Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) London

What is a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)?

In London Brazilian butt lift surgery (BBL) is a popular cosmetic surgery that uses fat transfer to add volume to the buttocks and achieve a patient’s desired buttock shape.

A BBL uses liposuction to harvest fat cells from parts of the body where they are often in excess, like the stomach or thighs, toning these areas and contouring the overall figure. This fat can then be purified and injected into the buttocks, creating an enhanced and perkier appearance.

Many patients choose to undergo Brazilian butt lifts as they provides a means to add volume to the buttocks without the need for foreign buttock implants, which are susceptible to allergic reactions and can be vulnerable to shifting position after insertion. By using the body’s own fat for buttock augmentation, the issues associated with buttock implants can be avoided, and BBL patients can enjoy a more natural feeling and natural-looking buttocks.

At the CREO Clinic, our medical director Dr. Omar Tillo has successfully pioneered a safer alternative to the traditional BBL, known as the Buttock Enhancement and Superficial Transfer of Fat (BEST-F) technique.

If you are interested in a Brazilian butt lift in London, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Tillo to voice your aesthetic concerns, answer any questions, and evaluate your suitability for the procedure.

Quick Overview of the BBL Procedure

Treatments

1

Results

6 months

Anesthesia

Sedation or General

Surgery time

2-4 Hours

Hospital time

6 Hours

Mobility

24 Hours

Washing

2 Days

Off-Work

10 Days

Exercise

2-3 Weeks

Full recovery

4-6 Weeks

Before and After BBL Photos

Brazilian Butt Lift (Bbl) London

Why Choose CREO Clinic for Your BBL?

We work with BBL specialist Dr. Omar Tillo, a pioneer and key opinion leader in BBL surgery and gluteal sculpting, having written the safe practice guidelines for The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).
Dr. Tillo of the CREO Clinic is highly respected in the field of Brazilian butt lift procedures and has successfully completed hundreds of safe BBL procedures in some of the best plastic surgery hospitals in the UK, giving patients the peace of mind that they are in the most competent hands.
Dr. Tillo is based in the UK and provides comprehensive aftercare to his patients with three follow-up appointments to monitor their progress and ensure they reach their desired results.

RealSelf Patient Reviews

RealSelf Patient Reviews of Omar Tillo, MD, MS, FRCS (Plast)

What Makes Our BBL Surgery Different?

Finding a surgeon with the necessary skills and experience to carry out a gluteal augmentation procedure as specialised as the BBL is essential for your peace of mind. Choosing a skilled surgeon helps provide a safe surgery and achieve the best possible results.

The BEST-F method used by Dr. Tillo at CREO Clinic is an alternative approach to traditional BBL surgery, which is known for being a highly risky procedure. A traditional BBL injects large amounts of fat into and under the gluteal muscle, thus carrying a high risk of a fatal fat embolism that can occur when fat leaks into the gluteal vein.

In contrast, Dr. TIllo’s BEST-F technique significantly reduces this risk by grafting excess fat from around the body and injecting it over the gluteal muscles only. In addition, we monitor the placement of the fat using ultrasound to ensure no fat leaks into the muscle and that it is distributed evenly around the buttocks to craft the patient’s desired shape.

Ultrasound scan of Dr Omar Tillo injecting fat into the buttock during a BBL procedure using the BEST-F technique

Furthermore, Dr. Tillo works solely in the UK, meaning he is bound by strict safety legislation and can be found on the UK General Medical Council (GMC) Specialty Register For Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Overall, this ensures a safer procedure, as well as providing patients with a natural enhancement to their butt rather than the exaggerated look that the traditional BBL is known for.

Benefits of BBL Surgery

Many patients can be unhappy with the shape of their butt, particularly after drastic changes to the body caused by pregnancy, weight loss, or ageing. For this reason, many people opt to undergo a BBL to create a perkier, more voluminous buttocks.

A BBL comes with its own unique benefits for patients:

Improved curves and proportions of the body, with enhanced hips and voluminous buttocks.

Removes unwanted fat from surrounding areas (e.g. thighs, abdomen), further contouring the body.
Natural appearance with minimal scarring, compared to using implants.
Instant and prominent results that can’t be achieved with exercise.
Improves the appearance of hip dips by adding volume to the area.

