Actual Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute patients
The Brazilian Butt Lift is the 12th most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the U.S. having grown by 58% in 2013 according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. This procedure utilizes fat from liposuction for fat transfer to the buttock region for shaping and augmentation of a flat or misshapen buttock region. While Pop Culture and Reality TV have influenced this trend, beautiful buttocks have been in vogue throughout history.
Ethnic Variations
Research has shown that regardless of height, weight, or ethnicity, a waist to hip ratio of 0.7 is considered attractive and healthy in women and 0.9-1 in men. This is calculated by dividing your waist measurement by your hip measurement at its widest point. Despite these findings, today’s women do express some ethnic variations in desired buttock shape. Caucasians want a more athletic build with conservative projection, and slight lateral dimples. Asians prefer a small to moderate shapely buttocks with no lateral fullness. Many Hispanics tend to prefer more projection with slight lateral fullness. African Americans tend to prefer more projection with full lateral buttocks and thighs. Beautiful buttocks also have some additional distinguishing features including pre-sacral or Venus dimples, a short buttock fold, a sacral triangle and slight lateral depressions. There is also no excess fat in any of the surrounding gluteal aesthetic units. How close you get to these ideal targets postop depends on where you begin. Preoperative shape, buttock projection, skin tightness, skin laxity, and the amount of surrounding fat are the features that determine your outcome after surgery
The 4 General Shapes
There are 4 general buttock shapes including the A Shape, the V Shape, the Square Shape and the Round Shape. The V shape is by far the most difficult to correct. A, Square and Round shapes are easier to correct. Skin that is too tight prevents augmentation with fat and skin that is too loose will prevent adequate lifting and shaping. Just a little bit of looseness without drooping with good skin tone is the best. Some buttock projection is also good so that available fat can be transferred for adequate shaping. Excessive flatness can be improved but is more difficult to shape.
What makes an ideal candidate?
Ideal candidates for a Brazilian Butt Lift have enough fat of the abdomen, love handles, back and inner thighs for liposuction. A general guide is that you need 2-3 times as much fat to liposuction as you need for injection. If you don’t have extra fat, there is nothing to inject and shape the buttock. Notwithstanding these limitations, BBL is a very effective procedure for contouring unfavorable buttock features.
George Bitar, MD, FACS is an award-winning, board-certified cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon, the Founder and Medical Director of Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute in Virginia. He specializes in the latest surgical and minimally invasive techniques to scar management and reduction. Dr. Bitar is involved in groundbreaking research and education in plastic surgery and has authored numerous articles, abstracts, and chapters.
