What It Is

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a cosmetic surgery that enhances the size, shape, and contour of the buttocks using the patient’s own fat. Unlike buttock implants, this procedure relies on liposuction to harvest fat from areas such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks, which is then purified and strategically injected into the buttocks.

The dual benefit of the BBL is that it both slims donor areas and augments the buttocks, creating an hourglass silhouette that many patients desire. In Korea, surgeons often combine advanced liposuction techniques with careful fat grafting to achieve natural, proportional results.

Why It’s Done

Patients choose BBL because:

• They want fuller, rounder, and lifted buttocks with a natural feel.
• They have flat or underdeveloped buttocks due to genetics or aging.
• They want to improve body proportions by slimming the waist and enhancing the hips and buttocks.
• They prefer using their own fat instead of implants.

Good candidates include:

• Patients with enough donor fat in areas such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks.
• Individuals in good health at a stable weight.
• Non-smokers who understand that not all transferred fat survives.

Alternatives

• Buttock implants: For patients who are too slim and lack donor fat.
• Buttock lift: For patients with sagging skin but not necessarily volume loss.
• Non-surgical augmentation: Hyaluronic acid or filler injections provide temporary volume but require maintenance.

Preparation

Before undergoing a BBL in Korea, patients will:

• Attend a consultation to assess body proportions, fat availability, and desired buttock shape.
• Undergo routine bloodwork and health evaluation.
• Stop smoking and alcohol at least 4 weeks before surgery.
• Discontinue medications and supplements that increase bleeding risk.
• Plan for at least 2 weeks off work and arrange home support during recovery.

How It’s Done

• Anesthesia: Performed under general anesthesia.
• Step 1 – Liposuction: Fat is harvested from areas with excess fat such as the abdomen, waist, thighs, or back. Advanced techniques like VASER liposuction may be used for precision.
• Step 2 – Fat purification: The harvested fat is processed through filtration or centrifugation to isolate healthy fat cells.
• Step 3 – Fat injection: Purified fat is injected into multiple layers of the buttocks for natural contour, lift, and projection.
• Duration: 3–4 hours, usually as an outpatient procedure.

Recovery

• First week: Swelling, bruising, and soreness are expected in both donor and grafted areas. Pain is manageable with prescribed medication.
• Positioning: Patients must avoid sitting directly on the buttocks for 2–3 weeks to help fat survival. Special cushions or lying on the side/stomach are recommended.
• Compression garment: Worn on donor areas for 6–8 weeks to reduce swelling and support healing.
• Return to work: Most patients return to light activities within 2 weeks.
• Exercise: Gentle walking is encouraged, but strenuous activity should be avoided for 6–8 weeks.
• Final results: Visible after 3–6 months, once swelling resolves and fat survival stabilizes.

Possible Complications

• Fat reabsorption (30–40% of transferred fat may not survive).
• Asymmetry or irregular contour.
• Seroma (fluid buildup) or infection.
• Rare but serious risks: fat embolism (when fat enters the bloodstream), which requires skilled surgical technique to avoid.

Treatment Options in Korea

Diagnosis

Korean surgeons perform detailed assessments of body fat distribution and buttock shape. 3D imaging and body contour scans may be used to simulate post-surgery results and plan fat transfer areas.

Medical Treatments

For patients with limited fat, non-surgical augmentation such as filler injections may be considered, though these results are temporary.

Surgical or Advanced Therapies

• Standard BBL for volume and contour improvement.
• High-definition BBL combining liposuction sculpting with fat transfer for athletic, hourglass shaping.
• Hybrid augmentation combining small implants with fat grafting for patients with insufficient donor fat.

Rehabilitation and Support

• Post-surgery follow-ups for fat survival monitoring.
• Scar and skin care therapies to improve recovery.
• Guidance on sitting, sleeping, and activity restrictions.
• Multilingual aftercare services in Korea for international patients.