Updated
A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) with Dr. Fulvio Correa in Cartagena has no published price: it is quoted per case, after a consultation that costs USD 150 (COP 400,000). The reason is practical, not secretive. A BBL is two operations in one session, liposuction to harvest fat and fat grafting to the buttocks and hips, and the size of each part changes from one body to the next. What you can check before the consultation is the practice's published cost guide for related procedures, the U.S. benchmark below, and the list of things any honest BBL quote in Colombia has to spell out.
The short answer, in numbers you can verify
| Item | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BBL (fat transfer to the buttocks) with Dr. Fulvio Correa | No range. Quoted per case after the consultation | Cost guide |
| Consultation, virtual or in person | USD 150 / COP 400,000 | Cost guide |
| Gluteal implants, a different operation | USD 6,750–8,250 (COP 21.310.000–26.040.000) | Cost guide |
| HD liposculpture (Liposurg), liposuction without fat transfer | USD 6,300–7,700 (COP 19.890.000–24.310.000) | Cost guide |
| U.S. benchmark: buttock augmentation with fat grafting, surgeon/physician fee only (2024) | USD 7,000–11,500 | ASPS 2024 statistics report |
The Cartagena figures are from–to estimates based on previous cases, converted to pesos at Colombia's official exchange rate (TRM) of 20 October 2026, COP 3,156.32 per dollar, rounded up to the nearest 10,000 pesos. They are not a quote, and they are listed so you can see the scale of related body procedures. They are not a BBL price.
This is an approximate estimate based on previous cases; sometimes the fee has been lower and sometimes higher, depending on the case. The real quote always comes after the virtual or in-person consultation. It does not commit the doctor to charge that amount or to operate.
Why a BBL has no fixed price
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) describes a BBL as fat harvested by liposuction, purified and injected into the buttocks, and notes that surgeons often harvest up to three times more fat than they finally inject. That single sentence explains most of the variation in a BBL quote in Colombia:
- Donor areas. Abdomen and flanks only, or abdomen, flanks and back, or thighs as well. More donor areas mean more operating time.
- Available fat. A very lean patient may have little fat to move, which limits volume and can change the plan entirely. Sometimes liposuction alone, or lipo 360, is the better plan.
- What else is combined. A tummy tuck or breast surgery in the same trip changes anesthesia time, the facility stay and the recovery, and is quoted as a whole.
- Safety requirements. The precautions described below take time and equipment. They are part of the price, not an extra.
- Your health history. Tests or clearances your surgeon asks for before surgery.
So the honest answer to "how much is a BBL in Colombia?" is a written quote for your plan, not a number on a social media post.
The U.S. benchmark, and what it does not include
ASPS publishes surgeon/physician fee ranges reported by its members. For 2024, buttock augmentation with fat grafting is listed at USD 7,000–11,500, and ASPS member surgeons reported 29,466 of these procedures that year. ASPS explains that the range is a projection built from averages submitted by surveyed members across different regions and practice settings.
That figure is the surgeon's fee. A total bill also includes anesthesia, the operating facility, tests, garments and follow-up, so comparing it with a full quote from anywhere is not comparing like with like. This page does not claim a percentage saving.
What a written BBL quote should list
Before you compare two BBL quotes in Colombia, line them up item by item. If an item is not written in the quote, assume it is not included until someone confirms it in writing.
| Item | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Surgeon's fee | Which donor areas, and grafting to buttocks only or buttocks and hips? |
| Anesthesia | ASPS notes a BBL is done under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Who is the anesthesiologist, and is the fee included? |
| Facility | Where is the surgery done, is it authorized for surgical services, and is an overnight stay included if needed? |
| Tests before surgery | Which labs or studies, and are they in the quote? |
| Garment and seat cushion | Is the first compression garment included? Will you need a BBL cushion? |
| Medication and follow-up | How many visits happen in Cartagena, and how does follow-up work once you are home? |
| Massage or lymphatic drainage, if prescribed | Included or arranged separately? |
| Currency | USD or COP, and the exchange-rate date for peso quotes |
The cheapest BBL quote is a safety question
Price pressure is where BBL safety problems start. In their 2022 joint safety statement, ASPS, The Aesthetic Society and their research foundations support injecting fat only into the subcutaneous space, above the gluteal muscle, using real-time ultrasound to follow the cannula, operating only in licensed facilities, not delegating critical steps to untrained staff, and keeping the surgeon available for complications whether the patient is local or has traveled. ISAPS has endorsed patient-safety guidance on gluteal fat grafting along the same lines.
Each of those points costs time or equipment. When a BBL quote is far below others for the same plan, ask:
- Where exactly will the fat be placed, and how is that plane confirmed during surgery?
- Who performs each step of the operation?
- In which facility, and is it authorized for surgery? In Colombia, facilities are registered in the health ministry's provider registry (REPS).
- Is the surgeon a registered plastic surgeon? In Colombia, check the ReTHUS registry and, if membership is claimed, the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery (SCCP).