Who is a Candidate for a BBL?

During your consultation with Dr. Tillo, a full assessment will be carried out to determine your suitability for BBL surgery.

In general, any patient in good health with a BMI lower than 30 who is looking to add volume to their buttocks while toning targeted areas of their body is an ideal candidate for a BBL.

BBL Surgery Cost in London

In general, the cost of a BBL in London at the CREO Clinic starts from £7,900. This includes:

A thorough pre-operative assessment and bespoke treatment plan
Anaesthetist & anaesthetics fees
Surgeon’s and nurses’ fees
Hospital fees
Compression garments and a BBL pillow
Follow-up visits with Dr. Tillo to monitor your progress.

Overall, the exact cost of your Brazilian butt lift varies depending on your exact surgical needs, including the amount of liposuction required. Therefore, you will be given a comprehensive quote following your consultation with Dr. Tillo.

For patients seeking to spread the cost of their treatment, the CREO Clinic also offers a range of financing options via our partners, Chrysalis Finance.

Brazilian Butt Lift Procedure

A Brazilian butt lift with the CREO Clinic is performed under sedation or general anaesthesia and typically takes 2-4 hours to complete.

The BEST-F BBL has three fundamental stages:

1. Liposuction

Once an anaesthetic has been administered, liposuction is performed in order to harvest excess fat from areas around the buttocks – the stomach, hips, and thighs are common target areas. This involves inserting a suction cannula through tiny incisions, breaking down the excess fat, and removing it. The number of liposuction zones will depend on the amount of fat available to harvest from each.

2. Fat processing

Once the fat has been harvested, our cosmetic surgeon purifies it – this means separating it from any other material collected via liposuction using a centrifuge device. As soon as it is purified, the fat is ready for injection.

3. Fat Injection

The purified fat is then injected into specific areas of the buttocks, typically requiring 3-5 small incisions.

At the CREO Clinic, Dr. Tillo uses his pioneering BEST-F technique, carefully inserting the fat cells superficially and not into the gluteal muscles. Dr. Tillo’s injections are guided by an ultrasound device that ensures no fat enters the muscle – fat injected into the muscle can result in complications, and this is why the BEST-F technique is vital to maintaining the highest levels of safety.

What is the BBL Recovery Like?

Immediately after the surgery, you may experience swelling and bruising in the buttocks and the area where you had liposuction. Many patients benefit from undergoing a series of lymphatic drainage massages after their BBL to manage the swelling and discomfort associated with it.

The recovery process following a BBL varies with each patient depending on a range of factors, such as the amount of fat transferred. In general, most patients are able to resume most of their daily routine 2-3 weeks after surgery.

During the initial 3 weeks after surgery, you will need to avoid sitting and putting your weight on your buttocks so that the fat grafts are able to settle in their intended position. To help with this, you will be provided with a BBL pillow so that you can rest comfortably without compromising the results of your BBL surgery.

We will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions in order to make your recovery as smooth as possible.

What Results Can I Expect from a BBL?

After BBL surgery, your buttocks will look significantly larger than expected due to post-surgical swelling and the injected fat grafts. During the first 3-6 months after your gluteal augmentation, your body will absorb around 30-50% of the fat cells injected into your buttocks, thus decreasing its volume. However, our BBL surgeon accounts for this when determining the amount of fat to be injected.

For the first 6-8 weeks, your buttocks will go through what is known as the ‘fluffing’ stage, where the skin expands to accommodate the injected fat grafts. Once this period has passed, your butt will look and feel softer and more natural.

It usually takes around six months for your full BBL results to become visible, as by then, the swelling will have completely subsided, and the remaining fat cells will have stabilised. By this time, you will find that your buttocks have become curvier, and the proportions of your lower body have improved.

BBL Shapes

We tailor the BBL procedure to the body shape of each individual patient in order to produce a proportionate and natural result. There are four common buttock shapes that are enhanced and reshaped during a BBL:

A-Shaped

An A-shaped butt (or inverted heart-shaped butt) is smaller toward the top and fuller at the lower region, thus resembling an A-shape or inverted heart. Most people that have an A-shaped butt tend to have an hourglass figure, with a slim waist and wide hips. This is a conventionally desirable aesthetic, and patients that already have this figure choose a BBL in order to accentuate the existing shape of their butt.

