A Comprehensive History of the Brazilian Butt Lift
If you’ve ever wondered how the Brazilian butt lift got its name, or what it even is, exactly, taking a closer look at the history behind the procedure can offer some interesting insight. It also may point to some of the reasons why the butt lift seems to have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, with more than 400,000 buttocks procedures having been performed in 2015 alone. (The American Society of Plastic Surgeons)
A Late Start
Although breast implants have been around since the 1890s, butt implants didn’t even appear in medical journals until 1969, when Dr. RJ Bartels was credited with having performed the first butt implant in history. These first butt augmentations actually used the same implants as were used in breast implant procedures, just placed in a different area of the body. But because the breasts and the buttocks look, feel, and move very differently, these implants were not very successful, nor popular. (World Journal of Surgery)
Submuscular Gluteoplasty
To improve upon these initial butt implants, researchers began to think of the butt area as complex layers, rather than one single muscle layer covered by skin. The result was Argentinian surgeon Jose Robles’ innovative new design that placed butt implants between the middle layers of muscle tissue. This new technique saw a decrease in complications, but this type of surgery was difficult to perform, so it still remained fairly uncommon.
Subfascial Implants
Still seeing room for improvement, Dr. Rafael Vergara utilized the innovative concepts behind Dr. Robles’ layered implant technique to create what are known as subfascial implants, which place the butt implant closer to the surface, rather than deeply imbedded between muscle layers, but also offer more stability than earlier attempts. Plastic surgeons found an even lower incidence of complications using this method, but the results were still not perfect. (Aesthetic Plastic Surgery)
The Brazilian Butt Lift
Although subfascial implants could offer more stability and flexibility, because the buttocks are responsible for so much of the body’s movement, prosthetic implants of any kind seemed to be able to slip out of place or appear unnatural when moving. And thus, the Brazilian butt lift was born.
In truth, the butt lift isn’t a true lift, but rather a fat transfer augmentation. In this procedure, fat is removed from another area of the body, usually the abdomen, waist, hips, or thighs, is purified, and then reinjected into the buttocks, no prosthetic implants necessary. Perhaps because this technique originated in South America, it has since become known as the Brazilian butt lift.
This surgical technique can offer very natural-looking, feeling, and moving results, primarily because the fat injected into the butt is natural. And as an added bonus, because this fat is taken from other areas of the body, butt lift results also include body contouring, which can help to emphasize the body’s natural curves. (The American Society of Plastic Surgeons)
“The Year of the Rear”
Although 2014 has affectionately been named “the year of the rear” because of so much celebrity influence contributing to the increased popularity of the butt lift, this trend doesn’t seem to be stopping there. In 2015, some type of butt plastic surgery procedure was performed every 30 minutes. (The American Society of Plastic Surgeons)
One of the main benefits of the improved butt lift, which may contribute to its rising popularity, is the very natural-looking results that are possible. Stars like Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian may be at the forefront of the “year of the rear” craze, but many women seek butt lifts to achieve smaller, subtler results. Thanks to the advanced technique behind the Brazilian butt lift, the amount of fat transferred can be custom-tailored to best meet each person’s goals.
Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon for Your Butt Lift
Improved surgical methods have definitely contributed to the skyrocketing popularity of the butt lift, but to achieve the best results possible, finding the right plastic surgeon is key. At Premier Plastic Surgery & Dermatology in Pittsburgh and Wexford, our experienced board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Heil is exceptionally skilled in butt lift procedures.
If you’re considering a butt lift, scheduling an initial consultation with a skilled plastic surgeon like Dr. Heil can be the first step to enhancing the natural contours of your body. Please contact us at 724-264-3608 to set up your consultation, or for more information.