Good candidates for a Brazilian butt lift are healthy adults aged 18 and over with a stable weight, enough spare fat in areas such as the abdomen, flanks or thighs to transfer, reasonable skin tone over the buttocks and realistic expectations. A BBL is less suitable for people who are very slim, still losing weight, smoke, have significant medical conditions or mainly have loose, sagging skin rather than a lack of volume.
The ideal profile
- Donor fat: enough fat to harvest from one or more areas; it is the patient’s own fat that creates the result.
- Stable weight: at or close to your long-term weight for at least six months.
- Good skin tone: skin over the buttocks that is reasonably firm, so added volume creates shape rather than sag.
- General health: no uncontrolled heart, lung, clotting or other conditions that raise surgical risk.
- Non-smoker: or willing to stop all nicotine products for several weeks before and after surgery.
- Realistic goals: a desire for better proportion and shape rather than an extreme result.
BMI and weight
There is no single cut-off, but body mass index matters for safety. A very high BMI increases the risks of anaesthesia, blood clots and wound problems, and surgery may be safer after some weight loss. A very low BMI means there may not be enough fat to transfer, although a skinny BBL using smaller volumes can suit some slim patients. What matters most is that your weight is stable, because grafted fat changes with weight gain and loss.
Health factors that affect suitability
Mr Nassab will take a full medical history, including:
- Blood clots: a personal or family history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, or clotting disorders.
- Medication: blood thinners, hormonal medicines and weight-loss medication, which may need to be discussed with your prescriber.
- Chronic conditions: diabetes, heart or lung disease and conditions affecting healing.
- Previous buttock procedures: earlier fat grafting or injections of fillers or other substances.
- Emotional wellbeing: surgery is not recommended where there is excessive preoccupation with appearance or significant life stress.
In some cases a letter from your GP or tests before surgery will be requested.
Timing: weight loss and pregnancy
If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight, it is usually better to do so first and wait until your weight has settled. Similarly, pregnancy can change the shape of the abdomen, hips and buttocks, so many women prefer to wait until their family is complete. Surgery is generally not advised until at least six months after giving birth and after breastfeeding has finished.
Who may not be suitable
A BBL may not be the right choice if you are very slim with little donor fat and unwilling to consider a modest result; if your main concern is excess, sagging skin after major weight loss; if you smoke and cannot stop; if you have an uncontrolled medical condition; or if you are hoping for a very large increase in size. BAAPS safety guidance advises that fat should only be placed in the subcutaneous layer, never into the muscle, which places a natural limit on how much volume can be added safely in one session.
Alternatives to a BBL
- Glute-focused training: building the gluteal muscles can improve shape and lift, especially for slim people.
- Liposuction alone: reducing the waist, flanks and lower back can make the buttocks look more prominent without adding fat. See liposuction.
- 360 liposuction: contouring around the whole midsection can improve proportion. See 360 liposuction.
- Waiting: if weight or life circumstances are changing, delaying surgery is often the sensible choice.
What happens next
At consultation, Mr Nassab will examine donor areas and the buttocks, discuss your goals and explain the risks, recovery and realistic outcomes. You may be advised that a BBL is not right for you, or that another approach would suit you better. Buttock fat grafting (BBL) costs from £12,500 and the £150 consultation is separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone be too slim for a BBL?
Sometimes. A skinny BBL uses smaller volumes of fat and can suit slimmer patients, but the degree of change will be more modest.
Is there a BMI limit for a BBL?
There is no single figure, but a very high BMI increases surgical risk and a very low BMI limits available fat. Mr Nassab assesses this individually.
Can smokers have a BBL?
Smoking and nicotine products impair blood supply to grafted fat and healing, so you will be asked to stop well before and after surgery.
Should you have a BBL before or after having children?
Many women prefer to wait until their family is complete, as pregnancy can change the result.
