BBL: Fat Transfer To The Buttocks, Hips, Or Both: Sculpting The Hourglass Silhouette

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) removes fat from donor areas, then places purified fat in the buttocks, the hips, or both—so your curves and waist work together. Many patients want an hourglass silhouette: a defined midsection with fuller hips and buttocks balanced on your frame.

The Key Takeaway: A BBL combines liposuction of areas such as the abdomen, waist, flanks, and back with fat transfer to the buttocks, hips, or both. Where the fat is placed—and how much waist contouring is included—shapes whether your result looks fuller in the seat, smoother at the hip dips, or both. Your board-certified cosmetic surgeon decides what fits your anatomy.

Explore BBL, Lipo 360 + BBL, Lipo 360, and feminine waist contouring.

What A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) Is

A BBL is surgical fat transfer. Fat is harvested with liposuction from donor areas—often the abdomen, waist, flanks, lower back, and thighs when needed—then purified and transferred to the buttocks, the hips, or both.

That dual benefit supports the hourglass look:

• Slimmer donor areas from liposuction, which can refine the waist and midsection
• Enhanced curves from fat placed where you want more shape or softness

A BBL uses your own fat—not implants and not injectable fillers. Fat transfer is performed with ultrasound guidance so your board-certified cosmetic surgeon can visualize placement in the gluteal area in real time. Your complimentary consultation covers technique, ultrasound-guided transfer, and the volume plan that fits your body.

How Fat Placement Creates An Hourglass Silhouette

An hourglass silhouette is about proportion: a defined waist with balanced fullness through the hips and buttocks. Fat placement is customized—there is no single “BBL shape.”

Buttocks Only

Fat focuses on buttock projection and roundness when hip width already feels right and seat volume is the priority.

Hips And Hip Dips

Hip dips—the inward curve between the hip bone and upper thigh—are normal anatomy. Strategic grafting to the hips and transition zones softens that contour and can widen the hip line for a smoother silhouette. Your surgeon explains what your bone structure and soft tissue can achieve.

Buttocks And Hips Together

Many hourglass plans place fat in both zones so the waist-to-hip transition looks continuous. Paired with Lipo 360 (abdomen, flanks, and lower back), the midsection can look narrower while the lower curves look fuller—when enough quality fat is available.

Who May Be A Good Candidate

You may be a fit to discuss BBL if you have enough donor fat, are near a stable goal weight and in good health, want natural-looking enhancement with your own fat, can follow sitting limits, and have realistic goals about volume and healing.

A board-certified cosmetic surgeon determines candidacy after reviewing your health history, examining donor areas and skin quality, and mapping what your frame can support—including whether you have enough donor fat for the hourglass plan you want.

Customizing Fat Placement: Butt, Hips, Or Both

• Butt only when projection is the priority
• Hips / hip-dip focus when width and smoother side contours matter most
• Both when you want seat volume and hip balance in one silhouette plan

Your surgeon harvests the fat available for a safe, balanced transfer and designs proportion that fits your shoulders, waist, and legs. Individual results vary as retained fat settles into your new contour.

What Liposuction Does—And Does Not Do—For The Midsection

Liposuction removes stubborn fat under the skin. It does not tighten loose skin, and it does not repair muscle separation (diastasis recti). If hanging skin or a separated abdominal wall is your main issue, a tummy tuck may belong in the plan—sometimes instead of, or staged with, liposuction and fat transfer. Your surgeon evaluates fat, skin, and the abdominal wall at your complimentary consultation. See How To Know If You Need A Tummy Tuck Vs. Lipo 360.

Ultrasound-Guided Transfer, Recovery, And Results

Safety and results start with how your fat is placed—and how your team protects it afterward.

Ultrasound-guided fat transfer is how your board-certified cosmetic surgeon places purified fat with precision. Real-time ultrasound lets the surgeon visualize the cannula during transfer and confirm fat stays in the subcutaneous layer of the buttocks and hips—above the gluteal muscle—the same approach on our BBL page. You get clear visualization in the gluteal area, plus a surgical plan built around training, facility standards, and recovery support.

After surgery, your surgeon and our concierge team focus on protecting transferred fat while donor areas heal:

• A clear sitting and pressure plan for the buttocks and hips, timed by your surgeon
• Compression garments on liposuction donor areas
• Sleeping positions that keep weight off transfer zones
• Follow-up visits to track healing
• A stepwise return to work, driving, and exercise when you are cleared

Your shape continues to refine over the following months as swelling settles and retained fat integrates. Fat that establishes a blood supply supports a long-lasting contour when your weight stays stable; individual results vary. Your surgeon reviews risks and recovery details at your complimentary consultation so you know exactly how to protect your result. See our recovery guides.

Talk Through Your Hourglass Goals With Our Team

Tell us whether you care most about buttock projection, hip width, hip dips, waist definition, or all of the above. We help you schedule a complimentary consultation so a board-certified cosmetic surgeon can map donor areas and fat placement—and whether Lipo 360 + BBL fits you.

Reach out from the contact page, or call 813-557-6400.

What Happens Next

Here is what to expect after you reach out.

1. 01 Contact

   Start with the short form on the contact page, or call 813-557-6400.

2. 02 Consult With Your Surgeon

   Your complimentary consultation covers candidacy, fat placement (buttocks, hips, or both), and recovery rules. Your surgeon sets the plan.

3. 03 Written Quote Valid 14 Days

   Tampa Bay Body Sculpting prepares your written quote after consult. A standalone BBL quote is prepared after your complimentary consultation. Tampa Bay, FL Average Pricing for Lipo 360 + BBL is $6,000–$9,500. All-Inclusive Pricing: Surgeon, OR/Facility & Anesthesia Included. Quotes are valid for 14 days.

4. 04 Payment And Scheduling

   We help arrange payment—including a non-refundable deposit—and schedule surgery. Cherry financing is available if you would like to apply.

Understanding Anesthesia For Your Procedure

Your anesthesia provider reviews which approach may fit you before surgery.

• Light IV Sedation. Medication is given through an IV in your arm. The aim is relaxation, drowsiness, and comfort. Breathing is typically on your own, and the treatment area is also numbed.
• Deep IV Sedation. The aim is sleep and comfort. Many patients do not remember the procedure. Breathing is typically on your own.

With awake liposuction, only the treatment areas are numbed and the patient stays fully awake.

Your surgeon and anesthesia provider set the plan for liposuction and fat transfer. More detail is on our BBL page.

Individual results vary.

Tampa Bay Body Sculpting is a patient concierge and does not provide medical care. Your surgeon and anesthesia provider determine your anesthesia plan, candidacy, and medical care.