How Weight Can Limit a Fat Transfer to the Buttocks

Many women desire round, perky buttocks and to enhance their curves. Yet, despite what most models in TV ads depict, most body types do not have these features naturally. 

A quick search on the internet leads you to information on fat transfer to the buttocks. Is it truly the best option for you?

It's a procedure that harvests fat from one body area and injects it back into the buttocks to add volume and change its contour.

Areas that commonly harvest fat are the abdomen, flanks, and thighs. These are typically body areas where excess fat is present, meaning that they are resistant to diet and exercise.

This process is known as the Brazilian butt lift (BBL). Yet, many patients wonder if they have enough fat to be used in this procedure, especially if they are of a lighter weight.

The best answer we can provide you is that it all depends on the patient's body size and shape, along with their goals. 

That said, advanced BBL techniques can often provide meaningful results with as little as 250cc of fat harvested from multiple areas of the body. 

Below, we will discuss what you need to know about ideal weights for a BBL and what else to know about this form of plastic surgery. 

How Much Fat is Needed for a BBL?

As AirSculpt founder and star cosmetic surgeon Dr. Aaron Rollins details in the video above, the amount of fat required depends on your body goals.   

For patients seeking a larger enhancement, about 2000cc of fat will be needed to perform a successful Brazilian butt lift, with 1000cc injected into each cheek. Patients seeking this type of result will tend to need a good amount of excess, harvestable fat. That means if you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 22 or higher, you're likely eligible for this procedure.

That said, we do not recommend gaining weight before a BBL simply because you think it will make you eligible.

During a consultation, an experienced surgeon can offer personalized advice and explain how even a small amount of fat can enhance your figure. 

Dr. Rollins also details how surgeons can effectively reshape buttocks with as little as 200cc of fat in each buttock. This type of treatment will focus less on projection and more on adding roundness and curvature to the hips. 

The only cases where patients cannot achieve successful BBL results is if they are quite skinny, with a BMI in the low 20s or below.  

Reshaping Your Backside With Less Body Fat 

If you're too skinny for a Brazilian butt lift, you can consider the following ideas:

• You can obtain moderate enhancements with a Skinny BBL.

• You can pursue a different butt augmentation procedure, such as implants.  

• Similar to a Mini BBL, a Hip Flip can fill in hip dips and add roundness with less fat needed. 

• Some patients can mask hip dips and enhance their curves by removing outer thigh and waist fat alone, without transferring fat. 

Generally, we also do not recommend the use of butt implants, which are less natural and more invasive than using your fat. 

Do I Need to Lose Weight for a BBL?

If you are overweight, a board-certified plastic surgeon may recommend you lose weight if you're considering a BBL.

That's because excess fat and obesity can lead to some complications with recovery.

With AirSculpt®, high BMI BBL patients can have fat removed and transferred seamlessly. The procedure serves as an excellent kickstart for men and women who want to undergo a healthier lifestyle. With a more efficient recovery process, AirSculpt® Brazilian butt lift procedures allow patients to return to their routines more quickly.

Is There An Option Better Than Implants Or A Traditional Fat Transfer?

Due to invasive tools and techniques and BBL BMI requirements, traditional liposuction-based buttocks augmentation procedures have their clear limitations.

The AirSculpt® Power BBL™, by contrast, delivers better results than implants with fewer restrictions than traditional liposuction techniques. This minimally invasive fat transfer offers unmatched precision and superior comfort for patients during and after their awake BBL.

The procedure does not use scalpels, stitches, needles, or general anesthesia to transfer fat to your buttocks, minimizing potential risks in addition to enhancing safety.

Given the precision of the procedure, even patients with lower BMIs can enhance their buttocks by gently targeting several areas to collect enough fat. As highlighted above, high BMI patients can also undergo treatment due to the less invasive properties of the procedure.

A complete BBL recovery can take up to three months, but the downtime will only be 48 hours, so after our procedures, you can get back to your routine with a more confident outlook and newfound motivation.

For more information on how we can help you achieve the best BBL results in Nashville, schedule your complimentary consultation at our body sculpting office today. 

If you are not in or near Tennessee, contact any of our 27+ body contouring centers worldwide to learn more.