BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT REVISION

Pros

• BBL revisions can address complications and help you reach your goal of creating a fuller, rounder, shapelier backside. 
• The surgery can often be performed through the existing scars. If new scars need to be made (for instance, if a different donor site is going to be used to harvest the fat), the incisions are typically very small (less than half an inch long) and can be well-concealed.
• The transferred fat should survive at the same rate or possibly better than it did during the first BBL procedure. 
• Secondary procedures may cost less than primary procedures, especially if you return to your original plastic surgeon.
• If you just need a touch-up, the downtime will be shorter than after your initial surgery.

Cons

• You need to wait at least six months to have a revision procedure. “If fat must be harvested from the same areas, I’d recommend waiting six months to a year for any scar tissue to soften and resolve,” says Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Sam Gershenbaum.
• It may require multiple treatment sessions to correct what you don’t like.
• You may not have enough fat to achieve the result that you want.
• Depending on the goal of the surgery, recovery—which includes not sitting directly on your butt for at least two weeks—may be as lengthy as it was the first time around.
• The BBL revision risks are largely the same as those for a primary Brazilian butt lift procedure, but there’s an increased risk of contour deformity and/or skin damage (especially if liposuction is performed in areas where you’ve previously had liposuction).
• Results can usually be improved, but it’s not a guarantee that you’ll like your revision result. During your initial consultation, make sure you and your surgeon are aligned on realistic expectations for the outcome.

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.

• Average Cost:
• $8,801

• Range:
• $4,000 - $18,000

Costs for a BBL revision vary greatly. You’ll have fees for anesthesia, the facility, and surgical supplies. Beyond that, the surgeon’s fee will depend on the complexity and length of your procedure. 

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. 

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. You’ll likely get the best rate from your primary surgeon, while one who’s fixing a poor result from your original provider may charge a premium.

Cosmetic surgery procedures aren’t 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 what’s being done, BBL revisions can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours or more.

It’s 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. “If you perform liposuction in the same area as in the first surgery and have scarring, you’ll likely have more bleeding—and it may be more painful for the patient. Everything just gets kicked up a notch.” 

There are three possible components to a BBL revision procedure:

• Liposuction and contouring of abnormal areas in the buttock (if there are any)
• Liposuction to harvest additional fat or contour around the buttocks
• Additional fat grafting in targeted areas

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. 

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. 

When the procedure is complete, you’ll wake up wearing a compression garment. You’ll 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 vessels—a 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 they’ll use ultrasound to image your buttocks before or while performing a secondary surgery. According to Dr. Rodriguez, there’s a solid rationale for doing so. “In 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 plane—above the muscle.”

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 it’s safe for you to sit for 30 minutes or less, every two hours. 

“Too much pressure on the area can compromise the blood supply to the new fat and cause it not to ‘take,’” says Dr. Rodriguez. Venous congestion (fluid build-up) can also affect fat graft survival. 

You’ll 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 doctor’s instructions for pain management.

Your provider may also recommend avoiding strenuous exercise for six weeks.

You’ll 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 60–80% 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, it’s 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 can’t 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.