
  3. Cansancio AL, Condé-Green A, Vidigal RA, Rodriguez RL, D’Amico RA. Real-time ultrasound-assisted gluteal fat grafting. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018;142(2):372-376. https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0000000000004602