Brazilian Butt Augmentation in McAllen and Brownsville

What is Brazilian Butt Augmentation?

Brazilian Butt Augmentation (or Brazilian Buttock Augmentation) is a procedure that uses your body’s own fat to enhance your gluteal contour. Rather than using an implant, the procedure removes fat cells from one part of the body – like the stomach, hips, or thighs – and transfers them into the buttocks to provide natural fullness and an increase in size. A Brazilian Butt Augmentation improves the contour and the attractiveness of the buttocks by lifting, increasing the size, enhancing the shape, correcting proportional imbalances, and increasing firmness. In addition, the overall body contour will be improved since fat will be removed from areas such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, back, arms, chest and neck. The best candidate for this procedure is a physically healthy, normal weight, person with firm, elastic skin, and who has realistic goals.  Additionally, it is necessary to have sufficient fat on other areas of the body to remove and transfer to the buttocks.

The benefits of using fat transfer for buttock augmentation include not having to use an implant as well as having liposuction done to other areas in order to capture the fat. The only slight disadvantage is that the body will reabsorb some of the fat that is transferred to the buttocks. It is not always possible to predict exactly how much will be reabsorbed, however the fat transfer techniques used for Brazilian Butt Augmentation typically result in 60-75% fat graft survival or “take”. This means that what you have remaining after three months will be yours permanently.

Procedure:
Brazilian Buttock Augmentation is typically performed on an outpatient basis, and can last between ninety minutes to four hours depending on the amount of fat removed, number of areas treated, and the size of the buttocks desired. The procedure involves tumescent Liposculpting and the transfer of your own fat to the buttocks.  Mostly all rear ends look better with added volume, but it is not simply a matter of adding more fat to the butt. What is important is where and how the fat is placed.  This is what will determined whether the new buttocks is full and harmonious, as well as how much of the added fat with “take” as opposed to being reabsorbed by the body.  Therefore, it is important to ensure that your surgeon is very well trained in this procedure and that the technique used ensures the best placement of fat and maximizes the amount of fat that will remain in the buttocks.

In performing a Brazilian But Augmentation, I use micro-cannula liposuction techniques to gently collect fat cells from donor areas of your body, such as the tummy, love handles, or outer thighs. In addition, I use liposuction to sculpt the areas around the butt that will frame where the fat will be injected. This helps to lift the butt and creates a harmonious, sculpted result. I then prepare the fat for transfer and remove impurities from the harvested fat. The fat is then injected into the buttock through tiny incisions, which are practically invisible when healed.  In order to maximize the amount of fat that will remain in the buttocks, pearl-size drops of fat are transferred into different layers of the muscles and fat – starting with the deepest, intra-muscular layer – where they will be near a blood supply. In addition to minimizing the amount of fat that will be reabsorbed, this layering method also creates a smooth, more rounded buttock with no irregular places showing through the skin.  Every case is different, but on average the amount of fat required for each buttock is about 350 to 650 milliliters (mL) of pure fat. Thus, for both sides, about 700 - 1300 mL is needed, which equals about 1 to about 2 pounds of fat.

What about Recovery?
Recovery from a fat transfer into the buttock depends primarily on the length of time it takes for you to recuperate from the liposuctioned areas. Fortunately, recuperation from Liposuction surgery is relatively easy. Most patients awaken with little or no pain as a result of the tumescent anesthesia and are mobile immediately after liposuction, although an extra day or two of bed rest may be needed when large amounts of fat are removed. Keep in mind that healing is a gradual process. Initially, you may feel somewhat stiff and sore. The day after surgery, you should be up and walking around to promote normal circulation. You should begin normal activity as soon as possible to reduce post-operative complications. Light exercise is usually permitted within a few days.

You should expect some bruising, swelling, and pain after your procedure. It is also normal if you feel as though you have lost sensation in the areas treated. As your nerves begin to regenerate, feeling and sensation should return to normal. Swelling may linger for as long as several months. Pain medication will be prescribed for any discomfort. However, you should contact us immediately if you begin to have severe pain. The swelling tends to subside most dramatically after the first 4 to 6 weeks, although the final result and skin tightening after liposuction takes 4 to 6 months. There will most likely be some bruising after your procedure, but this tends to go away during the first two weeks. You will wear special elastic compression garments to apply pressure, minimize swelling, and provide support while healing. These garments also assist in the retraction of the skin. These garments can be somewhat hot and uncomfortable, but they must be worn continuously for the first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, except when showering, in order to maximize your cosmetic outcome. After the first 4 to 6 weeks, the compression garment can be used for support and comfort as desired for an additional 3 weeks. 

You will be sent home in a black colored compression garment that will resist staining from the leaking of the tumescent fluid the first 2 to 3 days after surgery and which has zippers to make it easier to put on after showering.  You will wear this black garment for the first 3 to 4 days, after which you will switch to a flesh colored garment once the leaking has stopped and your initial swelling has gone down. This second garment has no zippers and is to be worn for the remaining 4 to 6 weeks. The zippers are to be avoided as they can create contour defects along the sides.

It is important that you stay off the buttocks as much as possible for the first two weeks because the buttocks is revascularizing the newly implanted fatty tissue. It is best that you sleep on your abdomen or sides and when you sit, sit on the thighs as much as possible to take direct pressure of the buttocks.

You may shower on the second or third day following surgery, but no bathing, swimming, or hot tubs until 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Depending on the number of areas treated, you will be ready to return to office work in 3 to 5 days, and more strenuous activities at 10 to 14 days. You may increase your activity daily until full activity is resumed at 2 to 4 weeks. Avoid the sun until all bruising has subsided. A sunscreen should be used routinely.  Patients should note that it is easy to get sunburned during recovery because of temporarily diminished sensation.

Your New Look
Your results will be recognizable almost immediately after Liposuction and Brazilian Butt Augmentation, and will continue to improve gradually as the swelling subsides. The unwanted and unflattering bulges that prevented you from wearing your favorite styles of clothing will be gone.  You will have a new, slimmer contour and your buttocks will be fuller, more lifted and shapelier!

With your diligent attention to a healthy diet, moderate exercise, and a weight management program, your treated areas should look great and retain their sculptured appearance. If you gain weight, you will generally gain it in areas other than those that were liposuctioned.

Preparation
During you consultation you should be very open and provide all of your medical history and list all of the medications, vitamins, and herbs you are taking even if you do not think they are important.
Some tips that may help shorten your recovery time and decrease your chances of complications are:

• Discontinue using Aspirin (including medications that contain Aspirin), Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, St. John’s Wort, Vitamin E and other supplements as directed.  These act as blood thinners and could cause excessive bruising, bleeding or other complications. We will give you a complete list of medications and herbal supplements to avoid prior to your procedure.
• Stop smoking for at least two weeks before and one week after surgery, as nicotine can impair circulation and healing.
• Do not drink alcohol in excess for two weeks before your liposculpting procedure and one week after the surgery.
• Drink a lot of water in the days leading up to your liposculpting procedure.

To make your recovery easier and more comfortable be sure to:

• Arrange for someone to take you home and take care of you for at least the first day.
• Fill your prescriptions and place them within easy reach of where you will be resting.
• Place plenty of pillows, a spare compression and hand towels for drainage nearby.

Moving Forward

To learn more about Brazilian Butt Augmentation in McAllen and Brownsville, click here to request a consultation with Dr. Filiberto Rodriguez , a cosmetic fellowship-trained, board-certified surgeon specializing in Liposuction and Butt Augmentation in McAllen and Brownsville. Or, you can call his office to schedule your appointment: 956-350-6561.