V-Shaped

A V-shaped butt (or inverted butt) is defined by a lack of volume in the lower buttocks. As a result, the butt is usually narrower at the base, thus resembling a V Shape or an inverted triangle. Most patients with a V-shaped bum undergo a BBL in order to get fuller lower hips and a more rounded butt.

H-Shaped

Those with an H-shaped butt (or square-shaped butt) lack curves in the waist and hips and tend to have love handles (excess fat on the sides of the waist). As a result, the buttock lacks angles and takes on a boxy and flat appearance that resembles a square. Most patients who have an H-shaped butt undergo a BBL in order to obtain an A-shaped butt.

O-Shaped

An O-shaped butt (or round-shaped butt), commonly called a ‘bubble butt’, is characterised by the evenly round shape of the buttocks with an equal distribution of fat in the upper and lower region of the butt. This shape is also considered aesthetically desirable, and patients who already have this figure undergo a BBL procedure in order to increase the roundness of their butt or to achieve an A-shape.

What Are the Potential Risks of a BBL?

We are aware that patients may be apprehensive about BBL surgery following the negative media coverage given to the topic in recent years. This has typically been related to surgeries carried out abroad in places such as Turkey, where the BEST-F technique is not used. With CREO Clinic, you can rest assured that no safety protocol is missed to cut costs.

Like any surgical procedure, there are some potential risks and complications to be aware of when it comes to BBL surgery. More common risks include, but are not limited to:

Anaesthetic reactions
Wound infections and poor wound healing
Fat necrosis
Asymmetry
Seroma or haematoma
Poor fat graft take

For this reason, as part of your consultation with us, your eligibility for surgery will be fully assessed, with any risk factors for complications identified.

What to Expect Before and After the Procedure?

Consultation

During your consultation with Dr. Tillo, your medical history will be discussed to determine your suitability for surgery, and any potential risk factors will be identified. You will then discuss your expectations for a BBL with Dr. Tillo, and what a realistic outcome from surgery is likely to be.

Leading Up to the Procedure

There are several preparations that are recommended to BBL patients prior to surgery:

BMI – You will need to ensure your BMI remains under 30 to reduce the risk of complications.
Oestrogen contraceptives/HRT – Four weeks prior to surgery, if you take oral contraceptive pills or HRT, you will be required to stop to reduce the risk of thrombosis. If this is applicable to you, make sure that you use alternative contraceptives during this time.
Smoking – You will also need to abstain from smoking nicotine (including vaping, patches) four weeks prior to your BBL, as this can also substantially increase the risk of complications.
Alcohol – You should aim to reduce your alcohol consumption in the run up to surgery as this can delay your healing.
Prepare your home for recovery – Make sure your home is prepped and comfortable for your return, and ensure that you have support in place for chores and caring for children and pets.

Day of the Surgery

ou will need to arrive at the hospital at your allotted admission time so that our nurse can perform all necessary pre-surgical checks and to allow time for any paperwork to be completed. You will then be seen by the anaesthetist to ensure your suitability for sedation or general anaesthetic.

Dr. Tillo will also speak to you before surgery to confirm the stages of your BBL procedure with you, after which you will sign a consent form to say that you are happy to proceed. He will then make the necessary markings on the skin and take photos so that your results can be compared with your body prior to surgery.

BBL surgery is a day case treatment, typically taking 2-4 hours to complete, and is performed under deep sedation or general anaesthetic, meaning you will be asleep for the duration of your procedure.

Dr. Tillo will first perform liposuction by inserting a suction cannula via a series of small incisions where he has marked the skin. The harvested fat will then be purified and prepared for injection into the agreed areas of the buttocks and/or hips. The fat will be placed above the gluteal muscle in line with the BEST-F technique, and Dr. Tillo will use an ultrasound scanner to ensure the fat is accurately and evenly placed, so that no fat leaks into the muscle.

