Butt Augmentation: Types, Risks, Recovery and What to Expect
Updated: 6 days ago
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: October 31, 2026 · How we review
Quick Answer: What is butt augmentation?
Butt augmentation is a group of cosmetic surgeries that reshape the buttocks by adding volume with silicone implants or your own fat (Brazilian butt lift), or by removing loose, sagging skin (butt lift). Surgery can take two hours or longer, recovery often lasts months, and chest pain or shortness of breath afterward needs emergency care. [1]
What the research says
Fat transfer to the buttocks once carried a high risk of fat reaching the lungs. A survey of 692 plastic surgeons covering 198,857 fat-transfer cases recorded 32 deaths and 103 nonfatal fat emboli in the lungs; injecting fat into deep muscle was linked to a significantly higher risk (Mofid et al., Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2017).
Safer technique has cut that risk. Two years after safety recommendations were published, fat emboli in the lungs dropped from 1 in 1,030 cases to 1 in 2,492, and the death rate trended down from 1 in 3,448 to 1 in 14,952; surgeons injecting into deep muscle fell from 13.1% to 0.8% (Rios and Gupta, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2020).
Complication rates differ a lot by method. Across 4,362 patients, the overall complication rate was 12.4%: 31.4% with implants, 23.1% with local tissue flaps and 6.8% with fat transfer (Asserson et al., Annals of Plastic Surgery, 2019).
Key takeaways
There are 3 main types: butt implants, Brazilian butt lift (BBL, fat transfer) and butt lift (skin removal).
The best type depends on your body: a very lean person may not have enough fat for a BBL, and someone whose weight keeps changing shouldn't have a butt lift.
You must stop smoking at least 6 weeks before surgery and pause blood-thinning medicines and herbal supplements.
Expect weeks of not sitting or sleeping directly on your buttocks, and a few months to a year to heal completely.
The most serious risk is a blood clot or fat clot that travels to the heart and lungs. Chest pain or shortness of breath after surgery is an emergency.
Butt augmentation at a glance
Question | Short answer |
What it does | Adds volume, smooths wrinkled skin or lifts sagging skin on the buttocks |
Main types | Implants, Brazilian butt lift (fat transfer), butt lift |
Anesthesia | Usually general anesthesia (you're asleep) |
Surgery time | Two hours or longer |
Back to work | Several weeks to a month |
Full healing | A few months to a year |
Biggest danger | Blood or fat clots traveling to the heart and lungs |
What is butt augmentation?
Butt augmentation, also called gluteal augmentation, is cosmetic surgery that makes the buttocks look rounder, firmer and more youthful. [1]
Depending on your goals, a surgeon can enlarge a flatter buttock or remove loose, sagging skin. Some people need a combination of techniques to get the result they want. [1]
The word "augmentation" covers three quite different operations. Knowing the differences is the first step to a good conversation with your surgeon.
What are the types of butt augmentation?
The three types of butt augmentation are butt implants, the Brazilian butt lift (fat transfer) and the butt lift (skin removal). [1]
The three main types of butt augmentation and who each one often suits. Image: Rinnit.com
Butt implants
Butt implants are silicone implants placed inside or below the buttock muscle to create a fuller shape. [1]
The surgeon makes a cut at the top or bottom of the buttocks to insert them. Implants are a long-term option for people who don't have enough body fat for a BBL. [1]
Brazilian butt lift (BBL)
A Brazilian butt lift moves your own fat to your buttocks. The surgeon removes fat by liposuction from areas such as the stomach, hips or back, then injects it under the skin of the buttocks. [1]
Because it uses your own tissue, a BBL has a natural look and feel, and it slims the areas where fat is taken. [1]
Butt lift
A butt lift removes extra loose skin to lift the buttocks and make them look smoother and more toned. [1]
The surgeon makes a cut at the lower back, hips or below the buttock cheeks, removes the skin and closes the wound with stitches or another method. The result is permanent removal of skin that exercise can't tighten. [1]
How do the 3 types compare?
Butt implants | Brazilian butt lift (BBL) | Butt lift | |
Main goal | Add volume | Add volume and reshape | Lift and tighten |
What's used | Silicone implants | Your own fat | No implant or fat — skin is removed |
Where the cut is | Top or bottom of the buttocks | Small liposuction openings | Lower back, hips or below the buttock cheeks |
Good fit for | People without enough spare fat | People with fat to spare who want a natural feel | Loose, sagging skin |
May not suit | — | Very lean, slender frames | People whose weight is unstable |
Who is a good candidate for butt augmentation?
A good candidate for butt augmentation is a healthy non-smoker with realistic expectations who is ready for a long recovery. [1]
In general, you may qualify if you:
Are in good overall health.
Don't smoke.
