Posted by Dr. Miguel Fernández Calderón: 30/04/2026
Having the option to use excess fat from your own body to add volume to your buttocks and shape their contour is a very attractive and effective option that buttock lipoinjection offers you, also known as Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). With this procedure, you’ll achieve moderately voluminous buttocks with a natural appearance.
What is buttock lipoinjection?
Buttock lipoinjection is a surgical technique that involves extracting fat from the patient’s specific areas such as the thighs, hips, or abdomen, and then injecting it into the patient’s buttock area. This achieves an increase in volume and shapes the contour with a very natural appearance.
Differences between lipoinjection and buttock implants
- Buttock implants are silicone implants of different sizes designed to provide projection to the area. Lipoinjection, on the other hand, uses the patient’s own purified fat extracted to add volume to the area.
- To the touch, lipoinjection feels natural, whereas with an implant, the area feels firmer and more rigid.
- Implants come in fixed sizes and don’t vary. With lipoinjection, the volume depends on the extracted fat, taking into account that at least 30% may be reabsorbed by the body.
- Lipoinjection leaves very thin scars from the liposuction cannulas. Implant placement involves a longer scar to insert the implant.
- Lipoinjection has faster recovery; you just need to be careful not to sit on your buttocks. With implants, the muscle must heal around the implant and aftercare is more strict.
- As for price, both treatments range between €6,000 and €9,000. With one you pay for the implants, and with the other it includes two surgical procedures. If you want to know how much a BBL costs, book your personalized assessment.
How does lipofilling work in this area?
The procedure begins with the extraction of excess adipose tissue, generally located in the thighs, hips, and abdomen of the same patient. This undergoes a filtration and purification process to remove blood residue, impurities, and dead cells.
Then, the treated fat is reinjected into the buttock area to increase volume and shape the contour.
Ideal candidates for this treatment
To determine if you’re a patient who qualifies for this buttock reshaping, you should schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon specialist, who will take your medical history and perform medical reviews to assess your health and physical condition.
Physical and health requirements
In general terms, a patient suitable for this procedure must have sufficient body fat to allow extraction; the surgeon will determine this.
You must be in good overall health and not suffer from uncontrolled chronic conditions such as diabetes or circulation problems, as these increase the risk of surgical complications. Additionally, it’s important to have good skin elasticity.
This procedure is ideal for people with flat or minimal buttocks. It’s necessary to have realistic expectations about results. With this surgery you’ll achieve moderate volume in your buttocks; you should keep in mind that your body absorbs some of the injected fat.
When is it not the most suitable option?
If the patient presents any of these cases, this surgical technique won’t be the most recommended for her:
- Patient with little muscle mass, very thin, without sufficient adipose tissue deposits for extraction. In this case, buttock augmentation with implants is recommended.
- When the patient desires very voluminous buttocks as a result.
- For patients with saggy or loose skin. This technique increases volume but doesn’t correct sagging or excess skin problems.
How is the procedure performed step by step?
The surgery consists of three stages: liposuction, purification, and tissue injection.
Liposuction: where the fat is extracted from
The fat used in buttock lipoinjection is obtained through regular liposuction or HD liposuction, which is more advanced. Donor areas are typically the abdomen, thighs, waist, lower buttocks, and hips.
Purification and injection of fat into the buttocks
When the fat is extracted, it must undergo a purification process to obtain only the adipose tissue, eliminating dead cells, blood, and impurities.
Once the adipose tissue is filtered, we proceed to the final step, which is injecting it through fine cannulas into the buttock area to add volume.
Results and recovery time
The success of this procedure, aside from the patient’s health condition and the surgeon’s experience, depends on following post-operative care, as this will ensure that the injected fat cells remain alive and fulfill their function.
The average total recovery time is 3 to 6 months after the procedure, during which you’ll observe the final results.
What to expect in the first few weeks?
For the first 3 or 4 days after surgery you’ll feel discomfort and your buttocks will be very swollen, so complete rest is necessary.
During the first 2 to 4 weeks you won’t be able to sleep on your back or sit or lean on your buttocks area, as you cannot apply pressure to the area. To use the bathroom, you must use a special cushion.
During this same period, avoid strenuous exercise; you can only take short walks to activate circulation and prevent blood clot formation.
Your surgeon will instruct you to wear a compression garment exclusively on the area where liposuction was performed to reduce swelling.
Long-term results duration
The results of the surgery are permanent, but will depend on several factors:
- Proper nutrition: maintaining a balanced diet will prevent weight fluctuations, which can affect the volume of your buttocks.
- Exercise: performing exercises after buttock augmentation will keep the area toned and help you maintain your weight.
- Aging: as time passes, skin naturally loses elasticity and this treatment does not stop that process.
- Postoperative care: if you follow all the surgeon’s instructions, you’ll maintain results for longer, as fat cells remain viable.
Advantages over other buttock augmentation methods
Buttock fat transfer is a safe surgery as long as you complete the full medical evaluation process with a specialist surgeon and follow postoperative care. It’s a procedure using fat from the patient’s own body, so there are no rejection risks and no foreign materials are introduced.
This ensures natural results. The result is soft and light to the touch, and visually very natural.
The patient receives double benefit—the contour is reshaped where tissue was extracted and the buttocks are augmented. Additionally, recovery is more manageable, with less pain and faster healing compared to silicone implants.
Frequently asked questions about buttock fat transfer
Are buttock fat transfer results permanent?
Yes, the results of the treatment are permanent. Since the injected fat comes from the patient’s own body, it behaves as normal adipose tissue over time without rejection. Good lifestyle habits also influence the results.
How much fat is reabsorbed after the procedure?
Generally, the body reabsorbs between 20 and 30% of the total fat injected during the procedure.
When will final results be visible?
You will observe final results approximately 3 to 6 months after surgery, during which time swelling decreases considerably and the body reabsorbs the fat.
Ultimately: a natural solution to reshape your silhouette
When deciding to have aesthetic surgery, it’s important to consider not only the physical result but also the effects it may have on your health over time. That’s why buttock fat transfer is an excellent option to achieve a natural, harmonious, and aesthetic result for your buttocks while preserving your well-being.
References:
- https://gonzalez-fontana.com/lipotransferencia-gluteos
- https://www.cirugiaestetica.org/gluteos-perfectos-y-naturales-lipotransferencia-a-gluteos
