In this guide17 sections
- Key Points
- What Is the Difference Between Butt Injections and a BBL?
- BBL vs Filler: Side-by-Side Comparison
- What Is a Non-Surgical BBL?
- Does a Non-Surgical BBL Work?
- What Is the Best Injection for the Buttocks?
- Ass Shots vs BBL: Why Illegal Butt Injections Are Dangerous
- Are Butt Injections Safe Compared With a BBL?
- How Long Do Butt Injections Last Compared With a BBL?
- How Much Volume Can Butt Filler Add Compared With a BBL?
- Recovery and Downtime: Butt Injections vs BBL
- What Affects the Cost of Butt Injections vs a BBL?
- Which Is Better for You: Butt Injections or a BBL?
- What Are the Alternatives to a BBL?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- BBL and Butt Filler in London
- References
Key Points
- Butt injections and a BBL are different treatments. Butt injections (bum filler, booty shots or a non-surgical BBL) use a filler gel; a surgical BBL moves your own fat into the buttocks.
- A BBL adds far more volume and reshapes the waist. A full BBL typically transfers 1,600 to 2,000 ml of fat and slims the donor areas; filler gives a modest change.
- Filler is temporary; surviving fat is permanent. Hyaluronic acid butt filler lasts around 12 to 18 months, while the fat that survives a BBL is permanent from about six months.
- Downtime is very different. Most people resume normal activity straight after butt injections, but a BBL needs 1 to 2 weeks off work and 2 weeks of not sitting on the buttocks.
- Technique matters for both. Keeping fat or filler above the gluteal muscle, under real-time ultrasound guidance, is the key safety principle.
- Illegal “ass shots” are never safe. Silicone and unknown substances injected outside regulated clinics cause granulomas, infection, lung complications and deaths.
The main difference between butt injections and a BBL is what goes into your buttocks and how much. Butt injections use a filler gel to add a modest, temporary lift without surgery, while a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is an operation that uses liposuction to take your own fat from areas you want slimmer and transfers it into the buttocks for a larger, permanent change. Filler suits people who want a subtle boost with almost no downtime; a BBL suits people who want real volume and a reshaped waist, and who have enough spare fat.
This guide compares bum filler, booty shots and a surgical BBL on volume, longevity, recovery, safety, cost and suitability. At Centre for Surgery, both the surgical Brazilian butt lift and the non-surgical butt lift with hyaluronic acid filler are carried out by GMC-registered surgeons in an operating theatre, with real-time ultrasound guidance.
What Is the Difference Between Butt Injections and a BBL?
“Butt injections” is a loose term that can mean three quite different things:
- Butt filler (bum filler, a non-surgical BBL): a hyaluronic acid (HA) body filler injected into the fatty layer of the buttocks and hips. At Centre for Surgery this is HYAcorp, a filler made for body contouring.
- A surgical BBL: fat is injected too, so some people call it “butt shots”, but it is an operation that starts with liposuction.
- Illegal “ass shots” or “booty shots”: silicone, oils or unidentified products injected by unregulated people, often in homes or hotel rooms. These have nothing in common with medical treatment.
For most people the real choice is a filler gel or your own fat. Filler adds volume only where it is placed. A BBL takes fat from the waist, flanks, back or thighs and places it in the buttocks and hips, changing the whole silhouette. A review of minimally invasive buttock augmentation made this point directly: good buttock contouring usually means removing volume as well as adding it, which fillers alone cannot do[1].
A BBL does not use a sharp needle for the fat: your surgeon uses a blunt-tipped cannula through 3 to 4 mm incisions hidden in natural creases. At Centre for Surgery, fat is placed only in the subcutaneous layer above the gluteal muscle, never into or beneath it, with ultrasound-guided BBL used on every case so the surgeon can see the cannula tip throughout.