Don't have a long-term condition that slows wound healing, such as diabetes.
Are prepared for the recovery period.
Have realistic expectations about the result.
Because each surgery uses a different technique, you might qualify for one type but not another. [1]
Who should not have butt augmentation?
People in poor health, or who can't quit smoking in the weeks before surgery, are usually not good candidates for butt augmentation. [1]
Your body shape matters too. Someone with a lean, slender frame may not have enough fat for a BBL, and someone whose weight goes up and down shouldn't have a butt lift. [1]
How do you prepare for butt augmentation surgery?
Preparing for butt augmentation surgery means stopping smoking and stopping medicines that increase bleeding, following your surgeon's specific instructions. [1]
What to stop | When | Why |
Smoking | At least 6 weeks before surgery | Smoking slows wound healing |
Aspirin and NSAIDs | As your surgeon directs | They increase bleeding |
Herbal supplements | As your surgeon directs | Some increase bleeding |
Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own — ask your surgeon or doctor first.
What happens during butt augmentation surgery?
Butt augmentation surgery usually takes two hours or longer, and most people have general anesthesia so they sleep through it and feel no pain. [1]
Your surgeon may also give you an antibiotic to help prevent infection. You can read more about how anesthesia works and how it's kept safe.
The steps then depend on the type:
Implants: a cut at the top or bottom of the buttocks, then the implants go inside or below the muscle.
BBL: liposuction from one or more areas, then fat is injected under the skin of the buttocks.
Butt lift: a cut at the lower back, hips or below the buttock cheeks, removal of extra skin, then closure.
What happens after butt augmentation surgery?
After butt augmentation surgery, you'll protect your buttocks from pressure, wear compression garments and take medicines to prevent infection, pain and blood clots. [1]
Your aftercare may include:
Waiting 24 to 48 hours before showering.
Sitting on a pillow and sleeping on your stomach.
Surgical drains for some people.
Compression garments.
Medicine | Purpose |
Antibiotic | Prevents infection |
Pain medicine | Controls pain |
Blood clot prevention | Lowers the risk of deep vein thrombosis |
Stool softener | Softens stools during recovery |
What are the benefits of butt augmentation?
The main benefit of butt augmentation is a rounder, more youthful buttock shape, with each type offering its own advantage. [1]
Implants give a long-term fuller shape for people too lean for fat transfer.
BBL removes unwanted fat elsewhere and gives a natural look and feel.
Butt lift permanently removes loose skin and creates a smoother surface.
Research reviews report that patient satisfaction is consistently high across techniques, even though complication rates vary widely between them. [5]
What are the risks of butt augmentation?
Butt augmentation risks range from mild to life-threatening, and they depend on the type of surgery and other factors. [1]
Choosing a board-certified, experienced plastic surgeon can lower your risk, but complications can happen with every type:
Risk | What it means |
Seroma or hematoma | Fluid or blood collects under the skin |
Transferred fat tissue dies | |
The wound opens up | |
Severe infection | Infection at the surgical site |
Chronic pain | Pain that lasts long after healing |
Permanent numbness | Loss of feeling in the area |
Permanent scarring | Visible scars that don't fade fully |
Undesirable appearance | The result isn't what you hoped for |
Blood or fat clots | Clots that travel to the heart and lungs and can be fatal |
Why are fat clots such a concern with BBL?
Fat clots are a concern with BBL because transferred fat can enter the bloodstream and travel to the lungs, and injecting it into deep buttock muscle is linked to a much higher risk. [2]
A survey of surgeons linked injecting into deep muscle with a significantly higher rate of fatal and nonfatal fat emboli, and recommended avoiding deep-muscle injection, avoiding cannulas smaller than 4 mm and not pointing the cannula downward. [2] After those recommendations spread, the rate of fat reaching the lungs fell significantly. [3] Learn more about fat embolism syndrome and pulmonary embolism.
How do complication rates compare between methods?
Complication rates are highest with implants and lowest with fat transfer, according to large reviews. [4][5]
Study | Patients | Implants | Local flaps | Fat transfer |
Review of 46 studies [4] | 4,362 | 31.4% | 23.1% | 6.8% |
Review of 52 studies [5] | 7,834 | 30.5% | 22% | 10.5% |
A lower overall rate doesn't mean "safer in every way": fat transfer has fewer complications overall but includes the rare, serious risk of fat embolism. [5] For implants, a 2025 review of 2,682 patients found fewer problems when implants sat inside or below the muscle rather than just under its covering layer, and an overall implant removal rate of 1.05%. [6]
How long is butt augmentation recovery?
