Who Performs Your BBL at CG Cosmetic Surgery
Your Brazilian butt lift is performed by one of our plastic surgeons: Dr. Decio Carvalho, Dr. Moises Salama and Dr. Andrew Lofman. Dr. Lofman is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). At your consultation, ask which surgeon will perform your fat harvest and injection, and ask about their training and BBL experience. Meet all of our plastic surgeons.
A word of advice: Do your homework before your initial consultation, and communicate your desires clearly with the chosen surgeon, using pictures of what you would like your results to look like is a great way to start, at the same time you should have realistic expectations, look for people who's overall body structure are similar to yours when seeking the right shape and size.
Is a BBL safe in Miami?
A Brazilian butt lift is major surgery, and it carries a risk that most other body-contouring procedures do not: fat embolism. It can happen when fat is injected too deep, into or below the gluteal muscle, and enters the large veins there. The fat can then travel to the lungs, which can be life-threatening. Deaths after BBL have been reported, which is why Florida regulates how the procedure is performed.
Under Florida Board of Medicine rule 64B8-9.009, fat for gluteal grafting may only be injected into the subcutaneous space and must never cross the gluteal fascia. Intramuscular and submuscular fat injections are prohibited.
For gluteal fat grafting performed in a physician's office, Florida Statutes section 458.328 also requires ultrasound guidance (or other technology authorized by the Board) when the fat is injected, an in-person exam no later than the day before surgery, and that the physician personally perform the fat extraction and injection. Ask your surgeon how these safeguards apply to your procedure.
National plastic surgery societies reached the same conclusions. After a series of deaths, a multi-society task force issued safety recommendations (inject fat only in the subcutaneous layer, never deep and never with the cannula angled down), and a later survey of surgeons found that fat-embolism events fell and deaths trended down after surgeons adopted them (Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2020). The 2022 practice advisory on gluteal fat grafting added ultrasound-guided confirmation of the cannula position as a key recommendation. A 2026 review of ultrasound-guided gluteal fat grafting found no fat-embolism deaths in the published series, but notes that the evidence still comes mostly from case series.
At CG Cosmetic, Brazilian butt lifts are performed by our plastic surgeons, including Dr. Carvalho, Dr. Salama and Dr. Lofman, under general anesthesia. Ultrasound guidance is used on every BBL at CG Cosmetic to keep the fat above the muscle.
Questions to ask any surgeon before you book a BBL:
- Will the fat be placed only in the subcutaneous layer, above the muscle, and will ultrasound guidance be used?
- Who will personally remove and inject the fat?
- Where will the surgery take place, and who will administer and monitor the anesthesia?
- How many surgeries does the surgeon perform in one day?
- What is the plan if there is an emergency, and which hospital is nearby?
Other risks, including infection, fat reabsorption, asymmetry, contour irregularities and fluid collections, are reviewed with you at your consultation.
Understanding BBL Risks
Every surgery has risks, and a BBL is no exception. Here is what they mean in plain terms:
- Fat embolism: a serious complication in which fat enters the veins in or under the gluteal muscle and travels to the lungs. This is why fat is placed only in the subcutaneous layer, above the muscle, with ultrasound guidance. No surgeon can promise zero risk, so we talk about it openly.
- Seroma: a collection of fluid under the skin in the treated area. It may need to be drained, and compression helps reduce the chance of it.
- Infection: possible after any surgery. Follow your wound-care and medication instructions and call us right away if you notice fever, spreading redness, or increasing pain.
- Fat absorption: some transferred fat is reabsorbed, so the final volume can be lower than what you see right after surgery.
- Asymmetry and contour irregularities: no body is perfectly symmetrical, and uneven results can occur. Some patients later discuss a touch-up.
Anesthesia-related risks, bleeding, blood clots, and scarring are also reviewed at your consultation.
Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) Recovery
Following surgery, patients wear a special surgical garment for one to two weeks for comfort and to minimize swelling. Many patients plan on two to three weeks of rest after a BBL, avoiding sitting directly on the buttocks. Strenuous activity is restricted for at least four weeks, and full recovery takes about two to three months as the swelling settles. Your surgeon will tell you when you can return to work and exercise.
Because the procedure involves simply moving fat from another area of the patient's body, it provides the additional body sculpting effect of reducing the fat in areas where it's unwanted. Surgery time varies with how much fat is harvested, and the procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Because the fat comes from your own body, it is not a foreign implant, but some of the transferred fat is reabsorbed and a BBL carries other risks, described above.
BBL Recovery, Stage by Stage
The first days
Rest, wear your compression garment (faja) as directed, and do not sit directly on your buttocks. Lie on your side or stomach, and use a BBL pillow when your surgeon allows sitting in a modified position. Short, gentle walks may be encouraged to support circulation.
The first weeks
Many patients wear compression for one to two weeks and rest for two to three weeks. Your surgeon sets how long you should avoid sitting directly on the buttocks, so follow that timeline even if you feel good.
Week four and beyond
Strenuous activity is restricted for at least four weeks. You return to exercise gradually, and only when your surgeon clears you.
The following months
Swelling settles over about two to three months. Individual recovery varies, so plan around your surgeon's instructions rather than a fixed calendar.
When Will I See My Final BBL Results?
Swelling can hide your shape at first, and some of the transferred fat is reabsorbed during the first weeks to months, so your buttocks may look different over time. Your final shape is usually judged after the swelling has settled, which can take a few months. Weight changes and aging can also affect the result. You can browse our BBL before and after gallery to see examples, keeping in mind that every body is different and results vary.
BBL vs. Butt Implants
A BBL uses your own fat, adds volume, and contours the donor areas, but it depends on having enough donor fat and part of the fat is reabsorbed. Butt implants add a fixed volume and can be an option for people with little donor fat, but they involve a foreign device, deeper surgery, and their own risks. Your surgeon can tell you which approach may fit your goals and anatomy.
More BBL Questions
Who performs BBL surgery at CG Cosmetic Surgery in Miami?
Our BBL team is Dr. Decio Carvalho, Dr. Moises Salama and Dr. Andrew Lofman. Dr. Lofman is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Ask at your consultation which surgeon will perform your procedure.
Can I get a BBL if I am thin?
It depends on whether you have enough donor fat, which your surgeon confirms during an in-person exam. With a lean frame the change in volume may be more modest, and your surgeon may suggest a smaller goal or a different plan.
What does ultrasound guidance do during a BBL?
It lets the surgeon see where the cannula is while placing the fat, which helps keep the fat in the subcutaneous layer above the muscle. At CG Cosmetic, ultrasound guidance is used on every BBL.
When can I sit after a BBL?
Your surgeon sets this timeline. Most patients avoid sitting directly on the buttocks for a period, often during the first two to three weeks, and use a BBL pillow or a modified position when sitting is allowed.
Will my BBL results last?
The fat that remains after the initial reabsorption may last for years, but it behaves like any fat in your body. Significant weight gain or loss, pregnancy, and aging can change the result, so a stable weight helps.
Can I combine a BBL with a tummy tuck or a mommy makeover?
Some patients do. Combining procedures lengthens surgery and recovery, and your surgeon decides whether it is appropriate for you. Learn more about the tummy tuck, the mommy makeover, and liposuction.
Can men get a BBL?
Yes. Men and women with flatter buttocks may be candidates. Your goals, anatomy, and donor fat are reviewed at a consultation.
