Last fact-checked: 15 November 2021

With a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) in Turkey’s popular coastal city of Antalya, international patients can achieve a curvier, fuller appearance while also contouring other parts of the body as part of this hugely popular two-in-one fat grafting procedure.

Brits, Europeans and even North Americans are finding that they are able to save anywhere between 50% to a whopping 75% by undergoing surgery abroad. Plus, when booking treatment at one of Medical Departures’ fully background-checked BBL clinics in Turkey, other vitally-important aspects of your medical trip, such as safety, hygiene standards and the quality of your end-results need never be compromised.

Now popping up all over Twitter and TikTok feeds across the world, BBLs are currently one the fastest growing types of cosmetic surgery, a trend first catalysed by celebrities ranging from J.Lo to the Kardashians, Nicki Minaj, and Amber Rose (although we’re not saying they’ve all had one…)

Also known as "gluteal enhancement" or "gluteal augmentation," Brazilian butt lift surgery (BBL) is a type of cosmetic surgery designed to give patients added size and curves, while also filling about and/or enhancing the shape of the buttocks.

Unlike traditional buttock augmentation techniques that use synthetic implants inserted via two incisions, the BBL is silicone-free, and leaves no unsightly scarring. Instead, the buttocks are enlarged using a patient’s own natural fat stores, with tissue harvested from a “donor site” elsewhere on the body.

Following a process of purification and cleansing, the adipose fat tissue —now in the form of a refined liquid—is injected into the buttocks using a fine needle or cannula.

Depending on a patient’s body type and cosmetic goals, anywhere between 600ml and 1,500ml of fat can be transferred into each buttock, although some surgeons may advise against hitting this upper limit so as to decrease the chance of any complications—and help patients achieve a more natural, contoured appearance.

Potential advantages of getting a Brazilian butt lift in this Turkish coastal city include:

• Improved confidence, especially for those who believe bigger is better!

• Patients who have lacked size all their life may feel less self-conscious when wearing certain clothes and outfits, such as swimwear, fitted tops, skinny jeans and dresses.

• In cases where patients have a little excess skin around the glutes, a BBL may negate the need for a traditional lift as the buttocks “fill out.”

• The areas from which the fat is harvested will also become more contoured and firmer thanks to the use of liposuction

• In Turkey, patients can typically save around two-thirds on the price of BBL surgery compared to clinics in the UK and EU.

• Antalya is a top destination for a holiday: before surgery, patients can partake in a range of activities both on and off the beach before recovering in the peace and privacy of a comfortable, fully-equipped and surprisingly affordable hotel right next to the Med.

A different procedure, not to be confused with a BBL, is the traditional butt lift (or gluteoplasty/gluteal lift). This standalone procedure involves incisions being made under the buttocks, with a surgeon removing loose skin and using liposuction to remove excess fat tissue, if necessary.

In certain cases where a patient is looking to get rid of a significant amount of skin (perhaps following dramatic weight loss) as well as add volume, elements of a butt lift may be combined with a BBL in the same session of surgery.

Learn more about undergoing a (traditional) butt lift in Turkey with Medical Departures.

As well as being in good overall health and not having any preexisting conditions that may cause undue risk when under general anesthesia, prospective patients should have sufficient excess body fat that can be harvested via liposuction.

Thus, for those underweight or with a naturally slender frame, alternative buttock augmentation methods may be advised, such as buttock enhancement with implants.

Patients should also have maintained a stable body weight for at least six months, not be recovering from any prior surgery and understand the limitations of a BBL procedure.

Not sure about your suitability? Then get in touch with Medical Departures; our team can help set up a virtual consultation with a prospective surgeon in Antalya over Skype or Zoom, at no charge to you.

Following a presurgical consultation, your suitability will be confirmed by a surgeon and anaesthesia plan finalised by a licensed anesthesiologist. The BBL procedure may take place, either on the same day or over the next few days.

The BBL surgery is a three-step process, as explained below:

1. Fat harvesting: Typically using tumescent liposuction, fat tissue is extracted from the predetermined donor site(s), normally at the thighs, tummy or flank.

2. Fat preparation: The fat cells next need to be separated from blood and other fluids in the extracted solution. Once refined, the cells are cleansed, ready for transfer.

3. Fat injection: Using a specialised cannula or needle, the fat cells are slowly passed under the skin on each side of the gluteals, above the muscle, until the desired correction is achieved.

To complete the procedure, the area is dressed with bandages in order to provide protection; patients are usually given a compression garment to wear for at least a week to help ease swelling and promote recovery.

Patients can expect to feel sore, swollen and stiff immediately after surgery; painkillers can help ease any discomfort and help you sleep at night.

You will be instructed to lie on your stomach (rather than on your back or sitting upright) for approximately one week after surgery, depending on the extent of the procedure.

