Buttock augmentation is one of the fastest growing cosmetic surgical procedures performed by board-certified plastic surgeons, according to 2016 Annual Statistics. Buttock augmentation with fat grafting—also known as a "Brazilian butt lift"—has increased 26% between 2016 and 2015, while augmentation with implants increased 18% over the same period.
During this procedure, a surgeon removes fat from an area where it's not wanted—such as the abdomen or thighs—and places it into the buttocks. Essentially, this is a combination of liposuction AND buttock augmentation. While these numbers are not as high as those performed for breast augmentation, it does help to explain why it is one of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures today. In properly skilled hands, it is not just about increasing the size of the butt, but also about obtaining a shapelier butt, and recontouring the entire torso, including the waist, abdomen, and thighs.
As Dr. Sacha Obaid, a board-certified plastic surgeon and ASPS member states, "What we are seeing is that American culture is finally expanding its concept of beauty. Twenty years ago there was one way to be pretty in America and that was to be as skinny as possible. Now, we are finally starting to embrace that there are lots of ways to stand out, and one of the fastest growing ways is with a fuller, rounder butt!"
During your Brazilian butt lift procedure, a surgeon will harvest fat from areas where you have excess such as the abdomen, thighs, upper back (aka "bra rolls") or arms. The right spots are going to depend on each patient's individual needs. By removing fat from certain areas such as the abdomen and placing it into the buttocks, a surgeon can restore harmony to a patient's body, accentuate the waist, and re-contour the entire torso. The end result is typically a narrower waist, a shapelier buttock and hip, and a sexier figure. When a patient comes in for a Brazilian butt lift consultation, a surgeon should examine him or her from a 360-degree perspective, determining the best places for adding and subtracting fat in order to get the patient closer to his or her desired body. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Though celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé, and Jennifer Lopez may have started the trend of emphasizing the buttocks, it has quickly spread across age and ethnic lines. Our Brazilian butt lift patients range significantly in age, and we have even seen patients in their 60's. Similarly, patient weight ranges vary widely. However, excellent results can by achieved regardless of age or body type.
The specifics of a given patient's areas of liposuction, and the details of the buttock augmentation are based on the patient's desired versus existing body size and shape, areas of existing fat, and soft tissue quality. Preoperative visualization and surgical simulation with the Crisalix system may help with decision making. Any treatment plan should be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both the patient and his or her surgeon. Patients should be sure to specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by the surgeon and evaluate their results. The most important aspect is to find a plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the procedure. We always recommend that a patient seek consultation in person with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon, operating in a certified ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room.
As with any surgical procedure, there are associated risks. With regard to a Brazilian butt lift, patients should have some specific considerations: