BBL frente a Implantes de Glúteos: ¿Qué procedimiento es el adecuado para ti?

The buttocks can be affected by aging just like other areas of the body. A loss of elasticity and volume can lead to sagging or changes in shape. Some people also have naturally less volume in this area and want a more pronounced contour that better matches their proportions.

There are several surgical options that can address volume loss in the buttocks, including Brazilian butt lifts and butt implants. Each of these surgeries has a different scope and results. At PURE Plastic Surgery, we can help you understand how these two options differ so you can make an informed decision about which surgery is right for you. 

What Are Your Goals for Butt Enhancement? 

Additional Volume

One of the most common goals for butt enhancement is increased volume in the buttocks. Patients may feel the area looks flat in certain clothing, or they may find that the volume has changed after weight loss. It helps to come into your consultation with some idea about how much volume you would like to add and which areas you would like to enhance. 

Better Shape and Projection

Volume is not the only thing that matters when it comes to lower-body proportions. The shape and projection of the buttocks can also impact your silhouette. Adding more projection can improve the appearance of the profile of the body, while a smoother shape can make the buttocks look more youthful. Butt contouring involves considering all of these factors while planning the right enhancement. 

More Hip Fullness

Hip fullness impacts the overall curve from the lower back, through the waist, and to the thighs. Hip dips or less fullness in the outer hips create less contrast between the waist and the buttocks. Often, patients also wish to add more volume to the hips in addition to increasing buttock size.

BBL vs. Butt Implants

BBL: Fat Transfer Procedures

A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a technique where fat is taken from other areas of your body and transferred to the buttocks to add volume and shape. The fat is removed using liposuction, often from the abdomen, flanks or thighs to further improve the contours of the entire area. Then it is processed to remove any unwanted materials before being placed into a syringe for injection back into the buttocks. This approach uses only materials taken from your own body and can come with fewer complications than butt implants when the surgeon is knowledgeable and using the most recent techniques, such as ultrasound guidance. This is our preferred surgery, and the one that we offer at PURE Plastic Surgery. 

Butt Implants

Butt implants involve placing solid silicone implants either within or beneath the gluteal muscle. Sometimes surgeons will use this method when the patient is very thin and does not have enough harvestable fat, but still wants to increase the size or projection of the buttocks. Butt implants provide a fixed volume and shape, and often more exaggerated results when compared to a BBL. At PURE Plastic Surgery, we do not use butt implants due to the risk of unfavorable results, rejection, malposition and an unnatural feel. 

Other Butt Enhancement Options

Butt Lift

If you have loose, sagging skin on the buttocks, adding volume may not give you the results you are looking for. With a butt lift, excess skin is removed, and the remaining tissue is tightened to create a higher buttock with a firmer appearance. We may recommend this option either by itself or alongside BBL for patients who have experienced significant weight loss or who have age-related skin laxity and want a smoother contour. 

Nonsurgical Skin Tightening

If there is mild laxity on the buttocks, it can sometimes be treated with nonsurgical methods such as Morpheus8 RF microneedling. This treatment can improve the texture of the skin by stimulating collagen production. Cellulite can also be treated nonsurgically with Morpheus8 or more targeted cellulite treatments like Avéli. 

RF Skin Tightening

For more noticeable skin laxity, we also offer RF skin tightening using BodyTite and Renuvion J-Plasma. BodyTite uses RF energy to gently heat the subdermal tissues and cause the skin to contract, while Renuvion combines RF energy with helium plasma to achieve this effect. Our surgeons can help decide which device is best suited to help you achieve your goals. 

AlloClae Fat Transfer

Lower-BMI patients and those looking for subtle improvement now have an off-the-shelf option for buttock enhancement: AlloClae fat transfer. AlloClae uses purified donor fat to add volume without a round of liposuction first. It also works with your body's natural regenerative process to increase collagen production for firmer, smoother skin. AlloClae is ideal if you don't have enough fat for traditional fat transfer, you want to fine-tune certain areas, or you're looking to address small dents or asymmetries in the hips or buttocks. PURE Plastic Surgery is the first practice on the Southeast Coast to offer this innovative procedure. 

Comparing BBL and Butt Implant Procedures and Recovery

Procedure

A Brazilian butt lift allows for more flexibility in shaping because volume can be placed in small amounts and in multiple layers, with adjustments during the surgery to address asymmetry or to add more volume to certain places. Implant surgery follows a more standardized placement, with some variation in implant type and size. Both usually require general anesthesia.

Recovery

There are restrictions with both types of surgery that include modified sitting and sleeping positions, incision care and restrictions on movement. However, butt implants involve larger incisions that can take longer to heal, while a BBL involves very small incisions that are placed in discreet locations. Recovery is usually more involved with butt implants. 

Results

The type of results that you get with each method of gluteal augmentation will be different. Fat transfer results in softer results that look more natural, while a butt implant may involve more noticeable results that are less natural-looking and have a more fixed shape. However, with a BBL, final results take some time to develop, as some of the transferred fat will be absorbed by the body. This is natural and something our double-board-certified plastic surgeons account for when planning your procedure.

What Is Your Starting Point?

Current Buttock Size and Skin Quality

Your existing buttock size and the condition of your skin are both important when determining how much volume can be added and what the results will look like. If you have skin with good elasticity, you may find that the area can accommodate additional volume while still looking smooth and even. We will consider both of these factors when helping you decide what type of augmentation or BBL surgery is right for you. 

Where You Store Fat

Fat distribution is different for everyone, and not every patient has enough excess fat in areas like the waist, thighs or hips to transfer large volumes to the buttocks. Some people carry fat in pockets on the abdomen and flanks, while others have more diffuse fat with limited donor areas. During your consultation with us, we will identify the areas of usable fat to see whether fat grafting is a feasible option. 

BMI and Overall Frame

BMI is an important consideration for any butt enhancement surgery. We generally recommend that you are at or close to your target weight, and we stress to our patients that liposuction and fat grafting surgeries are not to be used for weight loss. For a BBL, you should have a BMI of more than 20 to have enough fat for the procedure.  

Why PURE Is Miami’s Top BBL Destination 

At PURE Plastic Surgery, we have improved upon the traditional BBL with more modern techniques that make the surgery safer for our patients and give them a better end result. We use ultrasound guidance for all BBLs (no exceptions), we’ve developed our signature South Beach Butt Lift (SoBeBL), and we now offer the V-Lift performed by Dr. Vidal, which combines a surgical butt lift to remove sagging skin with fat transfer to the buttocks.  

Our innovations and advanced techniques mean you have options when it comes to creating a look you’ll love. If you want to address loose skin while adding volume to your backside, the V-Lift is a great choice. If you want a BBL that leaves virtually no trace and results that look enhanced yet subtle, the SoBeBL might be right for you. For patients who want more dramatic results, a traditional, ultrasound-guided BBL can help you achieve your goals. During your consultation, our team will walk you through your options and help determine which approach is right for you! 

Learn More About Buttock Enhancement in Miami, FL

Finding the right surgery for you can take time and plenty of discussions with your surgeon. At PURE Plastic Surgery, we take as much time as needed to help you understand all of our services and match you with the option that makes the most sense. We offer our own signature Brazilian butt lift surgery in Miami, FL, and can increase buttock volume while giving you a proportional and natural-looking shape. If you are ready to schedule a consultation, we are available by phone at 305-230-4326 or through our website.