Brazilian Butt Lift - BBL, Fat Transfer, Buttock Augmentation, Benefits, Recovery, Risks, Cost

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Benefits of BBL

Natural Results

Using your own fat means your enhanced buttocks look and feel completely natural no implants, no foreign materials.

Dual Benefit Procedure

You get slimmer where you don't want fat (waist, abdomen, back) and fuller where you do a complete body transformation.

Permanent Enhancement

The fat cells that survive the transfer are permanent. Your new curves are yours to keep.

Customizable Shape

Fat can be placed precisely to improve projection, width, or both tailored to your ideal aesthetic goals.

Expected Results

Results are visible immediately after surgery, though swelling will persist for weeks to months. Some transferred fat cells will not survive the body absorbs them over the course of weeks. Final results are visible at approximately three months when swelling has resolved and surviving fat has integrated.

Enhanced Projection

The buttocks appear fuller and perkier, restoring the youthful projection that diminishes with age or weight fluctuation.

Improved Waist-to-Hip Ratio

Liposuction of the waist combined with buttock augmentation creates the coveted hourglass silhouette.

Natural Lower Back Curve

Sculpting the lower back creates "lordosis" the attractive slope from back to buttock that high heels temporarily create.

Real Patient Results

Browse our extensive gallery to see the natural, symmetrical results Dr. Neavin achieves.

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Patient Stories

5-Star Experiences

“

If you're looking for an honest plastic surgeon with an artistic eye, look no further! Dr. Neavin is a very skilled plastic surgeon. I have been going to him for years for fillers and Botox and he never tries to up-sell. My results always look natural! Several of my friends have gone to him for BBL and breast augmentation and look spectacular!

— RealSelf Review

"Dr. Tim Neavin is an outstanding plastic surgeon professional with an uplifting bedside manner to make you feel comfortable post surgery; he sees the beauty in you and improves it with the right cosmetic technique so that your results look as natural as possible."

— Helena - Former Patient

Understanding Fat Transfer to the Buttocks

A Brazilian Butt Lift is more than just injecting fat it's a precise sculpting procedure that requires understanding of anatomy, aesthetics, and safe transfer volumes.

Fat Harvesting

Fat is collected via liposuction from the lower back, waist, love handles, abdomen, and thighs. These areas provide the largest safe volumes. In thinner patients, multiple areas may be needed to collect adequate fat. The lower back is particularly important—sculpting this area creates the slope (lordosis) that defines an attractive backside.

Fat Processing

Liposuctioned fat is processed in the operating room to separate viable fat cells from fluid, blood, and oil. The purified fat is then prepared for injection. Technique matters fat must be collected and processed carefully to maximize cell survival.

Fat Injection

Processed fat is injected into the buttock mounds in multiple tissue planes. The goal is to restore projection and perkiness, and at times, widen the buttock and hips. Fat must be placed deeply—superficial injections create a higher risk of complications and potential lumpiness.

Fat Survival

Not all transferred fat survives. Expect 40-60% of transferred fat to integrate permanently. Because of this, over-correction is standard practice. However, excessive transfers beyond reasonable volumes increase risks without improving results more is not always better.

Patient Profile

Candidates

Ideal Candidates

You may be a good candidate for a Brazilian Butt Lift if you:

Have adequate fat deposits in the abdomen, flanks, lower back, or thighs for harvesting
Desire a fuller, rounder, or more projected buttock
Want to slim your waist while enhancing your curves
Are at a stable weight and in good overall health
Are a non-smoker or willing to quit before and after surgery
Have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve
Can commit to avoiding sitting directly on your buttocks for two weeks post-surgery

Not Ideal Candidates

A Brazilian Butt Lift may not be right for you if you:

Are very thin with insufficient fat to harvest (minimum ~400cc needed total)
Have a BMI that is too high, increasing surgical risks
Cannot avoid sitting on your buttocks during recovery
Smoke and are unwilling to quit
Have unrealistic expectations about buttock size
Would prefer guaranteed results (implants may be better for very thin patients)

Estimated Investment

$8,000 - $15,000+

The cost of a Brazilian Butt Lift depends on the extent of liposuction required, volume of transfer, length of surgery, and complexity of body contouring. If multiple areas require liposuction or the transfer volume is large, the procedure takes more time, which is reflected in anesthesia, facility, and surgeon fees. During your consultation, you'll receive a detailed quote based on your specific goals. Financing options are available.

Get a Quote

BBL vs. Buttock Implants

When Implants May Be Better

Very thin patients without adequate fat for transfer may be better candidates for buttock implants. Implants can produce amazing, long-lasting results. The downsides: they can feel firm in thin people, require an incision, and have higher rates of infection and malposition than breast implants. When fat is available, the BBL is the preferred approach.

Surgery Day Journey

Arrival & Marking

Arrive at our accredited surgical facility. Dr. Neavin marks your body while standing, identifying areas for fat harvest and buttock augmentation. You'll meet with the anesthesia team.

Liposuction Phase

Under general anesthesia, fat is harvested from the lower back, waist, flanks, abdomen, and/or thighs using tumescent liposuction. This sculpts your waist while collecting fat for transfer.