Butt augmentation recovery is long: you may not sit or sleep directly on your buttocks for several weeks, and complete healing typically takes a few months to a year. [1]
Typical recovery milestones after butt augmentation — your surgeon's plan comes first. Image: Rinnit.com
Time after surgery | What to expect |
First 24–48 hours | No showering yet; medicines started |
First several weeks | No sitting or sleeping directly on the buttocks; pillow and compression garments |
Several weeks to 1 month | Many people return to work |
Longer | Exercise and strenuous activity, once your surgeon clears you |
A few months to 1 year | Complete healing |
When should you call a doctor after butt augmentation?
You should call your surgeon right away after butt augmentation if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, heavy bleeding, extreme pain, fever or severe swelling. [1]
Warning signs that need a call to your surgeon after butt augmentation. Image: Rinnit.com
Chest pain or shortness of breath can mean a clot has reached the lungs. Call emergency services immediately. See blood clots: emergency signs for more.
Before surgery, ask your surgeon exactly which signs need an urgent call and how to reach the team after hours.
Conclusion
Butt augmentation is not one surgery but three: implants add volume when fat is scarce, a BBL moves your own fat for a natural feel, and a butt lift removes loose skin. Each has real benefits, a long recovery and risks that range from scarring to life-threatening clots.
The safest path starts with honest answers about your health, a board-certified and experienced plastic surgeon, and a clear plan for recovery and warning signs.
Next step: Save or share this guide and bring it to your consultation. Keep learning with our guides on liposuction, tummy tuck, scar revision and venous thromboembolism.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a BBL and butt implants?
A BBL uses your own fat, removed by liposuction and injected under the skin of the buttocks. Butt implants use silicone implants placed inside or below the muscle. Implants suit people who don't have enough fat for a BBL.
Is a butt lift the same as a Brazilian butt lift?
No. A butt lift removes loose, sagging skin to lift the buttocks. A Brazilian butt lift adds volume by transferring fat.
How long does butt augmentation surgery take?
Butt augmentation surgery can take two hours or longer, usually under general anesthesia.
How long until I can sit after butt augmentation?
You may not be able to sit or sleep directly on your buttocks for up to several weeks. A pillow helps in the meantime.
When can I go back to work after butt augmentation?
Most people wait several weeks to a month. Exercise and heavy activity take longer.
Is butt augmentation permanent?
Implants are a long-term option and a butt lift permanently removes extra skin.
What is the most dangerous risk of butt augmentation?
The most dangerous risk is a blood clot or fat clot traveling to the heart and lungs, which can be fatal. Chest pain or shortness of breath after surgery is an emergency.
Can I have butt augmentation if I smoke?
You need to stop smoking at least six weeks before surgery. People who can't quit are usually not good candidates.
Can people with diabetes have butt augmentation?
A long-term condition that interferes with wound healing, such as diabetes, can make you a poorer candidate. Discuss it with your surgeon.
Will I need to wear a compression garment after butt augmentation?
Yes. Compression garments are a normal part of recovery to limit swelling and support healing. Your surgeon will tell you how long to wear one.
Related Reading
Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL): Procedure, Recovery, Risks, and Results explains how a BBL uses your own fat and its key risks.
Butt Implants: What the Surgery Involves, Recovery Timeline, Risks, and BBL Comparison covers silicone butt implant surgery, recovery and complications.
Butt Lift Surgery: What It Is, Who It Suits, Recovery, and Results explains how a butt lift removes sagging skin and what to expect.
Fat Transfer: A Natural Approach to Volume Enhancement describes how fat transfer moves your own fat to add volume.
References
Cleveland Clinic. Butt Augmentation: Fat Transfer, Surgery, Benefits & Risks. Cleveland Clinic. Last updated June 27, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23374-butt-augmentation
Mofid MM, Teitelbaum S, Suissa D, et al. Report on Mortality from Gluteal Fat Grafting: Recommendations from the ASERF Task Force. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2017;37(7):796-806. PMID 28369293. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjx004
Rios L, Gupta V. Improvement in Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) Safety With the Current Recommendations from ASERF, ASAPS, and ISAPS. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2020;40(8):864-870. PMID 32306045. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjaa098
Asserson DB, Kulinich AG, Orbay H, et al. Differences in Complication Rates of Gluteoplasty Procedures That Utilize Autologous Fat Grafting, Implants, or Local Flaps. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2019;82(5S Suppl 4):S342-S344. PMID 30570567. https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000001765
Oranges CM, Tremp M, di Summa PG, et al. Gluteal Augmentation Techniques: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2017;37(5):560-569. PMID 28203698. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjw240
Elsaftawy A, Bonczar M, Jagosz M, et al. Complications following Primary Implant-Based Gluteal Augmentation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2025;156(6):894-907. PMID 40403281. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000012213
Medical disclaimer
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk to a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon about your own health, goals and risks. If you have chest pain or trouble breathing after surgery, call emergency services.
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