Yes, it is possible to transfer fat from your stomach, or other areas of the body, to your buttocks. This specialized form of body contouring uses the patient’s own tissue to enhance shape and volume. The technique involves strategically moving unwanted fat from a donor site to a target area to achieve a more proportional silhouette. This procedure addresses localized areas of excess fat while simultaneously augmenting another area.
The Procedure: Autologous Fat Transfer
This technique is formally known as autologous fat transfer, meaning it uses the patient’s own fat cells for grafting. Sourcing the tissue from the individual’s own body minimizes the risk of rejection or allergic reaction. This procedure is commonly referred to as fat grafting or the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) when performed for gluteal augmentation. The two-part surgery combines fat removal from one area with fat injection into another. The objective is to achieve a dual benefit: slimming the donor area, such as the abdomen or flanks, and adding volume to the buttocks for reshaping.
Step-by-Step Mechanism
The surgical process is executed in three distinct phases, beginning with the removal of donor fat. This initial stage, known as harvesting, involves performing liposuction using specialized, thin cannulas. The instruments are designed to gently extract fat cells from the donor site, often the stomach, lower back, or thighs, to maximize cell viability. The gentle approach ensures the fat cells remain intact to successfully integrate into their new location.
The second phase is the processing or purification of the harvested tissue. The extracted material is a mix of fat cells, blood, and fluid. To ensure only the healthiest fat cells are transferred, the material is typically spun in a centrifuge or filtered. This purification step concentrates the adipose tissue, leaving behind a dense, high-quality graft material ready for transfer.
The final phase is the grafting or injection of the purified fat into the buttocks. The surgeon uses small syringes and fine cannulas to inject the fat as micro-droplets across multiple tissue planes. This layering technique ensures that each tiny fat graft is surrounded by healthy tissue. This proximity allows for rapid revascularization, meaning the new cells can quickly establish a blood supply to survive in their new environment.
Determining Candidacy and Fat Viability
A person must meet several criteria to be considered an appropriate candidate for this procedure. The most fundamental requirement is having sufficient donor fat available for harvesting, typically located in areas like the abdomen or flanks. Since the procedure relies entirely on existing fat stores, those with a very low body mass index (BMI) may not have enough usable fat to achieve the desired volume.
A second major factor is fat viability, or the fat survival rate, which determines the long-term success of the graft. Not all transferred fat cells will survive the process; surgeons typically anticipate a retention rate between 50% and 80%. This expected loss means the surgeon must often overfill the area slightly to account for cells that will be naturally reabsorbed by the body following the surgery.
Patient health and lifestyle choices significantly affect the final outcome, with smoking being a particular concern. Nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor, severely limiting blood flow and oxygen delivery to the newly placed fat cells. This restriction can dramatically decrease the fat survival rate, sometimes lowering it to as little as 40%. The volume of fat safely transferred in a single session is limited, typically between 500 to 1,000 cubic centimeters of purified fat per buttock, depending on the patient’s tissue capacity.
Post-Procedure Care and Results Longevity
Recovery protocols are crucial for ensuring the survival of the newly transferred fat cells. Patients are strictly advised to avoid applying direct pressure to the buttocks for several weeks after the surgery. This means refraining from sitting or sleeping on the back, often requiring specialized recovery pillows or sleeping on the stomach. Direct pressure can compress the delicate fat grafts, cutting off the blood supply needed for the cells to survive.
Safety considerations during the recovery period involve monitoring for complications, such as infection or uneven swelling. A major safety advancement has been the directive to inject fat only into the subcutaneous space, the layer just beneath the skin, avoiding the gluteal muscle. Deep muscle injection carries a rare but serious risk of fat embolism, where fat enters the bloodstream.
The longevity of the aesthetic outcome is considered permanent for the fat cells that successfully establish a blood supply. Once the initial healing phase is complete, typically around six months, the surviving fat cells behave like any other fat in the body. The transferred fat will fluctuate with the patient’s overall weight changes, meaning significant weight gain or loss will affect the size and shape of the augmented buttocks. Maintaining a stable body weight is the primary factor in preserving the long-term results.