After surgery, you will spend 2-4 hours in the recovery room while you wake up from sedation or anaesthetic. Prior to leaving the hospital, you will need to pass urine and have something to eat or drink. You will then be able to be safely discharged by the team, but will need an adult to take you home via car or taxi, and stay with you for the first 24 hours after your BBL.

Treatment and Recovery

After surgery, you will spend some time in the recovery room while you wake up from the anaesthetic or sedation. BBL surgery is a day case procedure and you will be shown how to care for your wounds by our nurse prior to leaving hospital.

Your wounds may feel sore and tender, but you will be provided with any necessary pain relief to manage your discomfort by Dr. Tillo. He will also be provided with a compression garment that you will be required to wear for the first 6 weeks.

You will need to be accompanied by a family member or friend who is able to care for and stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery. A BBL pillow will be provided by Dr. Tillo which you will need to use when seated, for example, when travelling home.

Most patients find that they are able to return to work ten days after surgery, resume most daily activities 2-3 weeks after surgery, and should be fully healed by 6 weeks. During your recovery, you will be scheduled for three follow-up appointments with Dr. Tillo to monitor your progress – 1 week, 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery.

Brazilian Butt Lift vs. Implants

A Brazilian Butt Lift and a butt implant surgery are both procedures that aim to increase the volume of the buttocks. During a butt implant surgery, the surgeon makes an incision in the buttocks in order to place silicone implants beneath the largest muscle in the glutes (gluteus maximus), thus producing a larger butt.

Your surgeon may recommend implants instead of a BBL if you lack enough excess fat in other areas of the body that is needed to produce your desired result. Furthermore, while both surgeries serve the same cosmetic purpose, there are significant differences between butt implants vs. BBL:

	Brazilian Butt Lift	Butt Implant Surgery
Results	Natural enhancement to the hips and buttocks, removes excess fat from surrounding areas	Prominent enhancement to posterior buttocks only, not to hips
Anaesthetic	Sedation or general	General
Scarring	Minimal	Longer scars in the buttock crease
Recovery	4-6 weeks	4-6 weeks
Longevity	Permanent	Permanent
Price	From £7,900	From £10,900

BBL FAQs

What is the difference between a buttock lift and a Brazilian butt lift?

A buttock lift and a Brazilian butt lift are surgeries that contour the bottom in different ways. A buttock lift tones the bottom by removing excess skin and fat, whereas a BBL surgery transfers fat into the buttocks in order to increase its volume. Therefore, a butt lift is an ideal cosmetic procedure for patients who only want to get rid of any saggy skin in their bottom.

How long does a Brazilian butt lift last?

Once the fat cells have stabilised, they will remain in place permanently. However, you need to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine in order to maintain results, as any fluctuations in weight will cause your fat cells to expand or shrink in size after BBL. Furthermore, as you age, you will likely develop some skin laxity in the area, which alters the shape of your buttocks.

How much do you need to weigh to get a BBL?

In general, patients need to have a BMI between 23-30 and be a few kilograms above their ideal weight in order to get the best shape from a BBL. This is because the surgeon needs to remove enough excess fat from other areas of the body to perform the fat transfer.

However, patients with a lower BMI may still qualify for a skinny BBL and experience great results.

Will a BBL look natural?

When performed by an experienced and qualified surgeon, a BBL surgery using the BEST-F technique looks completely natural to the patient’s body. The aim of the procedure is to provide a natural yet noticeable enhancement to the buttocks. In contrast, a traditional BBL or implants can leave you with a more prominent and exaggerated bottom that may look disproportionate to the rest of your body.

Is a BBL worth it?

BBL is a highly sought-after cosmetic procedure as the buttocks are an area that many people want to enhance in order to achieve their ideal figure. This is largely because the surgery provides a natural enhancement to the buttocks using the patient’s own fat cells, thus providing a more organic solution to their cosmetic concerns.

When can you sit after BBL?

It’s best to avoid sitting after BBL or putting pressure on your butt for at least three weeks after the cosmetic surgery. It takes several weeks for the fat grafts to stabilise and integrate, which means for the best results, you’ll need to avoid sitting.

What is a BBL for men?

