Fat Transfer To The Buttocks: Why And How

Everyone likes the idea of having a great butt. It might make you blush to say it out loud, but it’s true. It is not a desire that should be embarrassing to admit. We all like the idea of feeling good about the way our butts look. In the mirror, jeans, a dress, whatever. Or, perhaps as the warm summertime days become more prevalent, it is as simple as wanting to feel confident about the way your butt looks in a swimsuit.

A little more volume in the buttocks can do a great deal for one’s self confidence.

That wish is nothing thing to be ashamed of, and it’'s quite possible there is a cosmetic procedure that can help you achieve that goal and improve another area of your body as well. A fat transfer to the buttocks (also known as a Brazilian butt lift) could very well be the procedure to help you get that great butt that’ll look good and make you feel good, too.

To begin with, a fat transfer to the buttocks is not the same as buttock implants. Far from it, in fact. With the latter, silicone implants are placed over the muscle, but under the tough membrane that encloses the muscle, through surgical incisions. Indeed, butt implants involve going under the knife. The recovery time is substantial, too. After getting buttock implants, patients are not supposed to sit on those implants for several weeks. There are also possible complications, like fluid collection, the implants moving, and infection. Scarring can also happen around the implants, which can lead to the implants hardening. Not surprisingly, then, buttock implant procedures are not wildly popular in the U.S. They’re complicated, heavy on risk and recovery, and offer no guarantee of satisfaction with the results.

A fat transfer to the buttocks, on the other hand, doesn’t involve going under the knife at all. The recovery time is relatively speedy, and, best of all, the results are typically long-lasting and satisfactory.

All of fat transfer to the buttocks/Brazilian butt lift procedures are performed at GLOW Surgical Arts’ Redwood City cosmetic surgery office. Fortunately, this procedure does not require general anesthesia - we use local tumescent anesthesia and oral medications. This leads to a faster recovery and overall lower risk. Then, with gentle liposuction, fat is harvested from an area of your body that has excess amounts (usually the thighs, abdomen or flanks).

By the way, you can discuss which area of the body to harvest the fat from with your cosmetic surgeon in advance, during a free, no-obligation consultation. Once the fat has been harvested, it is processed and cleaned. This processed fat is then carefully injected into your buttocks using small access points and a small injection cannula. We pay close attention throughout the process and adjust as needed to ensure a very satisfying result.

Because we care about your results over the long term, we will use before and after photos to track your progress. Typically, the results will last a long time, though we do know that there will be some initial loss in the first several weeks to months after the fat transfer procedure. Every individual body is unique, and each body absorbs the transferred fat a little differently. As you age and gain or lose a significant amount of weight, the shape of your buttocks will also change. However, maintaining a stable and healthy body weight after the procedure will help maintain the results.

Immediately after the procedure, swelling and bruising may occur for several days in the liposuction areas. You may feel some mildness soreness in all of the treated areas, and you will be asked to avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for prolonged periods during the first week. We do have our GLOW patients wear a compression garment over the treated areas for 2-3 weeks after the procedure. In general, though, you’ll be able to return to most activities within days and be back at work within a week. Finally, unlike with buttock implants, a fat transfer to the buttocks procedure will leave you with minimal scarring.

Not only, then, does a fat transfer to the buttocks offer a chance to gain some volume in your buttocks, but the procedure comes with the simultaneous benefit of trimming another area of your body that perhaps has too much volume for your liking. The procedure allows you to improve both the shape of your buttocks and the shape of the parts of your body where you choose to harvest the fat. As long as you’re in good health, chances are you’re a viable candidate for this procedure. That and any other question you might have we will happily answer during your no-obligation consultation at GLOW Surgical Arts. Just know that wanting a more shapely butt is nothing to be embarrassed about. And it is possible a fat transfer to the buttocks is exactly what will help you get there.

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