Today’s Safest Butt Lift Options, from Surgery to Injectables

In recent years, Brazilian butt lift (BBL) surgery has come under scrutiny for its rate of complications, with the procedure’s quick rise to popularity and unscrupulous surgeons both contributing to the problem. Studies revealed these safety issues resulted in part from the use of an incorrect and dangerous injection method. Thankfully, most board-certified plastic surgeons practicing today are informed about the best injection practices for avoiding these complications. Performed correctly by a highly-qualified plastic surgeon, the Brazilian butt lift is a safe and effective procedure.

That said, many patients want to avoid surgery—and the BBL is no longer the only way to lift and shape up your backside! A safe, non-surgical alternative our patients absolutely love is injectable butt lift with Sculptra®. Today, we’re comparing these two injectable butt lift options so you can decide which is right for you.

Little-to-no downtime butt lift with Sculptra

Injectable technology has given us a large menu of neurotoxins and facial wrinkle fillers, but we think the butt lift with Sculptra is one of the most amazing uses of injectable filler yet. Sculptra is our go-to butt lift option because it’s non-surgical and the recovery requires little-to-no downtime, so most patients go right back to their normal routine soon after receiving injections (with no donut pillows required!).

After Sculptra injections, you’ll see an instantly improved lift and contour to your buttocks, with gradual, cumulative improvements to skin firmness and contour. Sculptra is composed of poly-L-lactic acid, which promotes collagen growth in your skin over time and leads to these ever-improving results. One set of injections lasts about two years, and for most patients, we recommend about 2 injection sessions. Still, you decide how often and when to return for additional treatments, so you control the extent of your butt lift.

Advances in Brazilian butt lift safety

The Brazilian butt lift involves liposuction on the hips, thighs, abdomen, or flanks to retrieve fat to be re-injected in your buttocks. Liposuction is surgery, requiring a recovery time of about two weeks. It is an effective butt lift method, with 70% or more of the injected fat usually remaining in the area long-term, and can have lasting results if you follow after-care instructions and maintain a stable weight.

We pride ourselves on educating our patients on the procedures they’re undergoing and empowering them to make informed choices about their body. When you consult with a plastic surgeon, do not be afraid to ask them about the history of the BBL, and their own history with the procedure. If they deny that there is any safety risk, walk away.

A good surgeon should transparently and honestly explain the safety risk: if the fat is injected into the gluteal muscle or below the muscle, there is a risk that it can enter your bloodstream and cause a pulmonary embolism, or blood vessel blockage. Surgeons should use safer, recommended techniques to prevent this complication, including thicker, blunt-tip cannulas for injection and a shallow injection angle that avoids the gluteal muscle.

Why we prefer the injectable butt lift over the Brazilian butt lift

The choice for your butt lift depends on your lifestyle and goals, and we are happy to be able to offer both procedure options. Still, Sculptra is our go-to in many cases, and we want to take a moment to break down the reasons why Sculptra is our favorite way to enhance the derrière.

1. Sculptra is safe

BBL fat injections are placed in the subcutaneous fat layer, which is close to muscle. Sculptra is injected just below the surface of the skin in the dermis, so you’re far less likely to have any complications.

2. Sculptra gives the injector better control over the aesthetic outcome

Want a strong projection of the upper quadrant of your behind? We can use the right amount of Sculptra to get that shape and visualize your final results in real time. With fat injections, we also endeavor to inject the right amount of fat to get your desired contour, but we cannot know exactly how much fat will “take” in a given area and become permanent. BBL injections typically shrink over the course of 6-12 months as the body loses a percentage of injected fat. In contrast, Sculptra results are very dependable, instantly attractive, and continue to improve as the body produces extra collagen.

3. Sculptra requires no recovery

There’s basically no recovery needed after Sculptra. We apply a topical anesthetic to the treatment area before the injection to minimize discomfort, and after you leave the office, you can return to your routine—including sitting and exercising! You may experience some soreness in the area, and some patients experience mild side effects at the treatment area.

By comparison, recovery from BBL is quite involved. You’ll have to undergo anesthesia for surgery and take pain medication afterwards. The area where your fat was harvested via liposuction will be sore, and you’ll need to wear a compression garment to ensure a good result. Additionally, to help the fat take, you’ll need to avoid sitting, and sleep on your stomach for many weeks. The recovery will also put a crimp in your workout routine, as physical activity must be restricted for some time post-procedure.

Looking for a butt lift in Atlanta? Let’s talk!

When you’re ready to talk to a board certified plastic surgeon about your butt lift options, give us a call. At The Swan Center for Plastic Surgery, we help Atlanta residents enhance their natural beauty with liposuction, fat transfer, and injectables every day. Our team of plastic surgeons is ready to help you make the results you want a reality.