Understanding Buttock Augmentation

Buttock augmentation is cosmetic surgery intended to change the volume, shape or projection of the buttocks.

Two principal approaches are relevant to this DR. MARIS service page:

1. Buttock Augmentation – Fat Transfer (BBL)
2. Buttock Augmentation – Implants

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes buttock augmentation as surgery that may use either implants or transfer of the patient's own fat, with the appropriate approach influenced by existing buttock shape, available donor fat, goals, activity level, skin quality and elasticity.

These procedures should not be confused with a buttock lift, which primarily removes or repositions loose tissue rather than simply adding volume.

The consultation therefore begins with a more useful question than “Which procedure gives the biggest buttocks?”

It begins with:

What anatomical change is appropriate for your body, and which surgical method can reasonably achieve it?

Buttock Augmentation with Fat Transfer — BBL

A Brazilian Butt Lift, commonly shortened to BBL, uses autologous fat tran. fer.

“Autologous” means the fat comes from the patient's own body.

The procedure generally involves three stages:

Liposuction of Donor Areas

Fat is collected through liposuction from areas where suitable donor fat is available.

Possible donor areas depend on individual anatomy and may include areas such as the abdomen, waist, back or thighs.

Liposuction also affects overall body contour, which means planning should consider the relationship between the waist, hips and buttocks rather than viewing the buttocks in isolation.

Fat Processing

The removed material is prepared so that suitable fat can be used for grafting.

Fat Transfer to the Buttocks

Prepared fat is placed into selected areas to modify contour and projection.

ASPS describes BBL as fat obtained by liposuction, processed and then injected into the buttocks using surgical cannulas.

The exact harvesting, processing and injection method used by Dr. Maris must be confirmed before technique-specific claims are published.

Who May Consider a BBL?

Fat-transfer buttock augmentation may be considered when a patient:

• wants greater buttock volume or projection
• wants selected contour changes
• has sufficient suitable donor fat
• is medically appropriate for liposuction and fat grafting
• understands that not all transferred fat will necessarily survive
• accepts that results depend on anatomy and healing
• has realistic expectations

A BBL cannot simply be scaled to any desired volume.

The amount that can appropriately be transferred depends on factors including donor-fat availability, recipient-tissue capacity, surgical safety and the patient's anatomy.

Patients with very little suitable donor fat may need to discuss whether an implant-based approach is more appropriate.

Buttock Implants

Buttock augmentation can also be performed using implants specifically designed for gluteal augmentation.

Unlike a BBL, this procedure does not depend on harvesting a large amount of fat from another part of the body.

ASPS describes buttock implant surgery as placement of silicone implants through surgically planned incisions, with implant position and surgical approach determined by anatomy, implant selection and surgeon judgment.

Implants may therefore be discussed with patients who want increased projection but do not have enough appropriate donor fat for fat transfer.

However, implant surgery introduces a different set of considerations, including:

• a surgical incision and scar
• implant positioning
• infection risk
• wound healing
• implant migration or displacement
• implant rupture
• tissue pressure
• possible future revision or removal

The implant brand, shape, size and exact placement technique used by DR. MARIS should not be published until verified.

BBL vs Buttock Implants

Neither approach is automatically superior.

Dr. Maris should assess:

• buttock dimensions
• waist and hip proportions
• available donor fat
• skin elasticity
• previous body surgery
• desired change in projection
• overall medical condition
• surgical risk

before recommending either procedure.

Common Concerns We Address

Limited Buttock Projection

Some patients naturally have limited projection despite maintaining a stable body weight and exercising.

Surgery may increase volume, but it cannot guarantee a particular body shape or replicate another person's anatomy.

Changes After Weight Loss

Weight loss can change both buttock volume and skin quality.

If significant loose skin is present, augmentation alone may not address the entire concern.

Buttock Asymmetry

Natural asymmetry is common.

Surgery may improve selected differences, but perfect symmetry cannot be guaranteed because pelvic structure, muscle, fat distribution and soft-tissue anatomy can differ between sides.

Waist-to-Buttock Proportion

Patients considering BBL often focus on the relationship between their waist and buttocks.

Because fat is harvested through liposuction, contour planning may involve both donor and recipient areas. The goal should be individualized body balance rather than a standardized waist measurement or exaggerated silhouette.

Dr. Maris's Approach

Dr. Maris / Dr. Tran Minh Huy has 6+ years of cosmetic surgery experience based on the approved brand information provided for this page.

Dr. Maris personally:

• conducts the consultation
• examines the patient
• assesses donor-fat availability when BBL is considered
• evaluates buttock and body proportions
• develops the surgical plan
• performs the surgery
• participates in postoperative follow-up

The practice intentionally limits surgical volume to support individualized care rather than passing patients through a high-volume surgical model.

For international patients, preliminary assessment may begin before travelling to Vietnam.

BBL Safety Requires Special Attention

A BBL deserves a more detailed safety discussion than ordinary marketing pages often provide.

Multi-society guidance involving ASPS, The Aesthetic Society and other plastic-surgery organizations has recognized gluteal fat grafting as carrying significant risk compared with many other elective aesthetic procedures, particularly because fat entering large blood vessels can cause a potentially fatal fat embolism.

Current safety guidance emphasizes keeping transferred fat in the appropriate subcutaneous plane above the gluteal muscle fascia. A multi-society safety statement also supports real-time ultrasound guidance as a way of helping surgeons verify the anatomical plane during fat injection.

Recent ASPS patient-safety guidance continues to encourage patients considering BBL to discuss the surgeon's injection plane, experience and use of ultrasound guidance.