BBL vs Filler: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Butt filler (non-surgical BBL) | Surgical BBL | Illegal “ass shots” | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is injected | Hyaluronic acid body filler (HYAcorp) | Your own purified fat | Silicone, oils or unknown substances |
| How it is done | Local anaesthetic, 45 to 60 minutes, 1 to 3 sessions | Liposuction and fat grafting under TIVA, 3 to 4 hours, day case | Often by unqualified people in non-clinical settings |
| Volume | Modest lift and rounder contour | Large; around 1,600 to 2,000 ml transferred | Often large, unmeasured volumes |
| Slims other areas | No | Yes, the donor areas | No |
| How long it lasts | About 12 to 18 months | Surviving fat is permanent from about 6 months | Permanent, including complications |
| Downtime | No direct pressure on the buttocks for 24 to 48 hours | 1 to 2 weeks off work; no sitting on the buttocks for 2 weeks | Unpredictable |
| Reversible | Yes, with hyaluronidase | No, but it can be revised | No; removal is difficult and often incomplete |
| Main risks | Bruising, swelling, lumps, infection, migration; rarely filler entering a blood vessel | Bleeding, infection, fat necrosis, asymmetry, clots; rarely fat embolism | Granulomas, infection, ulcers, silicone embolism, death |
| Who it suits | A subtle change, slim body types, or trying extra volume first | Significant volume and a reshaped waist, with enough donor fat | No one |
What Is a Non-Surgical BBL?
A non-surgical BBL, also called a non-surgical bum lift or BBL with filler, uses injectable filler to add fullness and lift to the buttocks and soften hip dips, without liposuction or incisions. “Liquid BBL” describes the same idea, and our article on liquid BBL safety in the UK covers the regulatory debate.
At Centre for Surgery, the treatment uses HYAcorp hyaluronic acid filler only, injected by surgeons in a sterile operating theatre under ultrasound guidance, after numbing cream and local anaesthetic. It takes 45 to 60 minutes. The change is visible straight away and the settled result is clear within one to two weeks. Some people need one session and others two or three, usually four to six weeks apart, with a review at two to four weeks included.
Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, and the filler is gradually broken down over 12 to 18 months. It can also be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase if there is a problem, a major safety advantage over permanent or collagen-stimulating products. Our guide to HYAcorp fillers for the buttocks explains the product in more detail.
Some clinics also sell a “non-surgical BBL” with no filler at all, using radiofrequency, muscle stimulation or vacuum suction devices. These may tone muscle or tighten skin slightly, but they do not add meaningful volume.
Does a Non-Surgical BBL Work?
Yes, within clear limits. A 2023 systematic review in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ↗ pooled 10 studies of 168 patients treated with hyaluronic acid for gluteal augmentation. The average volume injected was about 207 ml, the estimated duration of effect was around 16 months, and most studies reported a significant improvement in satisfaction. Serious complications were rare but had been reported, including bleeding into the lungs and death[2].
For HYAcorp specifically, a 2025 study across four Italian clinics treated 35 patients with an average of 85 ml of HYAcorp MLF2; 94% rated the improvement as good or very good over six months, and side effects were mainly swelling, pain and redness that settled within two to seven days[3].
What a non-surgical BBL cannot do matters just as much:
- It cannot match the volume of a surgical BBL.
- It does not slim the waist, flanks or back, so it cannot create a small-waist, full-hip contrast.
- It does not tighten loose or sagging skin.
- It is temporary and needs maintenance sessions.
What Is the Best Injection for the Buttocks?
Injectables marketed for the buttocks behave very differently:
- Hyaluronic acid body filler: adds volume immediately, lasts around 12 to 18 months and can be dissolved. This is the only filler we use for buttock treatment.
- Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), best known as Sculptra: a collagen stimulator that works gradually over weeks to months. In a 2020 review of 60 patients, visible volume needed at least 20 vials, given over one to three sessions four to six weeks apart[4].
- Calcium hydroxylapatite: another collagen stimulator, used mainly to firm the skin rather than add shape.
- Permanent fillers such as PMMA: used in some countries, but complications can be permanent and the material is very difficult to remove[1].
The key safety difference is reversibility. Collagen stimulators and permanent fillers cannot be dissolved if they cause lumps, sit unevenly or move, which is why we do not use PLLA or calcium hydroxylapatite in the buttocks. For most people, the best injection is a licensed hyaluronic acid body filler, injected by a doctor under ultrasound guidance.
Ass Shots vs BBL: Why Illegal Butt Injections Are Dangerous
Searches for ass shots vs BBL or booty shots vs BBL often come from people weighing cheap injections advertised on social media against surgery. Illegal butt injections are not a cheaper version of either. They usually involve industrial liquid silicone, oils or other non-medical substances, injected in large volumes by people who are not doctors.
