Every patient’s pain tolerance is different. However, a Brazilian butt lift is a minimally invasive surgical procedure with a faster recovery time than alternative buttock augmentation procedures, such as butt implant surgery. Your plastic surgeon will use anesthesia to numb the area during the procedure and prescribe an appropriate recovery plan, based on how extensive your BBL surgery was, to ensure you recuperate comfortably.

Yes, at PureSculpting, you are awake because we use a local anesthetic. Brazilian butt lift surgery can be performed under general or local anesthesia, which both have potential risks and complications.

Although we only use local anesthesia at PureSculpting Aesthetic Centers, it’s important to know the risks of general anesthesia as well if you’re considering a BBL.

General anesthesia, while safe and approved by the FDA, is risky because it is a medically induced state of unconsciousness. People with certain pre existing medical conditions are at a higher risk of experiencing complications. 

Conditions that increase the chances of complications from anesthesia—

• Being allergic to anesthesia drugs
• Having a history of diabetes
• Having a history of heart disease (history of heart failure, heart attack, valve disease, angina, etc.)
• Hypertension
• Kidney disease
• Pulmonary disease (COPD or asthma)
• Being obese
• Having suffered a stroke
• Being prone to seizures
• Smoking or drinking alcohol regularly

If you have any of the above medical conditions, the chances of experiencing negative side effects from anesthesia increase. Severe complications from anesthesia include: 

• Malignant Hyperthermia—this condition is a severe adverse reaction to some of the drugs used during anesthesia. Patients who experience malignant hyperthermia suffer from muscle convulsions, spasms, rapid heart rate, and a high fever. This condition can be fatal.
• Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction—Some patients experience long-term memory loss and learning difficulties after undergoing anesthesia. This condition is more likely to occur in older patients and patients with neurological conditions, Alzheimer’s, congestive heart failure, or stroke.
• Breathing Problems Resulting From Anesthesia—Some patients, especially those with a history of pulmonary disease, can have difficulty breathing on their own after undergoing anesthesia.

Weight gain can cause the fat cells in your buttocks to become enlarged and the size of your butt to increase, impacting the original outcome of your BBL surgery. If you gain weight following a BBL, you can consult your plastic surgeon for advice on how to re-achieve the body shape you want.

Though BBLs and other cosmetic surgery procedures are safe and approved by the FDA, there are several complications, and risks patients need to understand before getting the procedure.

Hematomas—Hematomas are masses of clotted blood that form from broken blood vessels. This medical condition can be dangerous if the hematoma becomes large enough to cause blood pressure problems. Hematomas can be deadly if they get infected. 

Fat Necrosis—Fat necrosis occurs when fat cells die due to loss of blood flow or injury. This condition usually resolves on its own and isn’t painful. However, if you experience fat necrosis after a BBL, it means that some of the fat from the transfer didn’t take. You might need corrective surgery to fix imbalances and irregularities in your buttocks.

Fat Embolism—This rare condition occurs when fat globules enter the circulatory system and block blood vessels. Fat embolisms are medical emergencies and can lead to heart failure, pulmonary failure, and death. 

Hypertrophic Scars—Some incisions heal irregularly. Hypertrophic scars are thick scars that rise above the skin. These might affect the cosmetic results of your BBL but are otherwise not dangerous. 

Infection—All surgeries come with the risk of infection. Be sure to follow your doctor’s pre-op and post-op care instructions to prevent infection. 

Excessive Bleeding—All surgeries come with a risk of excessive bleeding. 

Irregular, Uneven Shape—In cases where the plastic surgeon was inexperienced, or the person experienced severe complications during the procedure, it’s possible that the BBL results will be uneven due to issues with the fat grafting. If this occurs, corrective surgeries are necessary to even out the shape.

The possible risks and complications of a Brazilian butt lift will be discussed with you during your consultation with a plastic surgeon. More information about BBL risks can also be found on the Cleveland Clinic website.

A Brazilian butt lift has several benefits compared to alternatives like butt implant surgery or other cosmetic surgery procedures. A fat transfer BBL enhances the shape of your butt as well as the slimness and contour of the donor fat sites on your body.

A BBL is a minimally invasive procedure that involves highly targeted fat transfers through liposuction, and since no foreign materials are used, there is less risk of infection or of your body rejecting the transferred fat cells.