Brazilian Butt Lift

What are buttock enhancement surgeries?

Buttock augmentation, or gluteal augmentation, is used to improve the contour, size and/or shape of the buttocks. This is done through the use of buttock implants, fat grafting or sometimes a combination of the two.

Buttock implants are silicone-filled devices that are surgically placed deep within the tissues of the buttock. Buttock augmentation through the use of fat grafting involves the transfer of fat from one area of the body into the tissues of the buttocks. This technique is sometimes referred to as a Brazilian Butt Lift.

closeup picture of woman in cotton under

Who is a good candidate for breast enhancement?

Buttock enhancement surgeries are highly individualized procedures. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.

Who is a good candidate for buttock enhancement?

You may be a good candidate for buttock enhancement if:

You are physically healthy
You have realistic expectations
You are bothered by the feeling that your butt is too small
You are unhappy with the roundness or general shape of your butt
Your butt is asymmetrical

What should I expect during a consultation for buttock enhancement?

During your buttock augmentation and/or buttock lift consultation be prepared to discuss:

Your surgical goals
Medical conditions, drug allergies and previous medical treatments
Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use
Previous surgeries

Your plastic surgeon will also:

Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
Examine and measure your body, this may include detailed body measurements
Take photographs for your medical records
Discuss your body lift options
Recommend a course of treatment
Discuss likely outcomes of gluteal lift surgery and any risks or potential complications

The success and safety of your buttock enhancement procedure depends on your complete candidness during your consultation. You will be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

The consultation is also the time to ask your surgeon questions.

It's very important to understand all aspects of your gluteal lift procedure. It's natural to feel some anxiety, whether it's excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don't be shy about discussing these feelings with your surgeon.

What are the risks of buttock enhancement?

The decision to have a buttock enhancement procedure is extremely personal. You will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of buttock augmentation or buttock lift surgery are acceptable.

Your surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.

Buttock enhancement risks include:

Anesthesia risks
Bleeding (hematoma)
Infection
Poor wound healing
Fluid accumulation (seroma)
Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis)
Pain, which may persist
Recurrent looseness of skin
Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
Asymmetries
Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
Possible need for revisionary surgery
Skin loss
Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation and require removal
Unfavorable scarring

These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.

How should I prepare for buttock enhancement?

In preparing for a buttock augmentation and/or buttock lift, you may be asked to:

Get a blood test
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
Stop smoking
Avoid taking aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs as they can increase bleeding

Buttock enhancement surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, ambulatory surgical center or a hospital.

If your procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

What should I expect during my buttock enhancement recovery?

After your buttock enhancement procedure, dressings/bandages will be applied to the incisions. Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect. You will be taken into a recovery area to be closely monitored, and may be permitted to go home after a few hours.

You will be instructed to wear a support garment around-the-clock following your surgery. Your surgeon will tell you how long you need to wear the garment and if there are any other garments that you may have to wear during your recovery.

You will be given specific instructions that may include:

How to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery
Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing
Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
How to care for your drains
When to follow up with your plastic surgeon

Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period:

Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
When can I bathe after surgery and how may I bathe?
Are stitches removed? When?
When will the drains be removed?
When can I resume normal activity, driving and exercise?
When do I return for follow-up care?

Buttock augmentation with fat grafting

You will be asked to avoid prolonged sitting for about two weeks (some surgeons prefer longer). This is very important because prolonged sitting will damage the fat.

You will also be encouraged to sleep face down or on your side. When you do have to sit, you will have to use a pillow or cushion placed behind the legs (hamstring muscles) to help raise the buttocks, avoiding pressure onto the fat grafts.

Your surgeon may encourage you to seek a lymphatic massage from a licensed massage therapist. You can generally resume exercise after six to eight weeks.

Buttock enhancement recovery at home