- What happens, and who pays, if you need extra care before flying home?
The full checklist for comparing surgeons is in how to choose a plastic surgeon in Colombia. The ASPS briefing paper on cosmetic surgery tourism gives the same advice for any trip: verify credentials and plan follow-up before you travel.
The trip costs more days for a BBL than for most procedures
The surgery quote is only part of the budget. A BBL changes the trip in two specific ways:
- Sitting. ASPS advises avoiding prolonged sitting for about two weeks after gluteal fat grafting, and some surgeons prefer longer. A long flight works against that.
- Flight rules. Avianca, Colombia's flag carrier, lists 10 days after buttock fat injection, 14 days after liposuction and 15 days when two or more body procedures are combined, with a medical certificate issued no more than 10 days before travel. A BBL includes liposuction, so ask which procedures your certificate will list.
That means budgeting lodging, meals and local transport for a longer stay, plus a changeable return ticket. Some patients arrange an equipped recovery house in Cartagena with nursing support; that plan is tailored at the consultation. The day-by-day planning is in how long to stay after a BBL and how many days before flying after surgery.
Where Dr. Fulvio Correa fits
Dr. Fulvio Correa is a plastic surgeon in Cartagena and a Miembro de Número of the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery (SCCP); his background is on the about page. His office is in Manzanillo del Mar (CC Ramblas, local 23). He evaluates every BBL in Colombia candidate personally, defines the donor areas and whether a BBL is the right plan at all, and then the written quote follows. Patients who live abroad can start with a virtual consultation through the international patients program; the plan is confirmed in person before surgery. Broader context is in the guide to plastic surgery in Colombia.
To get a written BBL quote, message Sofía. She coordinates the virtual consultation, the quote and the logistics of your stay; the medical recommendation comes from the surgeon.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a BBL cost in Colombia with Dr. Fulvio Correa? There is no published range. A Brazilian butt lift is quoted per case after the consultation, because the donor areas, the amount of fat and any combined procedures change the operation.
How much is the consultation? USD 150 / COP 400,000, virtual or in person. It is not a surgery price.
How much does a BBL cost in the United States? ASPS lists a 2024 surgeon/physician fee range of USD 7,000–11,500 for buttock augmentation with fat grafting. That is the surgeon's fee only, without anesthesia, facility or follow-up.
Are gluteal implants cheaper than a BBL? They are a different operation. Gluteal implants have a published estimate of USD 6,750–8,250 (COP 21.310.000–26.040.000) with Dr. Fulvio Correa; a BBL is quoted per case, so the two cannot be compared until you have a quote.
How much is lipo 360 with a BBL? It is also quoted per case. The liposuction ranges that do exist are explained in lipo 360 in Colombia: cost and what the price includes.
Why do some clinics advertise a much lower BBL price? Quotes can leave out anesthesia, the facility, tests or follow-up, or describe a smaller plan. Safety precautions such as ultrasound-guided subcutaneous grafting also take time and equipment. Compare item by item and verify the surgeon and the facility.
Prefer Spanish? Read the twin guide: ¿Cuánto cuesta un BBL en Colombia? Precio y seguridad.
Sources / Medical references
- Dr. Fulvio Correa — Plastic surgery in Colombia: cost and prices (BBL quoted per case, gluteal implants and HD liposculpture ranges, consultation fee, TRM of 20 October 2026)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — 2024 plastic surgery statistics report (archived copy) (2024 surgeon/physician fee range and procedure count for buttock augmentation with fat grafting)
- ASPS / The Aesthetic Society — Gluteal fat grafting: a joint safety statement (2022) (subcutaneous-only injection, ultrasound, licensed facilities, surgeon availability)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Buttock enhancement: procedure steps and recovery (fat harvest, anesthesia, sitting guidance)
- ISAPS — Patient safety in gluteal fat grafting (PDF)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Briefing paper: Cosmetic surgery tourism
- Avianca help center — Travel restrictions for passengers with special medical conditions (10, 14 and 15 days; medical certificate)
- Ministerio de Salud de Colombia — ReTHUS registry (in Spanish)
- Sociedad Colombiana de Cirugía Plástica (SCCP) — Aumento de glúteos (in Spanish; patient guidance)
Medical Information Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, prescription, an individual treatment recommendation, or a substitute for an evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional. The suitability, potential benefits, risks, alternatives, recovery, and expected outcomes of any procedure depend on each patient's individual circumstances and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis by a qualified healthcare professional. Nothing in this article constitutes an offer, quotation, or commitment by Dr. Fulvio Correa or his team.
If you are deciding where to have surgery, the guide to plastic surgery in Colombia explains how to check a surgeon and a clinic, and how a trip to Cartagena is organized. It also introduces Dr. Fulvio Correa. You can compare procedures, prepare your consultation or contact the office. Estimated ranges are on the plastic surgery cost page. The recovery house — 24/7 nursing, transfers, and supplies — is arranged at the valuation, with no package price.