A BBL is not just beneficial for women, but for men too. A male BBL can add volume and definition to the buttocks to make them appear stronger, more toned, and proportionate to the rest of the body. In addition, the liposuction zones like the abdomen or chest can help to sculpt and chisel the upper body.

Is the BBL painful?

A BBL is carried out under general anaesthetic or deep sedation, meaning that you won’t be conscious or aware of any pain during the procedure. After surgery, your surgeon will also provide you with any needed prescriptions for pain relief, as well as detailed aftercare instructions to help you manage any discomfort at home.

Can you reverse a BBL?

The fat injected into the buttocks can be removed with liposuction as long as it has been placed above the gluteal muscles and not underneath or inside. However, removing the fat with liposuction alone can cause excess, lax skin to be left behind. For this reason, some women choose to undergo a buttock lift or skin tightening treatments like BodyTite following liposuction to either remove or tighten the skin, respectively.

Does a BBL leave scars?

The liposuction section of your BBL typically requires 2-5 small incisions but can vary depending on the number of treatment areas required to harvest the desired amount of fat. Similarly, scarring is minimal at the fat graft injection sites around the buttocks. This usually requires 4-8 small incisions, with the exact number varying depending on the number of areas that need to be injected to achieve the desired BBL shape.

Both liposuction and fat injection scars are around 5 millimetres long and are placed in discrete positions where they are hidden by the natural contours of the body or clothing.

Overall, most patients find that their BBL scars heal in the first 1-2 weeks after surgery and fade away within 1-2 years. To improve the appearance of any scarring after surgery, ensure that you follow the aftercare instructions provided by your surgeon.

When can I resume work after a BBL?

After a BBL, most patients feel able to resume most light, daily activities, including a return to work, around 2-3 weeks after surgery. However, the recovery time can vary from patient to patient based on a range of factors, including the amount of fat injected into the buttocks. For more intensive work, including heavy lifting, you will be required to wait 6 weeks before returning.

Do I need to get massages after a BBL?

Lymphatic drainage massages can be instrumental in reducing swelling in the liposuction areas and the buttocks after a BBL. This specialist massage technique works to promote the movement of lymph fluid build-up in the surgical sites, helping the body to recover quicker and see results faster.

What is a skinny BBL?

A skinny BBL is designed for patients with a lower BMI and less fat available to transfer to the buttocks. For these patients, the fat needed for transfer has to be taken from multiple areas of the body as there is usually less available in any one given place.

Overall, skinnier patients often find that less fat is needed for transfer to make a dramatic difference to the contours of the body.

Will I have to wear a garment during recovery?

During the first 6 weeks after BBL surgery, you will need to wear a compression garment over the incision sites to manage swelling, which will in turn help to ease any associated discomfort.

How long will it take to see results from my BBL?

Immediately after surgery, your buttocks may appear larger than expected due to the post-surgical swelling and injected fat grafts. Within the first 3-6 months, your body will absorb 30-50% of the injected fat. Your surgeon, therefore, takes this into account when determining the amount of fat to inject. Furthermore, you should ensure that you are eating the right foods to feed the fat and maximise the amount that can stabilise in the buttocks.

After 6 months, you should be able to see your final BBL results as the swelling should have completely subsided, and the remaining fat grafts will have stabilised.

What if I gain or lose weight after a BBL?

Minor weight fluctuations following a BBL should not affect your results. However, significant weight gain can cause the fat cells, both in the buttocks and across the rest of the body, to swell and increase in size. However, as the fat in the liposuction zones has been permanently removed, you will be unlikely to see any enlargement in these areas. Overall, this can upset the natural proportions of the body.

Losing a significant amount of weight after a BBL may cause the fat cells in the buttocks to shrink, impacting how voluminous the buttock looks. For this reason, you should aim to maintain a stable weight post-surgery. If you find this difficult to do, consider consulting with a nutritionist who can best advise you on a meal plan tailored to your body.

Complementary Procedures

BBL and Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is a surgery that removes excess skin and fat in the abdomen while tightening the muscles in the area in order to produce a flatter and toned stomach. Patients who wish to achieve an hourglass figure with a flat abdomen and a curvaceous butt can do so by undergoing a BBL and a tummy tuck in two separate stages.

Book a Consultation

Find out if you are eligible for BBL