October 03, 2013
Augmentation of the buttocks is quickly catching up to breast augmentation in popularity. It seems to me that it’s a good thing that popular culture is increasingly moving away from the waif-like ideal body type of the past and towards celebrating a more curvaceous, healthy body type. Just look at some of the most popular celebrities out there – Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Béyonce, Jennifer Lawrence, Sofia Vergara – they all seem to share a common voluptuousness. Not all of us, though, are born with figures that emphasize the booty. Frequently our fat deposits don’t end up exactly where we’d put them ourselves, given the choice. I consider a good candidate for butt augmentation to be an individual who has a flat-appearing buttocks or wishes for greater projection.
Gluteal augmentation is a body contouring procedure. It functions by reshaping sagging buttocks, adding volume to a flat behind, and overall creating a high, rounded bum shape. The procedure is performed in one of two ways. The first option, known as the Brazilian Butt Lift surgery, involves using liposuction to take fat from elsewhere on the body and injecting it into the buttocks, also known as fat grafting. This fat is typically taken from the abdomen, flanks, thighs, and/or upper buttock/lower back, which further serves to emphasize the buttocks by slimming the surrounding body parts. Once the fat is collected, we carefully insert it into the areas of the buttocks that the patient wishes to augment. The Brazilian Butt Lift results in a more natural look and feel and is associated with fewer complications and minimal-to-no scarring compared to implants. Gluteal implants are inserted to add volume to the buttocks, and are generally used if the patient requires a larger amount of volume or does not have enough body fat elsewhere available for grafting. The implants are inserted through small incisions on the inside of the buttock area. They are placed deep under the tissue and muscle in order to the hide the edges of the implants. To get the ideal shape, many patients opt to combine augmentation with a buttock lift.
Recovery time after butt augmentation surgery varies depending on the patient, and on which procedure you opted for, but you should plan to take at least one week off. During recovery time, activities should be limited to staying at home, watching television, and reading books. You should not drive or be taking care of young children. This period of downtime is not only important in the healing process but actually helps to achieve the best results from the procedure. After both surgeries, the butt will be bruised, swollen, and uncomfortable for a couple of days. Though the pain is not terribly severe, I will typically prescribe medications to relieve any discomfort a patient is experiencing. The majority of swelling and bruising should disappear after approximately 4 weeks. After 1 to 2 weeks, the stitches can be removed. Following implant surgery, a patient may have drains that remain in place until a surgeon deems it fit to remove them. Both implants and the Brazilian Butt Lift require avoiding placing pressure on the buttock area for 2 weeks. You can lie down on your back, but should not sit.
It’s important to have realistic expectations about butt augmentation. I always tell my patients that the procedure will improve your fullness and curvature, but is not going to double your butt size. There will likely be some loss of feeling in the buttocks after gluteal augmentation, which usually fades as the swelling subsides (4-6 weeks). However, in some patients, numbness may persist for a year or more, or may even be permanent. Be sure to discuss all of your options and needs with your surgeon prior to opting for Brazilian Butt Lift surgery or gluteal implants.
Did we answer all your questions? Our goal is to ensure you have the best information possible to make your decision. If you still have questions, we’re here to help.
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