The Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is one of the most sought-after plastic surgery procedures in the U.S., with over 24,000 BBLs performed annually. While patients love that the procedure not only enhances their bottoms but also removes fat from other areas of the body, it has slimmer patients wondering if they, too, are eligible for BBL surgery. In this post, we explain everything Houston women need to know about the “skinny” BBL.
But first, what is a BBL?
What is a BBL?
A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a type of butt augmentation that uses liposuction to harvest fat from areas of the body containing extra padding (typically the abdomen, flanks, and lower back) and injecting it into the buttocks and/or hips to achieve a rounder, firmer, more contoured backside. Contrary to popular belief, BBL surgery isn’t just about increasing the size of the butt—it can also “snatch” the waist, round the buttocks, and fill out the hips.
What is a skinny BBL?
At Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery, board-certified Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Bob Basu offers a “skinny” BBL for patients with a BMI of less than 25 who lack significant body fat. During a skinny BBL, Dr. Basu harvests fat from multiple areas of the body as efficiently as possible, then strategically injects it throughout the bottom and hips until a full, shapely backside is achieved.
If you are concerned you don’t have enough fat for a BBL, Dr. Basu can evaluate you to see if you are a good candidate for the procedure. Even most thin patients have enough fat stored throughout their bodies to safely undergo (and benefit from) BBL surgery, and beautiful BBL results are far more dependent on a plastic surgeon’s fat transfer technique than the amount of fat that can be harvested.
Additionally, Dr. Basu performs “composite” buttock augmentation in which he inserts a small surgical implant into the buttock along with a patient’s available fat to camouflage the implant and accentuate its curves.
Beautiful BBL results are far more dependent on a surgeon’s fat transfer technique than a patient’s available fat.
Where is fat injected during a skinny BBL?
Fat is often injected into the upper/outer sides of the buttocks to “fill out” the region, giving it a curvier, rounder shape and increasing its lift and projection. If you have “hip dips”—shallow indentations where your femurs enter your pelvis—Dr. Basu can fill these in with fat to create a smooth, hourglass shape.
This thin patient was concerned she would not have enough fat for a BBL. Dr. Basu was able to harvest fat from her upper thighs, hips, flanks, and back to enhance her buttocks and fill in her “hip dips.” (Her hip dips can be seen in her “before” photo on the left.) Photo courtesy of Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery.
Where is fat harvested from during a skinny BBL?
During a skinny BBL, Dr. Basu will first take fat from places where most women store a little extra: the abdomen, flanks, and lower back. If more fat is needed, he will harvest it from one or more of the following areas:
- Arms (bat wings)
- Bra line
- Upper back
- Inner thighs
- Torso
To achieve the snatched waist most BBL patients desire, Dr. Basu will perform liposuction on the lower abdomen, lower back, and just above the hips to reveal the waistline. Not only does a snatched waist make the bottom appear larger and rounder, but it is essential to creating a sexy hourglass figure.
Dr. Basu performed liposuction on this BBL patient’s bra line, upper back, and flanks to achieve a “snatched” waist and rounded bottom. Photo courtesy of Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery.
What are the benefits of a skinny BBL?
Below are just some of the benefits skinny BBL plastic surgery can provide Houston women:
- Removes fat in unwanted areas
- Enhances the size, shape, and projection of the buttocks
- May improve the quality of skin in the treatment area due to fat’s stem cell content
How long will my BBL results last?
Brazilian butt lift results are permanent as long as you follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Be sure to avoid the following after BBL surgery:
- Nicotine. Nicotine reduces blood flow to fat in the buttocks, which could cause fat necrosis. Be sure to avoid all forms of nicotine, including smoking, vaping, and smokeless tobacco.
- Weight loss. It’s important to maintain a stable weight following your BBL. If you lose weight, you may diminish your results.
BBL results are permanent as long as you follow your surgeon’s instructions and maintain a healthy diet + lifestyle.
Is it safe to get a BBL?
You may have some concerns about BBL surgery given recent headlines surrounding its safety. In short, the risks associated with BBL involve a fat embolism, which can occur if fat is injected too deep into the gluteal muscle or below the muscle where blood vessels reside. If fat gets inside a blood vessel, it can present a major problem. If that fat travels through the blood vessels, it can clog the heart, potentially causing cardiac arrest. In fact, the risk of mortality from BBL surgery can be as high as 1 in 3,000 when fat is injected too deep—that’s almost 10-20 times higher than any other cosmetic plastic surgery procedure!
While BBL surgery carries a higher risk than other aesthetic procedures, this risk can be greatly mitigated by choosing a highly qualified plastic surgeon who uses proper techniques. As a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive BBL knowledge and experience, Dr. Basu is able to avoid these BBL procedure-specific risks by only injecting fat into the safe subcutaneous zone away from the gluteal muscle.
Is it safe for thin patients to get a BBL?
Unfortunately, many people assume that thin people should not have a BBL because it removes fat they can’t “spare”; however, a BBL, like other fat grafting procedures, simply transfers fat from certain areas of the body to the buttocks and hips. While it is inevitable that some fat will be lost during the fat grafting process, Dr. Basu can often achieve up to a 60-70% fat survival rate for his Houston BBL patients.
Am I a good candidate for a skinny BBL?
Though most women—even quite thin women—can benefit from BBL surgery, Dr. Basu will carefully examine your body to make sure that your aesthetic goals are realistic and achievable during your Houston plastic surgery consultation.
How much is a skinny Brazilian butt lift in Houston?
The total cost of a skinny BBL at Houston’s Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery ranges from $13,500 to $20,000, depending on the number of areas being treated and whether additional body contouring procedures are performed at the same time. Dr. Basu can provide you with a more exact estimate during a personal consultation.
Schedule your skinny BBL with Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Basu
Board-certified Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Bob Basu performs Brazilian butt lift surgery in his on-site, state-licensed Ambulatory Surgery Center. Dr. Basu has performed over 16,000 cosmetic procedures and was recently named a 2021 top plastic surgeon by Newsweek and the Houston Chronicle. To find out if you’re a good candidate for a skinny BBL, contact our Houston practice online or call (713) 799-2278 to schedule a consultation.
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