A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) involves using your own fat, harvested via liposuction, to add volume and improve the shape of the buttocks. If you are considering this procedure, understanding the journey from first appointment to surgery day will help you feel confident and prepared at every step.
The Initial Consultation
Your first appointment with a BBL surgeon is the most important step. During this visit, your surgeon will:
- Review your health history, medications, and any previous surgeries
- Assess your body composition, specifically, whether you have enough donor fat for a meaningful transfer
- Discuss your aesthetic goals and show before-and-after photos to calibrate expectations
- Explain the liposuction donor sites (typically abdomen, flanks, back, and inner thighs)
- Review risks, including the rare but serious risk of fat embolism, and safety protocols in place
- Provide a detailed cost estimate including surgeon, anesthesia, and facility fees
Come prepared with photos of your goal body, a list of questions, and honesty about your medical history.
Pre-Operative Appointments
In the weeks before surgery, you will attend one or more pre-operative appointments:
- Medical clearance from your primary care physician (bloodwork, EKG for patients over 40)
- Pre-op photos taken at the surgical practice
- Review of pre-operative instructions: stopping certain medications and supplements, fasting protocols, showering with antiseptic soap
- Fitting for your post-operative compression garment and BBL pillow
- Anesthesia pre-assessment if required by your facility
Surgery Day: What Happens
On the day of your BBL:
- Arrive at the accredited surgical facility at the scheduled time with a companion who will drive you home
- Change into a surgical gown and have an IV placed by the nursing team
- Your surgeon will mark your body while you are standing, identifying liposuction sites and target areas for fat injection
- General anesthesia or deep sedation is administered; surgery typically takes three to five hours
- Fat is harvested via liposuction, processed, and injected into multiple layers of the buttocks, avoiding intramuscular injection, per current safety guidelines
- You will wake up in the recovery area wearing your compression garment
The Day-After Appointment
Most BBL patients return for a wound check within 24–48 hours of surgery. Your surgeon will inspect the incision sites, evaluate drainage, and confirm you are recovering safely. Subsequent follow-up visits are scheduled at one week, one month, and three months. At Svelta Plastic Surgery in Miami, we walk every patient through each appointment so you never feel unprepared or alone in your journey.