Fat Processing & Transfer

Harvested fat is processed and purified in the operating room. The prepared fat is then carefully injected into the buttocks in multiple planes to create your desired shape and projection.

The Artisan Promise

Comprehensive
Aftercare Support

Your recovery is critical to your results. Following post-operative instructions especially the sitting restrictions directly impacts how much fat survives.

No Sitting on Buttocks

Avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for two weeks. Pressure interferes with fat cell survival. Use a BBL pillow (places weight on thighs) when sitting is unavoidable. Sleep on your stomach or side.

Compression Garments

Wear compression garments on all liposuctioned areas continuously for 4-6 weeks (except when bathing). This reduces swelling, helps skin contract, and improves contour.

Activity Restrictions

Light walking is encouraged immediately. Avoid strenuous exercise for 4-6 weeks. Listen to your body and increase activity gradually as cleared by Dr. Neavin.

Healing Timeline

Every patient heals differently, but this timeline offers a general guide for your return to daily life.

Week 1: Critical Rest Period

Avoid sitting directly on your buttocks. Use a BBL pillow when sitting is unavoidable. Sleep on your stomach or side. Swelling and bruising are significant but normal. Wear compression garments on liposuctioned areas.

Week 2: Continued Precautions

Continue avoiding direct pressure on buttocks. Light walking is encouraged. Most patients can return to desk work with a BBL pillow. Swelling begins to decrease.

Weeks 3-4: Gradual Return to Normal

You may begin sitting normally around week 3. Resume light activities. Compression garments worn for 4-6 weeks total. Buttocks may feel firm this is normal.

Months 1-3: Final Results Emerge

Swelling continues to resolve. Fat that didn't survive is absorbed by the body. Final shape and size become apparent around 3 months. Buttocks soften to a natural feel.

Safety &
Potential Risks

Dr. Neavin prioritizes safety above all else. The BBL has received attention for its complication profile when performed improperly. When transfers are performed within reason by a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon, the BBL remains a safe operation. Risks increase with excessive volumes and improper injection technique.

Dr. Neavin follows all safety guidelines established by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons task force, including limiting transfer volumes and avoiding intramuscular injections. Your safety is never compromised for size.

Important Considerations

Potential risks of Brazilian Butt Lift include:

Fat necrosis (some fat cells not surviving)
Fat embolism (rare but serious—minimized with proper technique)
Infection
Asymmetry
Contour irregularities
Seroma (fluid collection)
Need for revision or touch-up procedures
Temporary numbness

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have enough fat for a BBL?

To see significant changes, you need either substantial fat removal from the lower back and/or significant fat transfer to the buttocks. The most powerful results come when both are possible. Very thin patients with little fat are not good candidates transfers under 100cc per buttock often don't produce visible differences without aggressive back sculpting. During your consultation, Dr. Neavin will assess your available fat.

How much fat will survive the transfer?

Expect 40-60% of transferred fat to survive permanently. Survival depends on transfer volume, technique, and your body's ability to integrate the fat. Because not all fat survives, over-correction is standard. The fat cells that do integrate are permanent.

How much fat can be safely transferred?

Safety is the real limitation when surplus donor tissue exists. Risks of fat necrosis, infection, and fat emboli increase with volume. Transfers greater than 500cc per buttock are on the more aggressive side. Dr. Neavin prioritizes safe volumes over maximum size more is not always better, and excessive transfers increase risks without improving results.

Can I sit on my butt after surgery?

You should avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for two weeks. Pressure interferes with fat cell survival. Special BBL pillows are available that place your weight on your thighs instead of your buttocks. These can be purchased online before your surgery.

Will my butt feel natural?

Yes. After swelling subsides and fat that didn't survive is absorbed by the body, your buttocks will feel completely natural because they're made of your own tissue. Expect firmness for up to three months; this resolves as healing completes.

Dr. Tim Neavin

The Artisan

Artistry Meets
Surgical Precision

Dr. Neavin was honored to speak internationally in Brazil the birthplace of the BBL presenting on fat grafting techniques alongside legendary plastic surgeons including Dr. Sydney Coleman, who pioneered modern fat grafting.

What Dr. Neavin learned from Brazilian surgeons may surprise you: they actually inject much less fat than many American surgeons. Dr. Neavin subscribes to a “safety first” philosophy. There are real risks to overfilling the buttock, and excessive transfers increase complications without necessarily improving results.

A task force spearheaded by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has been created to better understand and reduce BBL complications. Dr. Neavin believes oversight into surgeon qualifications is essential unfortunately, many doctors with no plastic surgery training are performing BBLs.

When you choose Dr. Neavin, you’re choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon who prioritizes your safety while delivering beautiful, natural-looking results. He understands that the most powerful transformations come from combining liposuction of the lower back with strategic fat transfer creating curves through both subtraction and addition.

Diplomate American Board of
Plastic Surgery

Philosophy "Surgery with
Symmetry"

Beverly Hills & Santa Barbara

Start Your Transformation

Schedule your private consultation with Dr. Neavin today.

Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) Natural Curves Created with Your Own Fat