A 2024 scoping review of illicit cosmetic injections identified 142 publications from 28 countries. The buttocks were the most commonly injected area (35% of cases), and the most frequent complications were granulomas (hard inflammatory lumps), skin damage, infection and lung complications[5]. Liquid silicone can reach the lungs and cause silicone embolism syndrome, a breathing emergency that can be fatal. It can also migrate, harden and ulcerate through the skin years later, and it cannot be dissolved.
Warning signs that an injection is unsafe:
- The injector is not a doctor, or will not tell you their professional registration.
- Treatment takes place in a home, hotel, salon or at a party.
- The product is not shown sealed, or is described as “permanent”, “silicone” or “biopolymer”.
- The price is far below a regulated clinic’s, often cash only.
The UK Government is moving to tighten the rules. On 21 October 2026 it proposed that fillers injected into parts of the body other than the face, including liquid BBLs, would be legally defined as cosmetic surgical procedures that only doctors could perform; the proposal is open for consultation and is not yet law[6]. If you develop breathlessness, chest pain, fever or red, hardening skin after injections of an unknown substance, seek urgent medical help.
Are Butt Injections Safe Compared With a BBL?
Neither treatment is risk-free, and the risks differ in kind.
Butt filler. Bruising, swelling and tenderness are common for two to five days. Less common problems include lumps, uneven results, infection and filler moving. The most serious risk is filler entering a blood vessel, which is why injections should be performed by a doctor, ideally with ultrasound guidance. Licensed HA filler can be dissolved if a complication occurs.
Surgical BBL. A BBL carries the risks of surgery and liposuction, including bleeding, infection, fluid collections, fat necrosis (firm areas of grafted fat that did not survive), asymmetry and blood clots. The most serious risk is fat embolism, when fat enters the large veins within the gluteal muscle and travels to the lungs. A 2017 ASERF task force report in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal ↗ surveyed 692 surgeons covering almost 199,000 procedures and found that injecting fat into the deep muscle was linked to a significantly higher rate of fatal and non-fatal fat embolism[7].
A 2019 survey of 853 Brazilian plastic surgeons in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ↗ then found the risk of death was 16 times greater when fat was injected into the muscle[8]. Once surgeons adopted subcutaneous-only injection, a follow-up survey reported that pulmonary fat embolism fell from 1 in 1,030 cases to 1 in 2,492, with mortality trending down from 1 in 3,448 to 1 in 14,952[9].
At Centre for Surgery, fat is injected only into the subcutaneous layer, using a blunt cannula and expansion vibration lipofilling (EVL), with real-time ultrasound confirming the plane on every BBL. Our article on BBL risks and safety explains each complication. Licensed filler in experienced hands carries a lower risk of a life-threatening event than surgery, but neither is safe when done badly.
How Long Do Butt Injections Last Compared With a BBL?
Hyaluronic acid butt filler lasts around 12 to 18 months before the body breaks it down. The result fades gradually, and a maintenance session keeps the shape. Our guide to how long butt filler lasts covers the factors involved.
A BBL works differently. Around 30 to 50% of the transferred fat is reabsorbed in the first months, which your surgeon plans for by slightly over-filling. The 50 to 70% that survives develops its own blood supply and is permanent from about six months. In a prospective ultrasound study of 50 women who had fat grafted only into the subcutaneous layer, the treated fat layer lost on average about 18% of its thickness between surgery and 12 months, and the authors judged retention comparable to injecting into the muscle[10].
Surviving fat behaves like your other body fat, growing with weight gain and shrinking with significant weight loss. With a stable weight, a BBL result is long-lasting; filler needs repeating to stay the same.
How Much Volume Can Butt Filler Add Compared With a BBL?
Volume is where the two differ most. Studies of hyaluronic acid buttock filler report average total volumes of about 85 ml in the HYAcorp study and around 207 ml across the systematic review[2][3], enough to round the upper buttock, soften hip dips or correct mild asymmetry.
A full BBL at Centre for Surgery typically transfers 1,600 to 2,000 ml of fat, and a mini BBL 800 to 1,000 ml. Even after some fat is reabsorbed, that leaves several times more volume than a filler session. Combining a BBL with 360 liposuction of the abdomen, flanks and back is what creates the defined waist-to-hip contrast.
