Brazilian butt lift revision surgery is performed to enhance or correct the results of an initial BBL procedure.
An expertly performed BBL revision surgery can:
Your surgical plan will depend on your unique concerns, anatomy, and desired results. Some revisions involve transferring more fat to enhance the buttock shape or size, while others selectively remove fat via liposuction.
âSometimes I do a combination of butt implants and more fat grafting, depending on the individual patient needs,â says Austin, Texas, plastic surgeon Dr. Johnny Franco. For instance, if a patient is too thin and doesnât have enough excess fat to be harvested and transferred to the buttocks, butt implants can round out the area and create more projection.Â
Most surgeons on RealSelf advise patients to wait at least six months (possibly a year) before a gluteal fat augmentation revision. It can take up to a year for the fat to be revascularized and survive on its own, and for the swelling to resolve so you can see the final results from your original procedure. At this point, you and your surgeon will be able to assess your options to improve them.Â
âDoing surgery before this point is typically like trying to hit a moving target, since your body is still changing from surgery,â says Dr. Franco. âAlso, giving your body time to heal allows the scar tissue from liposuction to soften and give the fat transfer a chance to heal, so that the next surgery can be as precise as possible.âÂ
Some issues may work themselves out during this waiting period. For instance, fat necrosis, which occurs when transplanted fat dies and becomes nodular (which feels like a firm, round lump), usually softens with time and resolves within 6 to 12 months. If it persists or causes pain, it can be carefully removed with liposuction.
Related: Donât Like Your Butt Augmentation? Hereâs How to Reverse BBLs, Injections, and Implants
When considering revision surgery, patients need to manage their expectations, cautions Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Lutherville, Maryland. âEvery time you go back, thereâs a little bit more uncertainty.âÂ
These factors make it all the more crucial that the surgeon performing your surgery has extensive experience in secondary BBL procedures. Many of the best BBL revision doctors specialize in correcting the results of procedures performed by less experienced surgeons.
Brazilian butt lift surgery has a higher incidence of post-op complications than most cosmetic procedures because of the wide range of techniques used and varying skill levels of the surgeons performing it. Not all surgeons who offer gluteal fat augmentation have the training necessary to perform this complex procedure or know the safest and most up-to-date techniques, so doing your homework and choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon is essential.Â
Most BBL complications are related to poor processing of fat, Dr. Rodriguez explains. He recommends asking detailed questions about how your prospective surgeon processes the fat. âDoes the surgeon harvest the fat at low pressure? Does the surgeon rinse the fat, to rid it of impurities? Does the surgeon inject the fat little by little or in large chunks, which have lower survival rates?âÂ
According to Dr. Rodriguez, poorly processed fat can undergo necrosis (cell death) once injected. âThis will cause inflammation that can lead to nodules, infection, and pain, among other complications.âÂ
Pros
Cons
RealSelf Tip: Make sure your BBL revision surgeon is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has years or decades of experience in advanced body-sculpting techniques; has great reviews and before and after photos; and is a member of a reputable society, like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Costs for a BBL revision vary greatly. Youâll have fees for anesthesia, the facility, and surgical supplies. Beyond that, the surgeonâs fee will depend on the complexity and length of your procedure.Â
Touch-up procedures can be relatively reasonable, especially if you return to your original surgeon. Some surgeons even waive their fees for certain revision procedures.Â
If you have a more complex case that requires lipo in multiple body areas (for fat harvesting or body contouring), your surgeon will probably have to charge you more for their time.
Some patients also opt for complementary procedures, such as breast augmentation or a tummy tuck, that can dramatically inflate the final bill.
The experience level, credentials, and practice location of your plastic surgeon will also influence the cost. Youâll likely get the best rate from your primary surgeon, while one whoâs fixing a poor result from your original provider may charge a premium.
Cosmetic surgery procedures arenât covered by insurance, but most plastic surgeons offer payment plans or accept third-party financing options, such as CareCredit.
The Brazilian butt lift revision photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
Depending on whatâs being done, BBL revisions can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours or more.
Itâs possible to have a minimal touch-up under local anesthesia, but more complex BBL revisions are typically performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation.
Revision surgery is always more difficult, and revision BBL is no exception, says Dr. Rodriguez. âIf you perform liposuction in the same area as in the first surgery and have scarring, youâll likely have more bleedingâand it may be more painful for the patient. Everything just gets kicked up a notch.âÂ
There are three possible components to a BBL revision procedure:
Just prior to your procedure, your surgeon will mark other areas of the body that will be liposuctioned for fat harvesting and outline the areas they plan to augment or correct.Â
Once the fat has been harvested, it will be purified to isolate the most viable fat cells.
The purified fat will be loaded into syringes or cannulas and carefully injected into the buttocks, to increase their size or improve contours. Your surgeon may use a technique of precise layering and massaging so that the fat settles correctly, with a smooth result.
Surgical drains may be inserted to prevent fluid buildup (seroma) that can lead to infection, though drains are not needed if the surgeon uses small liposuction cannulas and small injection cannulas.Â
When the procedure is complete, youâll wake up wearing a compression garment. Youâll be groggy, so make sure someone you trust is there to get you home safely.
RealSelf Tip: The gluteal area is very vascular. Fat that enters a vein can be carried into the heart or lungs, creating a fat embolism that blocks those critical vesselsâa potentially life-threatening situation. Before signing up for more surgery, find a plastic surgeon who knows and follows the latest safety protocols.
Also ask your potential surgeon if theyâll use ultrasound to image your buttocks before or while performing a secondary surgery. According to Dr. Rodriguez, thereâs a solid rationale for doing so. âIn normal virgin BBLs, the planes between the skin and the muscle fascia are soft and well-defined. But in a return case, you can hit adhesions that can drive you into the muscle. The use of ultrasound will help the surgeon stay in the right planeâabove the muscle.â
The initial recovery after a BBL revision can take between two and six weeks, depending on the extent of your procedure.
Plan to take 10 to 14 days off work and avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for at least two weeks, unless your surgeon says itâs safe for you to sit for 30 minutes or less, every two hours.Â
âToo much pressure on the area can compromise the blood supply to the new fat and cause it not to âtake,ââ says Dr. Rodriguez. Venous congestion (fluid build-up) can also affect fat graft survival.Â
Youâll need to wear a compression garment for up to six weeks to reduce bruising and swelling, and to help any loose skin retract.
Pain, swelling, and bruising should begin to decrease after about a week. However, pain from liposuction in a previously liposuctioned area may be worse than after the first procedure. Follow your doctorâs instructions for pain management.
Your provider may also recommend avoiding strenuous exercise for six weeks.
Youâll see your initial results immediately, but it can take four months or more to see your final results, once most of the swelling goes down.
About 60â80% of the transferred fat survives a primary BBL, and the percentage of fat survival for a revision procedure should be about the same, if not more.
To maintain your results, itâs best to stay within 10 to 20 pounds of your operative weight. Weight loss can lead to lost volume, while gaining weight can emphasize areas with a high fat volume and create asymmetry. Doctors on RealSelf recommend a healthy diet and exercise to shed unwanted weight, for a more natural-looking result than a surgical solution.
A secondary BBL alone canât treat or reduce cellulite. In fact, it may actually make it worse.
Cellulite dimples are caused by septa, fibrous bands that connect skin to the fascia that covers muscles. Fat lies in compartments between those tight bands. When more fat is added, the dimples can become even more noticeable.
Cellulite treatments like Avéli sever the septal bands, to release the skin and smooth out dimpling.
Updated September 15, 2023