Buttock Lift, Buttock Reshaping & Brazilian Butt Lift for trans* women
with implants or autologous fat
Medically reviewed by: Dr. med. Timo Spanholtz
Specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery | Medical Director
Buttock reshaping (also referred to as Brazilian Butt Lift or Buttocks Enhancement) is a gender-affirming, body-contouring procedure that aims to make the buttocks appear more voluminous, rounder, and more feminine. This method is often chosen by transfeminine, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals who feel that the shape of their buttocks does not align with their gender identity.
What is buttock reshaping for trans* women?
A buttock lift or Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) differs from classic implants in that no artificial foreign materials are used. Instead, the body's own fat is used:
- Fat removal (liposuction): Fat is gently suctioned from defined areas such as the abdomen, flanks, or hips.
- Fat preparation: The extracted fat is purified and prepared for transplantation.
- Fat transplantation: Your own fat is injected into the buttock area to create volume, roundness, and projection – for a natural, feminine look.
This approach is considered more natural, lower-risk, and long-lasting because it does not require implants and instead uses the body's own tissue.
Goals & effects of
feminizing buttock augmentation
Buttock reshaping surgery can:
- increase buttock volume and create a fuller shape
- create rounder, more pronounced contours
- make the hip-to-waist proportion appear more feminine
- be used alone or in combination with waist contouring, hip augmentation, or breast augmentation
- help alleviate dysphoria related to body shape
The procedure can help achieve the often-desired figure profile by simultaneously reducing fat in problem areas and building it up in desired zones.
How does the procedure work?
Consultation & preparation
In a detailed consultation, your surgeon clarifies your goals, your body structure, your fat distribution, and possible combinations with other procedures (e.g., waist sculpting or hip augmentation).
Surgery
The procedure takes place under anesthesia. First, fat is removed via liposuction in selected areas. The harvested fat is then prepared and carefully injected in layers into the buttock area to achieve a harmonious, feminine roundness.
Duration
Buttock reshaping usually takes about 2–4 hours, depending on the extent of the procedure, the amount of fat transferred, and any combined procedures.
Healing & recovery time
After the procedure, you go through a recovery phase in which:
- swelling, bruising, and a feeling of tightness are normal
- light movements are usually possible again soon
- sitting and pressure on the buttocks should be restricted in the first few weeks
- the final shape and contour become visible after several weeks to months
Many patients can return to work after about 1–2 weeks; sporting activities should only be resumed after explicit clearance from your medical team.
Why fat transplantation? Advantages of the method
Natural results: The body forms a natural-looking contour using its own fat cells.
Dual effect: Fat removal in problem areas simultaneously shapes the waist, abdomen, or hips and enhances the contrast effect.
Lower risk of foreign body reactions: Since no implant is inserted, the risk of implant rejection is eliminated.
Long-lasting results: If the transplanted fat cells successfully take hold, the results can be permanent – as long as body weight remains stable.
Results
- Soft, more feminine buttock profile
- Improved hip-to-waist proportion
- Harmonious integration with body contour
- Natural shape without foreign materials
The final result depends on your body structure, fat distribution, surgical technique, and aftercare. While the volume is visible immediately after surgery, the "final" look only emerges after the swelling has fully subsided over weeks to months.
Additional feminizing options
MtF buttock reshaping is often combined with other body feminization procedures:
- Hip and body contouring (for a defined waist)
- Hip contouring/augmentation (for full, curvier hips)
- Breast augmentation
- Facial feminization
- Larynx/vocal cord surgery
This allows a holistic, feminine body structure to be achieved.
Who is a suitable candidate?
An buttock reshaping / Brazilian Butt Lift for trans* women can be suitable for individuals:
- who want more volume and roundness in the buttocks
- who have fat reserves suitable for transfer
- whose goals are realistic in nature and medically justified
- who are prepared to adhere to the postoperative healing process
There is no "one-size-fits-all" – an individual consultation appointment is crucial.
Risks & notes
As with any surgery, there are possible risks, including:
- swelling, bruising
- temporary changes in sensitivity
- infections or fluid accumulations (seromas)
- Partial resorption of transplanted fat (a portion of the fat is broken down again by the body)
- rare complications such as uneven contours
Carefully choosing an experienced team specialized in gender-affirming surgery reduces risks and improves results.
Feminizing buttock reshaping as part of the transition
Buttock reshaping for trans* womenfor trans* women is a significant, affirmative body-area procedure for many transfeminine and gender-diverse people who strive for a fuller, more feminine buttock shape. Through careful planning, experienced surgical technique, and structured aftercare, this procedure can help you feel more confident, congruent, and comfortable in your body.
Frequently asked questions about trans* woman Buttock Lift, Buttock Reshaping & Brazilian Butt Lift
We are happy to answer your questions about the treatment here.
Approximately 50% to 60% of the transferred fat permanently takes hold and remains part of your body for life. The cells that survive the first two months behave like normal fatty tissue: if you gain weight, your buttocks will also become fuller; if you lose a lot of weight, the volume can decrease.
For a BBL, we need a certain amount of "donor fat". If you are very slim, it can be difficult to obtain enough of your own fat for a significant volume upgrade. In a consultation, we will check whether your fat deposits are sufficient or whether alternative methods (such as implants or a pure lift) are better suited for you.
Yes, that is the great advantage of autologous fat compared to implants. Since we use your own tissue, your buttocks feel completely natural after healing and also move that way. There are no visible implant edges, and the shape can be modeled very individually and softly through the injection technique.
In a buttock lift, we remove excess skin and tighten the tissue, which is particularly useful after significant weight loss. A buttock augmentation (BBL), on the other hand, aims to increase the volume and perfect the shape. We often combine both procedures to achieve both firm skin and a feminine curve.
A BBL is a special form of buttock shaping in which no silicone is used, but rather your own body fat. First, we remove fat from areas where you find it bothersome (e.g. the abdomen or flanks). This fat is processed and specifically injected into the buttocks to build volume, improve projection, and create a feminine roundness.
This is the most important rule for a good result: So that the transplanted fat cells can grow optimally after the buttock reshaping, you must avoid sitting or lying directly on your bottom for about 2 to 3 weeks. We recommend using a special BBL cushion, which shifts the pressure to the thighs and lets your buttocks "float".
The safety of our patients comes first. We use state-of-the-art techniques in which the fat is injected exclusively into the subcutaneous fatty tissue and never into or beneath the muscle. This drastically minimizes the risks of classic BBL methods and ensures a safe, aesthetically high-quality result.
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