Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), clinically known as gluteal fat transfer, is a two-step body contouring procedure. First, targeted liposuction removes excess fat from areas like the abdomen, flanks or thighs. Second, this purified fat is injected into the buttocks to add volume, reshape contours and improve overall body proportions using your own tissue.

Yes, a BBL is safe when performed by a highly qualified plastic surgeon using modern protocols. To virtually eliminate the risks associated with traditional BBLs, Dr. Paulo Michels performs only dynamic ultrasound-guided BBLs. This ensures the fat is injected only into the superficial subcutaneous space, never into the muscle.

An ultrasound-guided BBL is the international gold standard for patient safety in gluteal fat grafting. During the surgery, the plastic surgeon uses a real-time ultrasound probe to see the anatomy beneath the skin. This guarantees the surgical cannula remains strictly above the gluteal muscle, preventing dangerous complications like fat embolism.

BBL results are considered long-lasting and potentially permanent. The purified fat cells that survive the initial transfer (usually 60 to 80 percent) establish a new blood supply and become a permanent part of the gluteal region. These cells will still expand or shrink with future weight changes.

The vast majority of complete BBL procedures are performed under general anaesthesia. This keeps the patient comfortable and completely still while the surgeon performs both the liposuction and the precise fat transfer. In highly selected, minor cases, intravenous (IV) sedation with local numbing may be used.

Patients must completely avoid sitting directly on their buttocks for at least 2 to 3 weeks following surgery. During this period you will use a specialised BBL recovery pillow that shifts your weight to your thighs, protecting the newly transferred fat cells from pressure.

It depends on your anatomy. A BBL requires enough donor fat to be harvested by liposuction. If a patient is too thin and lacks adequate excess fat in the abdomen, flanks or back, they may not be a suitable candidate for a traditional BBL and might need to consider other contouring options.

Yes. The fat transferred to your buttocks behaves exactly like the fat on the rest of your body. If you lose a significant amount of weight after your BBL, the fat cells in your buttocks will shrink, which can reduce the volume of your results. Maintaining a stable weight is highly recommended.

Patients who want a more natural look and feel generally prefer a BBL, because it uses your own autologous fat and also contours the donor areas with liposuction. Butt implants are typically recommended only for very lean patients who do not have enough donor fat for a BBL. Implants also carry different risks, such as capsular contracture.

BBL scarring is minimal. The procedure uses micro-cannulas, which need only tiny incisions (about the size of a grain of rice). These incisions are placed in natural skin folds or areas hidden by standard underwear or swimwear, and they fade significantly over time.

Most patients need 10 to 14 days off from a sedentary desk job. Returning to work takes some planning, as you will still need to use a BBL pillow to avoid sitting directly on your buttocks for the rest of the first month.

Light walking is encouraged immediately to promote circulation. Strenuous cardiovascular exercise should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks. Direct pressure exercises, heavy lifting and squats involving the gluteal muscles should be paused for 6 to 8 weeks to allow the newly transferred fat to fully vascularise and stabilise.

A stable Body Mass Index (BMI) matters for both safety and the result. A BMI that is too high increases the risks associated with general anaesthesia and post-operative complications. A stable, healthy BMI makes surgery safer and the contour more predictable.

You will notice a significant difference in your curves right after surgery, but the final results take time. The initial volume includes post-surgical swelling. It typically takes 3 to 6 months for the swelling to completely resolve, the skin to retract, and the surviving fat cells to settle into their final, natural shape.

Elyzee Hospital is a highly regulated hospital set up for aesthetic surgery and patient privacy. Under Dr. Paulo Michels, patients have ultrasound-guided safety protocols, VIP recovery suites with discreet pathways, and post-operative care adapted to the UAE climate.

Individual pain tolerance varies, but most patients describe BBL recovery as feeling deeply sore or tight rather than acutely painful. The discomfort comes mainly from the liposuction areas (such as the abdomen or flanks) rather than the buttocks themselves. Dr. Paulo Michels prescribes an individual, comprehensive pain management protocol to keep your recovery as comfortable as possible.

Wearing a specialised compression garment is mandatory to reduce swelling and help your skin retract smoothly over your new contours. Because of the climate in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the clinic provides medical-grade, highly breathable compression garments. They are designed to control inflammation while keeping you comfortable in the heat and humidity.

Yes, professional lymphatic drainage massages are an important part of your post-operative care. These gentle, specialised massages help remove excess fluid, significantly reduce swelling and prevent hard tissue (fibrosis) forming in the areas where liposuction was performed. The result is a faster recovery and a smoother final contour.

You can sleep on your back, as long as the buttocks are protected from pressure. Support your upper and lower back with pillows and raise your thighs and knees on a BBL pillow plus a regular pillow, so the buttocks rest free instead of being pressed into the mattress. Sleeping on your stomach or carefully on your side is also fine. Keep the buttocks free of pressure for the first 3 to 4 weeks following your surgery: putting direct pressure on the gluteal area during the early healing phase can compromise the blood supply to the new fat and affect your final shape.

The cost of a BBL reflects the medical technology, specialised surgical skill and strict safety protocols needed to perform the procedure correctly. At Elyzee Hospital, your comprehensive fee includes the use of dynamic ultrasound guidance in every case, a dedicated private anaesthesia team, post-operative compression garments, and direct, ongoing follow-up care with Dr. Paulo Michels.

Yes. Patients travelling from Dubai and across the UAE are seen at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where all consultations and surgery take place. Where possible the consultation, pre-operative tests, surgical date and follow-up reviews are scheduled to minimise the number of journeys, and the first days after surgery are spent in Abu Dhabi under clinical monitoring.

A skinny BBL is an informal name for a smaller-volume, contour-driven Brazilian Butt Lift for slimmer patients. Instead of maximum size, it focuses on the waist-to-hip transition, filling hip dips and shaping the upper and outer buttock with the fat that is available. The safety rules are exactly the same as for any BBL: fat is placed only in the subcutaneous layer, never into the muscle.

Less than for a full BBL, but enough to treat both sides evenly and allow for the portion that the body reabsorbs. There is no fixed number: donor fat is assessed by examining the abdomen, flanks, back and thighs, not by weight or BMI alone. If fat is genuinely scarce and more projection is wanted, buttock implants may be discussed instead.

Often, yes. Hip dips are shaped partly by bone, so the aim is a smoother waist-to-thigh curve rather than a completely straight outline. Liposuction of the flanks and outer thighs reduces the bulges around the dip, and fat placed into the depression softens it. Hip dips are explained in detail on the hip dips page.