How the Surgical Procedure Is Planned

Fat Transfer / BBL

General surgical stages may include:

1. preoperative body marking and assessment
2. anesthesia
3. liposuction of selected donor areas
4. preparation of harvested fat
5. controlled fat placement into selected buttock areas
6. postoperative monitoring

The exact anesthesia, cannula, processing system, liposuction technology and injection method used by DR. MARIS require verification.

Buttock Implant Surgery

General implant-based augmentation may involve:

1. preoperative assessment
2. anesthesia
3. surgically planned incision
4. creation of an implant pocket
5. placement of an appropriately selected gluteal implant
6. wound closure
7. postoperative monitoring

ASPS notes that several incision and implant-placement approaches exist.

Recovery & Aftercare

Recovery differs between BBL and implant-based augmentation.

Recovery After BBL

The liposuction donor areas as well as the buttocks need to heal.

ASPS advises that prolonged direct pressure on newly transferred fat is commonly restricted during early recovery and that patients may be instructed to sleep on their side or abdomen and use modified sitting positions.

Specific timing varies between surgeons and patients.

DR. MARIS postoperative restrictions should therefore be published only after they have been medically confirmed.

Recovery After Buttock Implants

Implant surgery creates surgical wounds and an implant pocket, so wound protection and implant positioning become important considerations.

Patients may experience:

• swelling
• bruising
• discomfort
• tightness
• temporary sensation changes
• restrictions on sitting, exercise or movement

The exact recovery protocol depends on the operation.

Recovery timing depends on the procedure and individual condition and will be discussed during consultation.

Risks & Considerations

All buttock augmentation surgery carries potential risks.

Risks of Fat Transfer / BBL

Potential complications include:

• bleeding
• infection
• seroma
• asymmetry
• fat necrosis
• oil cysts
• contour irregularities
• complications related to liposuction
• blood clots
• anesthesia complications
• need for revision surgery
• loss or resorption of some transferred fat
• fat embolism

ASPS specifically identifies fat embolism as a serious risk of gluteal fat transfer.

Risks of Buttock Implants

Potential complications include:

• infection
• bleeding
• wound separation
• implant exposure
• scarring
• nerve injury
• implant firmness
• implant rupture
• implant migration
• seroma
• pressure on the sciatic nerve
• anesthesia complications
• need for implant removal or revision

These risks are included within ASPS guidance for implant-based buttock augmentation.

Your individual risks depend on your anatomy, health, surgical plan and other factors and must be discussed directly with Dr. Maris.

Results & Realistic Expectations

Buttock augmentation may change:

• volume
• projection
• contour
• proportion relative to surrounding areas

Results should not be described as guaranteed.

For BBL patients, some transferred fat may not remain long term. ASPS notes that final fat-transfer results take time to become clear and that some initial grafted volume is naturally reabsorbed.

Transferred fat also behaves like other body fat. Significant weight gain or loss may alter the result.

For implant patients, the implant provides volume without depending on fat survival, but implants introduce their own long-term considerations and may require revision surgery in the future.

Neither procedure guarantees:

• an exact buttock size
• a specific body ratio
• perfect symmetry
• permanent unchanged shape
• a result identical to another patient

Results vary according to individual anatomy and healing.

Buttock Augmentation Cost in Vietnam

The approved DR. MARIS AESTHETICS International Price List includes two buttock augmentation procedures:

The approved list names Buttock Augmentation – Fat Transfer (BBL) at 105,000,000 VND / A$5,830 and Buttock Augmentation – Implants at 195,000,000 VND / A$10,830.

The corresponding USD and NZD reference amounts in the international pricing document are US$4,040 / NZ$6,560 for fat transfer and US$7,500 / NZ$12,190 for implants.

These prices are indicative starting rates for the procedure only and may change following an in-person or video consultation. The document also states that foreign-currency values are reference conversions and final invoicing follows the relevant bank exchange rate on the payment date.

Does BBL Pricing Include Liposuction?

The supplied price document does not specify exactly:

• which donor areas are included
• how many liposuction areas are included
• hospital charges
• anesthesia fees
• laboratory testing
• compression garments
• postoperative medication
• postoperative accommodation

These inclusions must therefore be verified rather than inferred.

International Patients Travelling to Vietnam

International patients can begin planning before flying to Ho Chi Minh City.

A preliminary online consultation may include discussion of:

• the shape or projection you want to address
• height and weight
• general medical history
• medications
• previous body-contouring surgery
• previous liposuction
• previous BBL or implants
• areas where donor fat may be available
• smoking or nicotine use
• relevant photographs

A remote consultation can assist preliminary planning but does not replace the physical examination and medical assessment required before surgery.

How Long Should I Stay in Vietnam?

There is no single appropriate stay for every buttock augmentation patient.

Your travel schedule depends on:

• whether you undergo BBL or implants
• extent of liposuction
• early wound healing
• postoperative swelling
• mobility
• follow-up requirements
• readiness for a long-haul flight

International patients should not select the shortest advertised recovery package and assume they are medically ready to fly.

The appropriate stay should be confirmed with Dr. Maris according to the actual operation and postoperative progress.

Why Patients Consider Dr. Maris

The DR. MARIS surgical model emphasizes direct surgeon involvement.

Patients can expect:

• consultation personally conducted by Dr. Maris
• direct anatomical assessment
• individualized procedure selection
• surgery personally performed by Dr. Maris
• postoperative follow-up involving Dr. Maris
• hospital-based surgery at Hong Bang International Hospital
• preliminary online consultation for international patients
• published starting prices
• discussion of surgical limitations rather than guaranteed body measurements

For BBL specifically, publication of any safety-technique claims should wait until the exact surgical protocol has been verified.