The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery named the reigning reality superstar, Kim Kardashian West, as one of the reasons behind the popularity of buttocks augmentation—a.k.a the Brazilian butt lift. But it's the entire Kar-Jenner clan, including sisters Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, who have become the most requested celebrity bodies by patients seeking new ways to improve their own physical appearances. Here, we've caught up with Dr. Moises Salama, a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in body contouring procedures including the highly-popular Brazilian Butt Lift. The acclaimed doctor dishes on the main differences between a Brazilian Butt Lift versus a butt lift and more.
Photo Credit: Instagram | @khloekardashianHaute Beauty: What are the main differences between a Brazilian Butt Lift and Butt implants?
Dr. Moises Salama: With a Brazilian butt lift, buttock augmentation is done using your own body fat. Your body fat is removed with liposuction from various areas of the body, most commonly the lower and upper abdomen, the upper and lower back, and the flanks. That fat which was removed is then processed and purified, and only the purest and viable fat is injected into the buttocks. Thus, the Brazilian butt lift provides for a more natural, perky buttocks and hourglass figure. Butt implants is a procedure more commonly done on patients that do not have enough fat to transfer. Implants made of solid silicone (rather than softer silicone implants used for the breasts) are used to provide volume, shape and contour to the buttocks. The implants are inserted through a 2-3 inch incision made near the tailbone underneath the gluteus muscle. Sometimes a combination procedure, buttock implants with fat transfer, is required to provide a patient with their desired result.
HB: Which procedure requires a longer surgery time?
MS: Typically, both procedures require about the same amount of surgery time that is between 2 to 3 hours.
HB: Describe the ideal candidate for a BBL?
MS: The ideal candidate for a BBL is someone who is in good health, has realistic expectations about the surgery, and has enough fat to transfer to the buttocks in order to obtain long-lasting, quality results. In addition, someone who has asymmetrical, flat, disproportionate, sagging, or small buttocks may benefit from this procedure.
HB: Describe the ideal patient for butt implants?
MS: The ideal patient for butt implants needs to be in good general health and have a clear understanding of what to expect from the surgery. These candidates are patients that are dissatisfied with the shape, size, or proportion of their butt and have not excess fat to transfer to the buttocks.
HB: How soon can patients see results with both procedures?
MS: Both procedures deliver immediate results, with final results within 6 to 8 months from surgery.
HB: What are the follow-up procedures required?
MS: For both the BBL and butt implants, patients can return to work 10 to 12 days after surgery, but refraining from sports or strenuous activity for about 4 to 6 weeks. Patients should expect swelling, bruising and tenderness in the buttock area, which is part of the healing process. Dr. Salama provides pain medication to help alleviate any discomfort and make the recovery as pleasant as possible. Both procedures require drains, which are removed about 7 to 10 days after surgery. In addition, BBL patients will need to use compression garments to promote faster healing and provide support and post-surgical massages to reduce fluid retention and promote healing. While results are immediately visible for the Brazilian butt lift and buttock implants, final results for a BBL can take anywhere from 6 to 8 months. For butt implants, final results can be seen in 3 to 4 months. Of course, every patient recovers at a different rate.
