Can You Transfer Fat from Stomach to Buttocks?

Dr. Nicholas Lahar

Jun 12, 2026

Have you noticed that your rear is flat and doesn’t have the shape and size you want? Fat transfer from the abdomen to the buttocks, also called a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), can slim your belly and also give you the rear you’ve been dreaming of.

Fat transfer from stomach to buttocks is done with liposuction, where the fat is removed from the abdomen, washed and processed, and injected into the rear.

Some of the benefits of a BBL or fat transfer include:

You will have rounder, perkier buttocks without implants
The buttocks will look younger and more attractive
The injected fat comes from your body,so it won’t be rejected
The incisions are smaller, so there is little scarring on the donor site and buttocks
Recovery for BBL is much faster than for butt implants

If you are considering a fat transfer from stomach to buttocks, it’s essential to know as much as you can before moving forward.

Contents

1 Fat transfer overview
2 Fat transfer procedure
3 Ideal candidate for fat transfer
4 Fat transfer alternatives
5 Fat transfer risks
6 Request a fat transfer consultation
7 References

Fat transfer overview

BBL, also called fat grafting or fat transfer, has soared in popularity in the past decade. Social media celebrities, such as Kim Kardashian, have made fat transfer look sexy and desirable with a larger, rounder rear end.

If you have spent hours in your local gym trying to get a larger, rounder rear, you know there’s only so much squats and other leg exercises can do. Injecting fat into the buttocks is the fastest way to get your desired results.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a BBL combines liposuction from donor areas with strategic fat injection into the buttocks. It produces a more proportional silhouette using the patient’s own natural tissue.

Fat transfer procedure

The BBL involves fat transfer into the buttocks, most often from the stomach. However, fat can also be transferred from the legs, arms, back, and sides. The steps for fat transfer to the buttocks are:

The surgeon will probably use general or IV sedation. But if a small amount of fat is harvested and transferred, they may only use local anesthesia.
The surgeon uses liposuction with a cannula to remove fat from the stomach. This involves making small incisions in the stomach and removing fat with a suction tube.
The removed fat is purified and cleaned for injection into the buttocks.
The surgeon makes several incisions in each buttock and injects it to create a rounder, larger shape. Most surgeons make three to five incisions in each buttock.
The stomach and buttock incisions are closed with stitches, anda compression garment is used to reduce swelling and bleeding.

Ideal candidate for fat transfer

You could be a good candidate for fat transfer and BBL surgery if you:

Have lost the natural size and shape ofyour rear with age or weight changes
Don’t like how the lower part of your body looks in clothing
Have enough fat in the stomach or other areas for fat transfer
Don’t smoke or can abstain for several weeks before and after the procedure
Eat a healthy diet and exercise
Have not had any recent medical conditions or infections that could affect the recovery process

Fat transfer alternatives

Not every patient is a good candidate for fat transfer and BBL. For example, older patients with sagging buttock skin or thin skin may not have good results. In addition, increasing the size of the buttocks won’t fix sagging skin, so you may need a lower body lift to remove the extra tissue.

If you are thin and lack body fat, the surgeon may not have enough tissue to transfer. As a result, you may have better results with silicone implants.

However, implants require a significant recovery of at least two months and sitting on the rear is not allowed during this period.

During the surgical consultation, the surgeon will examine your body, including the stomach and rear, and tell you if you are a candidate for fat transfer and BBL.

Fat transfer risks

If you choose a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon, you should have excellent results with your fat transfer and BBL procedure. However, the complication rate for BBL surgery is among the highest of all cosmetic procedures.

A joint safety statement published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) confirms that BBL carries a higher risk of serious complications compared to most other elective aesthetic procedures. It’s most commonly pulmonary fat embolism (PFE), which can occur when fat is injected too deeply into or near the gluteal muscles. The ASPS task force identified that fat must be placed only in the subcutaneous space above the gluteal muscles to minimize this risk.

Importantly, updated safety protocols have made a meaningful difference. A study published in PubMed found that in the two years following the publication of updated ASPS and ISAPS safety recommendations, the incidence of pulmonary fat embolism dropped from 1 in 1,030 to 1 in 2,492.

It’s a statistically significant improvement driven entirely by changes in surgical technique. The Aesthetic Society also notes that fat absorption of up to 40% may occur, which can produce asymmetry and may require additional fat grafting sessions to achieve the desired result.

Other problems with BBL include gangrene, sepsis, and fat death. In addition, some surgeons may not put the right amount of fat in the buttocks, and you could need a follow-up procedure.

Remember, having the procedure done in the United States by an experienced surgeon will avoid the most serious complications. Please make sure you choose the best plastic surgeon in your area for a BBL, so it is as safe as possible.

Transferring fat from the stomach to the buttocks is an important decision. Now that you know more about this popular procedure, you can decide if the benefits outweigh the risks.

The safety evolution around BBL over the last several years has been significant. In our practice, we follow current ASPS guidelines precisely. Fat is placed exclusively in the subcutaneous layer, never into the muscle. Patient selection, surgical discipline, and technique are what separate a safe BBL from a dangerous one.

– Dr. Lahar

Request a fat transfer consultation

Thinking about fat transfer in Beverly Hills? Dr. Nicholas Lahar is pleased to provide plastic surgery procedures to his Beverly Hills patients. He will discuss your aesthetic goals during your consultation and help you decide if you are a good candidate for fat transfer.