Real Centre for Surgery patient, photographed at least six months after BBL surgery.
More results are in our BBL before and after photos. Individual results vary.
Recovery and Downtime: Butt Injections vs BBL
After butt injections, there are no incisions or compression garments, and most people return to normal activity the same day. Avoid direct pressure on the buttocks and exercise for 24 to 48 hours. Swelling and bruising usually settle within two to five days.
After a BBL, recovery is longer and has strict rules:
- Day of surgery: a day case under TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia); you go home the same day with a responsible adult staying for 24 hours.
- First 2 weeks: no sitting directly on the buttocks (a BBL cushion if unavoidable) and sleeping on your front or side. Walking starts on day one.
- Work and driving: 1 to 2 weeks off work; driving from about four weeks.
- Compression and exercise: a garment over the donor areas for six weeks; light cardio from week 3 and full exercise from six weeks.
- Results: most of the result shows at three months, with the final shape at three to six months.
Our BBL recovery guide goes through each stage. After a BBL, call 999 for breathlessness, chest pain or coughing blood, and contact the clinic or NHS 111 for calf pain or swelling, fever, or a red, hot incision.
What Affects the Cost of Butt Injections vs a BBL?
Butt injections usually cost less per treatment than a BBL, but the cost recurs. The main factors are:
- Butt filler: the amount of filler needed for your starting shape and goals, the number of sessions, and maintenance every 12 to 18 months.
- BBL: the number of donor areas, whether you have 360 liposuction, the liposuction technique (power-assisted liposuction or VASER, as your surgeon recommends) and the complexity of surgery.
A BBL is normally a single cost for a long-lasting result, while repeated filler sessions add up over the years. Follow-up appointments are included after a BBL; compression garments and prescribed medication are bought separately. Our guide to BBL cost in London sets out current prices. Finance isn’t available for BBL or the non-surgical butt lift at Centre for Surgery, so both are self-funded.
Which Is Better for You: Butt Injections or a BBL?
Butt filler may suit you if you:
- want a subtle lift, rounder upper buttock or softer hip dips
- are slim and lack spare fat for a BBL
- cannot take two weeks away from sitting, or are not ready for surgery
- would like to see how extra volume looks before a permanent procedure
Filler is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you have filler and later choose a BBL, tell your surgeon, as hyaluronic acid can be dissolved if needed.
A BBL may suit you if you:
- want a significant, permanent increase in volume and projection
- have stubborn fat you would like removed from the tummy, flanks or back
- have a BMI of around 23 to 28 and a stable weight for at least three months
- are 18 or over and can stop smoking, nicotine and vaping for four weeks before and after surgery
If your BMI is below 23, a skinny BBL gathers smaller amounts of fat from four or five donor sites for a modest, proportionate result. If loose skin is the main concern, a buttock lift may be needed instead of, or as well as, a BBL.
What Are the Alternatives to a BBL?
If neither filler nor a full BBL feels right, other options include:
- Mini BBL: two donor areas and 800 to 1,000 ml of fat, around two hours of surgery and about a week off work.
- Buttock implants: solid silicone implants of 200 to 600cc placed within the gluteal muscle, suited to people without enough donor fat. Fat transfer can be combined with implants.
- Buttock lift surgery: removes loose skin and lifts the buttocks but does not add volume on its own. It leaves a permanent scar in the swimwear line and can be combined with fat transfer.
- Glute training: improves muscle shape and firmness, but cannot move fat from your waist to your hips.
Your surgeon will discuss which option, or combination, suits your anatomy and goals at consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bum filler safer than a BBL?
Licensed hyaluronic acid bum filler, injected by a doctor, carries a lower risk of a life-threatening complication than surgery and can be dissolved if something goes wrong. It is not risk-free: infection, lumps, migration and, rarely, filler entering a blood vessel can occur. A BBL is safest when fat is kept above the muscle under ultrasound guidance. Illegal silicone injections are far more dangerous than either.
How long does a BBL injection last?
It depends what is injected. Hyaluronic acid butt filler lasts around 12 to 18 months before your body absorbs it. In a surgical BBL, 30 to 50% of the fat is reabsorbed in the first months, but the fat that survives is permanent from about six months and changes only with your weight.
How can I get a BBL without surgery?
