Brazilian Butt Lift
Natural buttock enhancement using your own fat — no implants. Fat is harvested via liposuction, purified, and carefully transferred for shape, projection, and contour.
A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) reshapes and enhances the buttocks using your own fat rather than implants. Fat is gently removed by liposuction from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, or back — slimming those regions — then purified and strategically re-injected to add volume, projection, and a natural, proportionate shape. Because it uses your own tissue, results look and feel natural.
The best candidates have enough donor fat to transfer and want a fuller, lifted, natural silhouette. Because a BBL is both a liposuction and a fat-grafting procedure, recovery includes limiting direct pressure on the buttocks for a few weeks; Dr. Levesque reviews safe positioning, aftercare, and realistic expectations in detail at your consultation.
What is a Brazilian Butt Lift?
The Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a fat transfer procedure — not an implant procedure. Fat is harvested by liposuction from areas where you have excess (typically the abdomen, flanks, or thighs), processed, and then carefully re-injected into the buttocks to add volume, improve projection, and create more pleasing contour.
The result is a more rounded, lifted appearance using your own natural tissue. Because the fat is yours, there is no foreign material and no implant-related risks. The dual benefit — contouring the donor sites while enhancing the buttocks — makes the BBL one of the most transformative body procedures available.
Not all harvested fat survives. Typically 60–70% of transferred fat cells establish a permanent blood supply. Dr. Levesque accounts for this in his planning and over-transfers slightly to compensate for expected resorption.
Dr. Levesque performs BBL at Levesque Plastic Surgery in Austin, TX, (Separation, Aspiration, Fat Equalization) BBL protocol endorsed by ASAPS. Fat is injected only into the subcutaneous layer — never intramuscularly — significantly reducing the risk of fat embolism.
Have enough donor fat to harvest · At or near goal weight · Non-smoker · Willing to follow post-op positioning instructions · Realistic about how much volume is achievable
Post-operative positioning
BBL recovery has specific positioning requirements that are critical to fat survival. You will not be able to sit directly on your buttocks for 6–8 weeks. Dr. Levesque will provide a BBL pillow and specific guidance on how to sleep (on your stomach or sides) and how to sit (on your thighs) during healing.
This is the most important aspect of BBL recovery and has a direct impact on your final result. Patients who are unable or unwilling to follow these restrictions are not good candidates for this procedure.
Timeline
Week 1–2: Rest, no sitting on buttocks, light walking encouraged to prevent clots.
Week 3–4: Can return to desk work using BBL pillow. No exercise.
Week 6–8: Cleared for full sitting and light exercise as healing progresses.
3–6 months: Final result visible as swelling resolves and fat integrates.
What to Expect
✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Andre Y. Levesque, MD · Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS) · Last reviewed November 5, 2025
A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) reshapes the buttocks using your own fat — liposuctioned from one area and transferred to add volume and shape. Here is what the process involves.
Dr. Levesque evaluates your available donor fat, discusses the shape you're after, and explains his safety-first approach to fat transfer. Realistic volume goals are set based on your anatomy.
Under general anesthesia, fat is gently harvested with liposuction (which also slims the waist and flanks), purified, and re-injected into the buttocks. Fat is placed only in safe, superficial planes — never into muscle.
You'll avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for about two to three weeks, using a BBL pillow when seated. Most patients return to desk work in one to two weeks and resume full activity by six.
Am I a Candidate?
A BBL adds shape without implants, using your own tissue. Good candidates usually:
- Have enough donor fat elsewhere (abdomen, flanks, back) to transfer
- Want more projection or a rounder, more balanced shape without an implant
- Are at a stable weight and in good overall health, and non-smokers
- Can follow post-op positioning instructions during the fat's healing window
Fat transfer to the buttock demands meticulous technique. Dr. Levesque places fat only in the subcutaneous layer above the muscle — the approach endorsed by plastic surgery safety guidelines to protect against the risks associated with deep injection.
Recovery & What to Expect
- First 2–3 weeks: No sitting directly on the buttocks — use a BBL pillow or lie on your side/stomach so the transferred fat can establish a blood supply.
- Week 1–2: Return to desk work with positioning precautions; the liposuctioned donor areas are tender and compressed.
- Weeks 3–6: Gradually resume sitting and light activity; swelling in donor and recipient areas settles.
- 3–6 months: Final shape emerges as the fat that survives establishes itself. A portion of transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed, which Dr. Levesque accounts for during surgery.
Cost & Financing
A BBL fee reflects both the liposuction of donor areas and the fat-transfer portion, plus anesthesia and facility. Because donor sites and volume goals vary widely, pricing is set at consultation.
Levesque Plastic Surgery offers financing through CareCredit, Alphaeon, Cherry, and PatientFi, with monthly-payment plans that can be pre-qualified in minutes without affecting your credit. See our financing options or the full menu of services & pricing.
Before & After
Actual patients treated at Levesque Plastic Surgery. Individual results vary.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)?
A Brazilian Butt Lift uses your own fat — which I harvest by liposuction from areas like the abdomen, flanks, or thighs — to augment and reshape the buttocks. I purify the fat and inject it strategically to create a fuller, more lifted, natural-looking result from your own tissue.
Is a Brazilian Butt Lift safe?
BBL safety has improved a lot with updated injection technique. I follow the latest safety guidelines and inject fat only into the subcutaneous layer (above the muscle), never intramuscularly. Your safety is my top priority, and I'll go through all the risks and precautions with you at your consultation.
How long do BBL results last?
A portion of the transferred fat (typically 60–80%) builds a permanent blood supply and stays long-term, while the rest is reabsorbed. Results can be very long-lasting when you keep a stable weight, since big weight swings affect these fat cells like any other.
What is recovery like after a BBL?
You'll need to avoid sitting or lying directly on your buttocks for 2–6 weeks to protect the transferred fat while it establishes a blood supply — I'll have you use a special BBL cushion when seated. Most patients take 2 weeks off work, wear compression for 6 weeks, and see swelling settle over 3–6 months.
How much does a BBL cost in Austin, TX?
It depends on the volume of fat transferred and the liposuction areas included. I'll give you a transparent, personalized quote at your consultation, and financing is available through CareCredit, Alphaeon Credit, Cherry, and PatientFi. Call 512-487-5975 to get started.
How much of the transferred fat survives?
A portion of transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed in the months after surgery. Dr. Levesque accounts for this by grafting appropriately, and the fat that establishes a blood supply is permanent.
Is a BBL safe?
When performed with proper technique it is a well-established procedure. Dr. Levesque places fat only in the safe, superficial plane above the muscle — the method recommended by plastic surgery safety task forces — and operates in an accredited facility.
Will the liposuction slim my waist too?
Yes. The fat used for a BBL is harvested from areas like the abdomen, flanks, and back, so most patients see a slimmer, more sculpted waistline in addition to added buttock shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
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