The number of butt augmentation procedures each year being performed by board-certified plastic surgeons in the US has been steadily increasing over the past decade. The seemingly never ending search for the perfect body, a larger butt, or a more hourglass figure has emerged as a bigger priority than ever before.

In the United States, plastic surgeons perform two types of buttock augmentation procedures. The most common type of buttock augmentation is called a Brazilian butt lift or BBL in which fat is liposuctioned from areas of excess like the abdomen or love handles and transferred to the buttock and hips for augmentation. The second type of augmentation is the placement of the solid silicone implants. The butt implant surgery usually involves placing the implants either on top of the muscle or within the muscle for augmentation.  Butt implant surgery in which the butt implant is placed within the muscle results in a more natural result.  The implant has better tissue coverage and does not look stuck on and is not visible.  In addition, intramuscular placement results in better long-term implant stability and less descent over time.  Finally, pocket placement of the implant is critical.  Large pockets that allow lateral migration of the implant result in greater tissue thinning and less stability of result.  A snug implant pocket that perfectly incorporates the implant volume results in the best overall, long-term result.

The Brazilian butt lift or BBL has the advantage of using your own fat and no chance of foreign body reaction. However,  the amount of fat that lives is somewhat unpredictable as rates can range from 30% to 70% fat survival. The butt implant surgery produces a more reliable volume increase.

In addition, there are differences in the number and types of complications. The buttock implant surgery has a greater rate of complications with the most significant complication being fluid collection or seroma, which can lead to the removal of the buttock implant. The liposuction and Brazilian butt lift has fewer complications overall but does have inherent risks of fat necrosis, or dead fat, and the possibility of fat traveling to the lung causing respiratory distress and possibly death.

Patients should always be educated about the relative risks involved in each of these procedures as the risks are certainly not inconsequential. However, both of these procedures produce reliable results for those patients seeking improvement in buttock size and shape and overall silhouette.

To learn more about the Brazilian buttlifts of Dr. Kenneth Hughes, please visit drkennethhughesbbl.com