The closest option is a non-surgical BBL using hyaluronic acid body filler, which adds a modest lift and rounder shape with almost no downtime. It will not slim your waist or match the volume of a surgical BBL, and it lasts 12 to 18 months. Radiofrequency or muscle stimulation devices do not add meaningful volume.
What are BBL shots?
“BBL shots” can mean hyaluronic acid filler injections, sometimes called a liquid or non-surgical BBL, or illegal injections of silicone or unknown substances. A real BBL is surgery that transfers your own fat. Always ask exactly what product is being injected and who is injecting it.
Are butt injections permanent?
Licensed hyaluronic acid butt injections are not permanent; they last around 12 to 18 months and can be dissolved. Injections promoted as permanent usually involve silicone, PMMA or other non-absorbable material, which cannot be reliably removed and can cause lifelong complications. For a permanent change, a surgical BBL with your own fat is the safer route.
What happens to a BBL after 5 years?
Fat that survived the first six months is permanent, so a BBL usually looks much the same at five years if your weight is stable. The grafted fat changes with weight like other body fat, and ageing, pregnancy and skin laxity can alter the shape over time.
How much does a BBL actually cost?
The cost of a BBL depends on the number of donor areas, whether you have 360 liposuction and the complexity of your surgery. Our BBL cost guide lists current prices and what is included. Your initial consultation fee is redeemable against the cost of surgery if you go ahead.
BBL and Butt Filler in London
At Centre for Surgery, both the surgical BBL and the non-surgical butt lift are performed by GMC-registered surgeons at our Baker Street hospital, rated Good overall by the CQC. Every BBL uses real-time ultrasound guidance to keep fat above the gluteal muscle and is carried out as a day case under TIVA. Our butt filler treatment uses HYAcorp hyaluronic acid only, injected in a sterile theatre under ultrasound guidance. The consultant who assesses you performs your treatment, further consultations before surgery are free, and we recommend a two-week cooling-off period before surgery. Your initial consultation fee is redeemable against the cost of surgery if you go ahead.
Phone: 020 7993 4849 | Address: 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RN
Contact us to schedule a consultation
References
- Atiyeh B, Ghieh F, Oneisi A. Safety and efficiency of minimally invasive buttock augmentation: a review. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2023;47(1):245–259. doi:10.1007/s00266-022-03049-5 ↗
- Mortada H, Alkadi D, Saqr H, et al. Effectiveness and role of using hyaluronic acid injections for gluteal augmentation: a comprehensive systematic review of techniques and outcomes. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2023;47(6):2719–2733. doi:10.1007/s00266-023-03458-0 ↗
- Crabai P, Campos-Martínez L, Marchetti F, et al. Evaluating the safety and satisfaction of HYAcorp MLF2 for noninvasive buttock augmentation: a multicenter study. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 2025;13(1):e6415. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000006415 ↗
- Durairaj KK, Devgan L, Lee A, et al. Poly-L-lactic acid for gluteal augmentation found to be safe and effective in retrospective clinical review of 60 patients. Dermatologic Surgery 2020;46(Suppl 1):S46–S53. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002598 ↗
- Gerk A, Telles L, Carroll M, et al. Use of industrial liquid silicone: a scoping review. Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira 2024;39:e395624. doi:10.1590/acb395624 ↗
- GOV.UK. Cosmetic cowboys crackdown continues with new restrictions. Department of Health and Social Care, 21 October 2026. gov.uk ↗
- Mofid MM, Teitelbaum S, Suissa D, et al. Report on mortality from gluteal fat grafting: recommendations from the ASERF Task Force. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2017;37(7):796–806. doi:10.1093/asj/sjx004 ↗
- Cansancao AL, Condé-Green A, Gouvea Rosique R, et al. “Brazilian butt lift” performed by board-certified Brazilian plastic surgeons: reports of an expert opinion survey. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2019;144(3):601–609. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000006020 ↗
- Rios L, Gupta V. Improvement in Brazilian butt lift (BBL) safety with the current recommendations from ASERF, ASAPS, and ISAPS. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2020;40(8):864–870. doi:10.1093/asj/sjaa098 ↗
- Cansancao AL, Condé-Green A, David JA, Vidigal RA. Subcutaneous-only gluteal fat grafting: a prospective study of the long-term results with ultrasound analysis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2019;143(2):447–451. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000005203 ↗
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