You will be encouraged to get up and about as soon as possible, although you may find it difficult, but it does help to ease the swelling, and speed up your recovery.

Patients can generally return to work one or two weeks after surgery; if possible, working from home may be advised for a little longer.

Returning to exercise and other vigorous activities should be fine after two months

A full recovery can take several months.

There is a range of other ways to add volume) to the buttocks; while the BBL remains the most popular today, other augmentation procedures may use:

• Sculptra® (filler injections) butt lift

• Hydrogel and silicone buttock injections results

• Silicone implants

Similar fat transfer techniques can be used to help improve the contours or rejuvenate other parts of the body, including:

• Facial fat transfer

• Breast augmentation with fat grafting

• Breast implants and fat grafting

• Hand rejuvenation with fat grafting

BBL is considered one of the riskier types of plastic surgery due to the potential complications associated with fat grafting. As a result, the level of risk does increase when larger volumes of fat are transferred to the buttocks.

Potential dangers as a result of reabsorbed fat include:

• Fat entering the blood system, which can lead to embolism and clotting.

• Formation of hard cysts

• Deformed shape, often caused by applying too much immediate pressure on the buttocks after surgery.

Also, a Brazilian butt lift combines different techniques (liposuction and grafting) during the same session of surgery, typically performed under general anesthesia.

General (but rare) risks to be aware of when undergoing BBL surgery are: infection, seroma (fluid build-up), unfavorable scarring, necrosis, bleeding, loss of sensation.

Find out more about the risks of undergoing liposuction and safety considerations here.

Please note: These are average price estimates; feel free to connect with our Customer Care Team for a personalized, no-obligation quote.

These exploding costs in both the UK and EU explain why so many patients are looking abroad for surgery. In Antalya, for instance, patients can expect to pay in the region of GBP 2,500–3,500 for their BBL, representing a saving of around two-thirds.

Even when factoring in flight, accommodation and other holiday expenses, patients get the look they have always dreamed of—without taking any undue risks—returning home from Turkey having saved several thousand pounds.

All of the clinics, hospitals and surgeons listed with Medical Departures have been pre-checked—so you can book an appointment with no qualms about the standard of care you will receive in Turkey or any other destination you see features on our site, like Thailand, Mexico or the Philippines.

Our background checks include a variety of criteria, such as onsite visits and searches on legal and criminal records. We also corroborate surgeon qualifications and professional memberships, which you can see under each clinic listing, as well as with real patient reviews, clinic photographs, maps and transparent prices lists—all freely available before you book. While no cosmetic surgery can ever be guaranteed 100%, ensuring the information we gather about our providers stacks up gives you a head start on finding a trusted BBl surgeon in Antalya.

Get started now with these top Antalya BBL clinics:

• Catch Life Aesthetic

• Antalya Obesity and Aesthetic Clinic

• Op Dr. Sibel Atalay International Clinic

• Mediface Surgical Center

Other clinic links:

>> Full list of BBL clinics in Antalya

>> Full list of BBL clinics in Istanbul

As a travel destination, the port city of Antalya and its namesake province is the most-visited area on the Turkish Riviera, the country’s southern coastal region overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Boasting superb beaches, a historic city center, endless shopping options and plenty of quieter resort towns and villages dotted along the surrounding coastline, it’s no surprise this part of Turkey has become a favorite travel destination for Brits, as well as Germans and Scandinavians who are able to fly directly to the city’s international airport in just over four hours. Upon landing, the city is quick and cheap to reach via metered taxi or Uber.

Holiday-makers will find relatively affordable luxury in the way of accommodation, as well as a myriad of activities such as cruises, walking tours of the old city, a buzzing nightlife scene, spa days and cave exploration.

Those from the UK and EU countries are able to receive a 3-month tourist visa upon arrival in Turkey. See the latest visa rules and entry requirements from the UK here.

It’s simple. Browse our verified Antalya BBL listings and find a clinic and surgeon that suits your needs and budget. You can ask for a free quote, or book an appointment online.

If you’d like some further information or to discuss matters further, speak to the Medical Departures Customer Care Team who will be more than happy to assist you.

Sources:

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Cherney, Kristeen, Ph.D. Everything You Need to Know About the Brazilian Butt-Lift (Fat Transfer) Procedure. Healthline. 15 June 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/brazilian-butt-lift

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Brazilian BBL. American Board of Cosmetic Surgeons. Website accessed: 12 November 2021. https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/body-procedures/brazilian-butt-lift/

Cherney, H. Everything You Need to Know About Butt Implants. Healthline. 18 January 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/butt-implants

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What's the maximum amount of fat that can be put back in during a bbl? Or is there not a guideline in the US? RealSelf. Website accessed: 12 November 2021. https://www.realself.com/question/york-in-i-wanted-the-maximum-amount-fat-put-back-in-bbl-there-guideline-in-the

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