Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) in NYC

What a BBL is

A Brazilian butt lift uses your own fat. The surgeon removes fat with liposuction, usually from the abdomen, flanks or back, then injects it into the buttocks to add volume and shape. Despite the name, it does not lift skin.

Safety comes first

BBL has carried a higher risk of serious complications than many cosmetic surgeries. The most serious is fat entering the large veins in the buttock muscle. Plastic surgery societies now advise placing fat only above the muscle, in the layer under the skin, and many surgeons use ultrasound during surgery to see where the cannula is.

• Do you place fat only above the muscle?
• Do you use ultrasound guidance?
• How many BBLs do you perform, and how many per day?
• Where is the surgery done, and who gives anesthesia?
• What is the plan if there is an emergency?

Be cautious of prices far below the usual range and of practices that cannot answer these questions clearly.

Choosing a surgeon

• Check board certification. For body and breast surgery, look for the American Board of Plastic Surgery. For the face, facial plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery also perform these procedures.
• Ask how many of this exact procedure the surgeon performs each year, and ask to see before and after photos of patients with a starting point like yours.
• Ask where the surgery happens. New York State requires offices that perform surgery under sedation to be accredited, and hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers are licensed. Ask to see the accreditation.
• Ask who gives anesthesia. A board certified anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse anesthetist is standard for sedation and general anesthesia.
• Ask what the written quote includes: surgeon fee, anesthesia, facility, garments, medications and follow up visits.

Recovery

Expect compression garments and limits on sitting directly on your buttocks for several weeks, so plan your commute and desk setup. Most people return to desk work in about two weeks. Not all transferred fat survives, so the final size settles over a few months. Many surgeons recommend lymphatic drainage massage during recovery.