Can fat be transferred to the butt during a lower body lift? What is the additional cost?

Question

Sorry if my question is confusing. I plan to have a lower body lift procedure done in the future. My question is, can the fat that's taken from the procedure be transferred to the butt to improve it's appearance? How do you transfer the fat? Will there be scarring on the butt from this? And my final question, about how much additional money could I be expected to pay?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding if fat can be transferred to the buttocks during a lower body lift. The traditional position to put fat in the buttock is in the fatty layer of the buttock. This is just underneath the skin and above the muscle. In the past, plastic surgeons injected fat into the buttock muscle. Mainly gluteus Maximus muscle unfortunately by placing fat into the muscle. This can lead to catastrophic and fatal consequences this is why the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) was sometimes touted as the most dangerous plastic surgery procedure. Since the discovery that the positioning of fat in the muscle can be fatal, almost all plastic surgeons have abandoned this practice. Therefore, most plastic surgeons no longer inject fat into the gluteus Maximus muscle. The problem with a lower body lift is where to place the fat. If the fat is placed in the appropriate fatty level, it may be difficult to close the buttock, jeopardizing the blood supply and leading to wound breakdown. Therefore, in my opinion, it is not a good idea to transfer fat. Instead, I would do the lower body lift first, and approximately four to six months later, I would proceed with the fat transfer. If you are staging your procedures, you can get fat from the inner thighs or arms and transfer it to your buttocks.
Fat is usually harvested from a donor site such as love handles, arms thighs; back then, The fat was washed with antibiotics and strained to obtain the purest fat. Usually, three incisions are created. The incisions are about the size of a grain of rice. These are placed at the top of the buttock crack and underneath the buttock cheek. The cost of each surgery ranges by plastic surgeon. Please consult with at least 5-6 surgeons to determine your range of costs. Costs are highly variable. I hope I answered your question about if fat can be transferred to the buttocks during a lower body lift.

Sugene Kim, MD, FACS · Answer

One of the most popular procedures after massive weight loss is a 
lower body lift.  If you are considering a lower body lift - this 
procedure (LBL) is also referred to as  circumferential body lift = belt
 lipectomy.  This procedure is essentially 3 procedures in one: extended
 tummy tuck + waist/lateral thigh lift + buttock lift.  The buttock lift
 can also include buttock augmentation using your own excess skin and fat to volumize your buttocks.   The lateral thigh lift will 
help contour the lateral aspect of your thighs.  The procedure can taken
 between 5-7 hours depending on the amount of tissue/skin that needs 
removal/treatment.  Please see a board certified plastic surgeon to 
learn more about your options.

Dr. Sugene Kim

C. Bob Basu, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

If you are planning to have a lower body lift, you may be a candidate for autologous buttock augmentation using your own excess skin and fat (essentially using some of the excess skin and fat this is thrown away with your body lift).   A common first line of attack for patients who have lost weight is a 
body lift procedure. Most plastic surgeons refer to a body lift as a 
circumferential body lift = belt lipectomy = lower body lift. This 
procedure is essentially 3 procedures in one: extended tummy tuck + 
waist/lateral thigh lift + buttock lift (with the option of buttock 
augmentation).  Again, a physical exam would be needed to make any 
recommendations. Please visit with a plastic surgeon certified by the 
American Board of Plastic Surgery to learn more about your options.Best wishes,Dr. BasuHouston, TX

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

Fat transfer to the buttocks enhances the contour after lift. In many cases performing the buttock lift alone tightens the buttock but could make it slightly flat. There is where fat grafting is very helpful.

Carmen Kavali, MD · Answer

Great question!  Yes, fat can absolutely be transferred to the buttocks during a body lift surgery.  Many women have flattening of the buttocks after weight loss, and adding volume helps.  You our might also consider an autologous gluteal augmention.  Basically, we can rotate the muffin top tissue into the buttocks to create more buttock fullness.  This is tissue we would otherwise be throwing away as part of the body lift.  The procedure isn't as simple as I've just made it sound, but it works beautifully and doesn't add to the recovery time.

Can fat be transferred to the butt during a lower body lift? What is the additional cost?

Answers (7)

Answer: Fat transfer to enhance the body contour

Answer: Fat transfer to enhance the body contour

Answer: Better buttocks after body lift

Answer: Better buttocks after body lift

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Can fat be transferred to the butt during a lower body lift? What is the additional cost?

Answers (7)

Answer: Fat transfer to enhance the body contour

Answer: Fat transfer to enhance the body contour

Answer: Better buttocks after body lift

Answer: Better buttocks after body lift

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Body Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.