Plastic surgeries that enhance the rear have been growing in popularity in the past decade or so. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that rear enhancement surgeries increased about 20% between 2015 and 2016.
One of the best-known options is the Brazilian butt lift, but there are other ways to get a rounder rear end such as butt implants.
Should you get a Brazilian butt lift or implants, and what’s the difference? Please continue reading to learn more about both procedures, outcomes, and potential risks.
Brazilian Butt Lift Overview
A Brazilian butt lift is a fat transfer cosmetic procedure that changes the size and shape of the buttocks without using implants. Your own fat is taken from your abdomen, hips, back, and thighs with liposuction. That fat is washed and processed, then it’s carefully injected into the buttocks to give them a more desirable shape.
While many people can use exercise and a healthy diet to stay in shape and build muscle, some still have a flat rear that is difficult to change without surgical intervention.
A Brazilian butt lift could be a good idea if you want to:
- Improve the curves of the lower body, including the buttocks
- Decrease fat pockets in the hips, belly, and thighs while increasing fullness in the rear
- Help your clothes fit better
- Provide a more pleasing shape to the buttocks
- Improve the proportions between the upper and lower body
Some people prefer the Brazilian butt lift over implants because fat injection has a lower incidence of complications when done correctly. Also, the butt lift can have a more realistic appearance than implants.
However, if you’re lean and fit, you might not have enough fat to draw on to do the fat transfer needed for a Brazilian butt lift. That’s when butt implants could be your only option.
You could be a good candidate for a butt lift if:
- You’re looking for buttock augmentation, but you don’t want butt implants.
- You have excellent skin tone in your buttocks and hips.
- You have enough fat available in other areas for injection into your buttocks.
- You’re able to avoid sitting after BBL surgery for a few weeks.
On the downside, with Brazilian butt lifts, fat can be reabsorbed after the injections. So, it’s essential for your plastic surgeon to correctly estimate how much your body will absorb and use the right amount. It’s also possible that one buttock could be larger than the other, but this can be corrected if needed.
Butt Implants Overview
A butt augmentation with implants may be desirable if you don’t have enough excess fat for a Brazilian butt lift procedure. Some butt implant surgery patients also want a more considerable change in their rear than a butt lift can provide.
Implants are made from solid silicone and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Your plastic surgeon will discuss your options and which is best in your case.
The procedure for a butt augmentation with implants is as follows:
- Your surgeon makes incisions in both buttocks, typically at the top of the rear but sometimes at the point where the cheeks meet the thighs.
- Silicone implants are placed in the muscle or above the muscle on both sides. The way they are placed depends on the implant type, how much enlargement you want, and your body type.
- Your surgeon closes the incisions with sutures and skin adhesive.
- Recovery can take several weeks, and you may need to avoid sitting on your rear during this time.
Possible risks of implants include the wound not healing or reopening, fluid collection under the skin, infection, and implant revision.
According to some surgeons, people who aren’t happy with implants tend to have them placed on top of the muscle. There’s a risk the buttock implants can sag over the years and not look as natural as under the muscle. Plastic surgeons usually use the technique they have done the most, so it’s wise to ask which method they’ll use on you.
BBL or Butt Implants: Which Procedure Is Best For You?
For Brazilian butt lift procedures and a butt implant procedure, the goal is to give your rear the look and shape that you desire. Butt implants give you more size and shape than a butt lift. The implants are made from solid silicone, and they cannot break or leach into the body. Also, butt implants are a more invasive surgery with bigger incisions and a longer recovery time.
On the other hand, a Brazilian butt lift offers you a natural way through a fat transfer to increase shape and volume and benefit from liposuction in other problem areas. The butt lift is not as invasive and has smaller incisions, and you’ll have a faster recovery. But some of the excess fat can be reabsorbed into the body over time, so there’s a chance you could need revision surgery. When it comes to BBL vs implants, the choice ultimately depends on the patient’s goals.
Questions and Answers
How long do butt implants last?
Butt implants typically last 10 to 15 years, requiring replacement. This process, common but more extensive, may involve removing scar tissue around the implant.
What happens 10 years after a BBL?
A decade post-BBL, you will maintain your desired results if you keep a healthy weight. Avoid drastic changes for a plump, perky butt and proportional body.
What is the best age to get a BBL?
Candidates aged 18 to 54 often qualify for a BBL, but suitability depends on medical history, current health, and the decision-making process aligning with aesthetic goals.
Choosing a Plastic Surgeon
Whether you opt for a Dallas Brazilian butt lift or butt implants, both are complex surgeries. Each requires extensive experience, training, and an eye for aesthetic detail. Not every doctor who practices plastic surgery is experienced in butt lifts or implants.
When you talk to potential plastic surgeons in Dallas, ask them how many of each plastic surgery they’ve done. Also, be sure to check their before and after pictures of previous patients on their website.
References
- Buttock Enhancement Procedures. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/buttock-enhancement/procedure
- Brazilian Butt Lift Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/body-procedures/brazilian-butt-lift
- Butt Implant Overview. (January 2018). Accessed at https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19995561/butt-implants/