What is a Brazilian butt lift?
A Brazilian butt lift, usually called a BBL, is a body contouring procedure that reshapes your figure using your own fat. It combines two steps. First, liposuction removes fat from areas where you have extra, such as the abdomen, waist, flanks, back or thighs. Second, the collected fat is purified and carefully injected into the buttocks to add volume, shape and projection.
Because fat is taken from around the waist and placed in the buttocks, a BBL improves the contrast between the two, creating a curvier silhouette. Using your own tissue means there is no implant, and the result looks and feels natural.
Who is it suitable for?
You may be a good candidate for a BBL if you:
- Have enough excess fat in other areas to transfer
- Would like fuller, rounder or more lifted buttocks
- Are in good general health and fit for general anaesthesia
- Are at or near a stable weight, ideally with a BMI below 30 to 32
- Do not smoke, or are willing to stop before and after surgery
- Prefer a natural result without implants
- Have realistic expectations about how much volume can be added safely
If you are very slim, there may not be enough fat for a noticeable change. If your skin is very loose after weight loss, a buttock lift or other procedure may be more effective. Each case is assessed individually.
Preparing for surgery
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol at least two weeks before surgery
- Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen and certain supplements before surgery, and check all medicines with your coordinator
- Stop hormonal contraception around 30 days before surgery, as advised, to lower the risk of blood clots
- Keep your weight stable in the months before surgery
- Buy loose clothing and plan for a BBL cushion for sitting during recovery
How the procedure is done
A BBL is performed under general anaesthesia and usually takes 2 to 4 hours.
Tests and marking
You have blood tests and meet your surgeon and anaesthetist. While you stand, the surgeon marks the areas for liposuction and the parts of the buttocks to be shaped, and takes photographs.
Liposuction
Through small incisions, the surgeon injects a fluid to reduce bleeding and discomfort, then removes fat with thin cannulas. This also slims and shapes the donor areas.
Preparing the fat
The collected fat is filtered and cleaned to separate healthy fat cells from fluid and damaged cells.
Transferring the fat
The purified fat is injected into the buttocks in many small amounts to build shape evenly. For safety, fat is placed only in the layer beneath the skin and above the muscle, never into the muscle itself. The incisions are then closed and a compression garment is fitted.
Recovery timeline
- First 24 hours
Your hospital stay begins. You lie on your front or side, take pain relief and blood-thinning medication, and are helped to walk early.
- Days 2–10
You recover in hospital until day 5. Swelling and bruising are common in both the liposuction and buttock areas. You return to light activities after about 7 to 10 days, but avoid sitting directly on your buttocks.
- Weeks 2–8
Use your BBL cushion when sitting for several weeks after the first two to three weeks of no direct sitting. Keep wearing compression. Light exercise can start from about four to six weeks, and full recovery usually takes six to eight weeks.
- Months 3–6
Some of the transferred fat is reabsorbed, and swelling settles. The buttocks soften and the final shape becomes clear.
Aftercare
- Avoid sitting or lying directly on your buttocks for about two to three weeks, then use a BBL cushion
- Sleep on your front or side
- Wear the compression garment day and night for as long as advised
- Walk several times a day to protect your circulation
- Take your medication exactly as prescribed
- Eat a balanced, protein-rich diet and keep your weight stable
- Avoid smoking, which reduces fat survival and slows healing
Risks and side effects
A BBL is a major procedure, and your surgeon will explain all the risks before you consent. They include:
- Swelling, bruising and temporary numbness
- Fluid collection (seroma) or bleeding
- Infection
- Uneven shape, lumps or asymmetry
- Loss of more fat than expected, which may need a top-up
- Fat necrosis, where some fat dies and forms firm lumps
- Contour irregularities in the liposuction areas
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Fat embolism, a rare but potentially life-threatening complication when fat enters a large blood vessel
- Reactions to the anaesthetic
Placing fat only above the muscle, choosing an experienced plastic surgeon and following your aftercare plan are the most important ways to reduce these risks.
Results
You will see a fuller, curvier shape straight away, though the buttocks will look larger at first because of swelling. As some fat is reabsorbed and the swelling goes down, the result settles at around three to six months. The fat that remains is long-lasting and changes with your weight like fat elsewhere in your body.
BBL in Turkey: your trip
Before you fly
You send photos of your body from several angles, along with your height, weight and medical history. The surgeon reviews them and our team sends you a treatment plan. Once you accept, we confirm your dates and pre-operative instructions.
In Istanbul
A VIP driver meets you at the airport. A translator stays with you through tests, consultations and discharge, and a companion can stay with you at no extra cost. Tests, surgery, hospital stay, medication and meals are covered by the package.
Back home
Your coordinator is available 24/7 on WhatsApp, follows your recovery and passes your photos and questions to the surgeon.
What the BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) package includes
- VIP transfers from and to Istanbul Airport (IST)
- Fully equipped room in the hospital
- Translation services at the hospital and during follow-up
- Pre-operative testing
- Consultation with your doctors
- Post-operative care and follow-ups for a year
- General anaesthesia
- Special compression garments
- One companion included in the price
- Three meals a day for you and your companion
- Full hospital stay for 4 nights, 5 days
- Aftercare package with a full set of medications to take home
BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) FAQ
How long do BBL results last?
The fat that survives in its new place in the first few months behaves like normal fat and is long-lasting. Part of the transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed, so the final size settles at around three to six months. Large changes in weight can affect the result.
Is a BBL safe?
Like any surgery, a BBL carries risks, including a rare but serious risk of fat entering large blood vessels. Current safe practice is to place fat only in the layer under the skin and never into the muscle, which greatly reduces this risk. Your surgeon will explain the technique and risks before you consent.
How long can I not sit after a BBL?
You will usually be asked to avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for about two to three weeks, and to use a special BBL cushion that takes pressure off them for several weeks after that. Sleeping on your front or side also protects the transferred fat.
Am I too slim for a BBL?
You need enough spare fat for the surgeon to harvest and transfer. If you are very slim, the change may be modest, or the surgeon may suggest gaining a little weight or considering implants instead.
When can I fly home?
Plan for 5 days in Istanbul with a full hospital stay of 4 nights. You fly home once the surgeon has checked you. Sitting for long periods is a challenge, so use your BBL cushion, wear compression stockings and walk the aisle often to lower the risk of blood clots.
Will I have scars?
Liposuction and fat injection are done through several small incisions a few millimetres long, placed in discreet areas where possible. They usually fade to small marks over the following months.
When can I return to exercise?
Walking starts the day after surgery. Light exercise can usually resume after about four to six weeks, and full activity after six to eight weeks, once your surgeon agrees. Avoid exercises that press on the buttocks in the early weeks.
