What is BBL Surgery?

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a fat transfer procedure that enhances and reshapes the buttocks and hips by extracting excess fat from one area of the body (using liposuction) and transferring the fat cells into the butt. 

Unlike butt implants, this procedure provides a natural-looking, organic enhancement, and unlike fillers, offers a permanent solution to a patient’s aesthetic concerns. Since a BBL involves liposuction, it also contours other areas of the body such as the thighs and abdomen. 

Our head surgeon at the CREO Clinic, Dr. Omar Tillo, is a key opinion leader for the procedure, having developed the BEST-F (Buttock Enhancement and Superficial Transfer of Fat) technique.

The BEST-F technique injects excess fat superficially over the gluteal muscle, which significantly reduces the risk of fat leaking into the gluteal vein. Furthermore, by using a guided ultrasound device, this technique allows the surgeon to produce the results of a traditional BBL safely and with greater precision.

Who is a Good Candidate for BBL? 

Following an examination, our surgeon will be able to determine your suitability for a BBL. In general, a good candidate for the procedure should have the following characteristics:

• A BMI between 23-30 and weigh a few kilograms above their desired weight
• Enough excess fat in other areas of the body that the surgeon can extract using liposuction and transfer to the buttocks 
• In good health and willing to avoid smoking and drinking for at least four weeks before and after the procedure

If you do not meet these requirements at present, you can discuss the possibility of undergoing the procedure after reaching your appropriate weight. Working with a dietician can help with this, as patients with a high BMI are at greater risk of complications from the anaesthetic. 

What’s the Difference Between a BBL and Butt Implants?

While a BBL and butt implants are both surgeries that augment the buttocks, they do so in different ways. BBL surgery uses the body’s own fat cells to add volume to the buttock, whereas a butt implant procedure inserts medical-grade silicone implants into the glutes. 

A BBL is the more popular buttock augmentation surgery, primarily because it’s a more organic way of achieving an enhanced buttock. However, some patients will benefit from the prominent and more certain enhancement of butt implants, as a high percentage of the fat cells from a BBL are absorbed by the body. 

It’s worth noting that butt implants leave behind a long scar in the buttock crease, while one of the major advantages of a BBL is the minimal scarring of the procedure. 

Brazilian Butt Lift Procedure 

A BBL usually takes around 2-4 hours to complete and is performed under sedation or general anaesthesia. 

First, the surgeon performs liposuction on predetermined areas of the body such as the abdomen and flanks in order to harvest the required amount of fat. This procedure involves inserting a suction cannula through tiny incisions in the targeted areas.  

Following this, the cosmetic surgeon then purifies the extracted fat cells and prepares them for transfer into the buttocks. Finally, the surgeon injects the fat cells into specific areas of your buttock over the gluteal muscle (using the BEST-F technique) to recreate your desired shape.

Types of BBL Shapes

By injecting fat in specific areas of the buttocks, the surgeon can recreate the shape of the buttock, usually to make it more rounded or to increase the volume in the lower region. In general, there are four types of buttock shapes that people wish to reshape or accentuate. 

V-Shaped

V-shaped butts, also called inverted butts, are fuller at the top of the buttocks and flatter at the bottom. Those with V-shaped butts have narrow hips and sometimes carry excess fat in the abdomen. A BBL can transform a V-shaped buttock into a more rounded bottom with fuller hips.

H-Shaped 

A H-shaped butt, also known as a square-shaped butt, has a flat appearance that lacks curves between the hips and thighs. Those with a H-shaped butt tend to carry fat in their waist in the form of love handles and have high hip bones. A BBL can transform a H-shaped buttock into the more desirable O or A-shaped bottom.

A-Shaped 

An A-shaped butt, also called an inverted heart-shaped butt, is narrow towards the top of the buttock and fuller at the lower region of the buttock. Many patients wish to achieve this shape, and those who already possess it usually have an hourglass or pear-shaped figure with a slim waist and wide hips. With a BBL procedure, those with an A-shaped butt can make the shape of their buttock more prominent and accentuate their figure. 

O-Shaped

An O-shaped butt, also known as a bubble butt, has an even distribution of volume throughout the buttock, thus giving it a round and curvy shape. It is a desirable shape that many patients wish to recreate, and those who already possess it sometimes carry excess fat above their glutes. Those with an O-shaped butt may opt for a BBL procedure in order to emphasise the shape of their buttock, making it a more prominent feature of their figure. 

BBL Results

It usually takes around six weeks for your body to completely heal from the surgery, however due to swelling, your final results will be seen after six months. This includes the “fluffing stage”, a period of 6-8 weeks after the procedure where the skin expands to accommodate the increased volume in the buttock. 

The body absorbs 30-50% of the fat cells injected into the buttock over the first 3-6 months. Therefore, immediately after the surgery, your buttock will be augmented more than expected, as up to 50% more fat cells need to be injected to account for the absorption. During the coming weeks and months, the initial volume will gradually decrease and settle at the level of expected enhancement.

Recovery and Aftercare 

Typically, most patients resume office work and light daily activities around a week after the surgery and resume more strenuous activities after four weeks. During the recovery period, you may experience swelling, bruising, and tenderness in your buttocks and areas where you had liposuction. This will gradually dissipate over the coming days and weeks. 

You will receive detailed aftercare instructions to make your recovery as quick and comfortable as possible. For example, this includes prescribed pain medication, compression garments for minimising the swelling, and advice for sleeping and sitting. Furthermore, we will also schedule three follow-up visits with Dr. Tillo to assess your healing process.

BBL Cost

In general, the cost of a BBL at the CREO clinic starts from £7,900. However, given the bespoke nature of the treatment, the exact price of your surgery will depend on the number of areas of liposuction. 

You will receive the final price following a consultation with Dr. Tillo, where you’ll discuss your specific needs and desired aesthetic. 

What Are the Benefits of a BBL? 

There are several unique benefits associated with a BBL. Explained below are some of the most significant:

• A BBL improves the curves and proportions of the body by enhancing the hips and buttocks, delivering patients with their desired figure
• The procedure involves removing stubborn fat from targeted areas such as the abdomen, flanks, back and thighs, which further contours the overall figure 
• A BBL offers quick and prominent results that can’t be achieved through exercise alone
• The treatment provides a more natural appearance and leaves behind minimal scarring in comparison to a buttock augmentation using implants 

What Are the Risks of a BBL? 

Just like any cosmetic procedure, undergoing a BBL can carry a certain degree of risk that patients need to be aware of. Dr. Tillo minimises many of these risks by using the BEST-F technique, however outlined below are some of the main concerns to take into account: 

• Infection – postoperative infections can lead to a loss of fat volume and admission to hospital, so it’s important to follow strict infection control protocols in all fat transfer procedures.

• Fat necrosis – fat necrosis is a significant cosmetic concern where the fat tissue in an area of the body becomes damaged due to a lack of blood supply. As BBL requires the transfer of fat cells into the buttock, fat necrosis can be a risk of the procedure. 
• Asymmetry – due to the body absorbing 30-50% of injected fat cells over the first three months, you will experience a loss of volume compared with the initial results of your surgery. This risk is significantly reduced with an experienced surgeon.

BBL FAQs

Schedule a BBL Consultation with CREO Clinic 

To learn more about BBL surgery, contact the CREO Clinic today to schedule a 1-on-1 consultation with Dr. Tillo. As one of the top BBL surgeons in the UK and having performed the procedure hundreds of times, he will be able to discuss a bespoke treatment plan according to your individual requirements and desired aesthetic.