What is this procedure?

Butt implants are artificial devices surgically placed in the buttocks to create volume in the area. Also called buttock or gluteal augmentation, this procedure has grown increasingly popular in recent years. One estimate reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that buttock augmentation surgery has increased by 252 percent between the years 2000 and 2015. The most popular types of buttock-related surgeries include butt lifts, implants, and augmentation with fat grafting. Buttocks implants, also called gluteal implants, improves the size and appearance of the buttocks by placing silicone implants under, in between or above the gluteal muscle producing a cosmetic enhancement.

Butt implants are a popular plastic surgery procedure among those who wish to enhance the appearance, shape, and size of their rear ends. Buttock augmentation involves the surgical insertion of artificial body implants into a patient’s buttocks to create a larger, shapelier, and more sensuous rear end. Patients who have underdeveloped buttocks can achieve a more proportionate figure with butt implants. Women who wish to achieve an “hour glass” figure or are unhappy with the size of their buttocks can benefit from female butt implants. Men with flat or poorly developed buttocks can enhance the shape of the area to their liking with male butt implants. Many buttock augmentation patients say that their clothes fit better, they feel more attractive, and their confidence levels have improved.

Who needs this procedure?

Very thin patients, who don’t have enough fat for liposuction, might not be eligible for fat grafting, and these are the women who make good candidates for implants. Butt implants require a multi-hour outpatient surgery in which a surgeon inserts silicone implants into your gluteal. On butt-implant delivery day, your surgeon will make an incision within the vertical butt crease and then slide silicone implants either into or above the gluteal muscle on each side. Placement technique varies among doctors, but intramuscular implants are ideal.

Most of the patients who have had implants and are unhappy with them have on-top-of-the-muscle implants. That’s just not a great place for an implant to be. Those implants sag over time and kind of look like gumdrops on the buttocks, as opposed to a much more natural look. Surgeons typically use the approach they’re most comfortable with, so if you’re considering the procedure, ask your doctor what type of placement he or she uses, he recommends.

Buttock augmentation candidates are typically at least 18 years of age and in good physical health. Patients should be psychologically stable and aware that butt implants are intended for aesthetic improvement, not perfection. During your initial consultation with our surgeon, you should thoroughly discuss your goals and expectations and the specific changes you would like to achieve with butt implants. After a thorough examination, our surgeon will determine whether you are a candidate for buttock augmentation.

What is the advantage of this procedure?

Buttock enhancement using butt implants has proven effective in enhancing the size and shape of patients’ rear ends. Men and women who are unhappy with the size of their buttocks benefit from increased volume. Patients who feel their buttocks lack shape can be given a more prominent, sensuous backside. Additionally, butt implants offer two significant advantages over buttock enhancement using fat injections:

  • Butt implants allow for buttock augmentation in patients with little or no fat deposits available for donation sites.
  • Butt implants carry no risk of fat re-absorption, a side effect of some fat injection buttock enhancements.

Male and female butt implants have been shown to be both safe and effective. When coupled with other body contouring procedures, such as liposuction, buttock augmentation patients can achieve dramatic aesthetic improvement.

  • Improve the shape and the size of the buttocks: butt implant can tone up the upper gluteus muscles, giving you a nice round butt and developing an attractive fullness to your buttock.
  • Reshaping the buttocks: if you have an asymmetrical butt and you are not satisfied with the shape of your butt, you will have a chance to make it shapelier and sexier through undergoing the butt implant.
  • Enlarging the buttocks: butt enlargement can be a good solution for those people who suffer from having a too small butt, in which the butt implant silicone fills up the tissues of the gluteal muscles in a way that enlarges the butt symmetrically and gives an attractive figure to the butt.
  • Butt implant can be very useful for those who suffer from obesity, in order to remove the fat from the buttock area, which in turn achieves the rotation of the butt.
  • Butt implant can also remove the lumps or pimples from the butt, giving a harmonious figure.
  • Improving the butt figure can improve the attractiveness of the body, promoting the person’s self-confidence.

Are there non-surgical treatments?

General anesthesia or epidural blockage is used.
An alternative to surgical butt lifts and does not require surgery. Uses injectables to naturally lift and contour the buttocks by increasing collagen production in the body; Subtle lift, natural looking results, Tightens skin which provides a smoother and more pleasing contour, Gradual results.

There has been a huge demand for gluteal augmentation using fillers. When it comes to cosmetic procedures, plastic surgery is a major deterrent for some people. In these cases, use of non-invasive treatments is becoming increasingly popular. People who were once hesitant about surgical procedures are showing a growing interest in fillers for buttocks.

Injectables are quick, painless treatments that enhance and promote physical beauty and delay aging. This method can be used for facial treatments, lip fillers, and butt lifts. Non-surgical gluteal augmentation is a medical procedure uses injectables that lift, contour, and change the shape and size of your butt without surgery. This procedure is ideal for any person who is looking to improve the shape, texture, and appearance of their buttocks.

Non-surgical buttock enlargement is especially beneficial for patients looking to avoid surgery or physical implants. Patients who are not candidates for Brazilian butt lifts, due to inadequate body fat, are also ideal candidates for “non-invasive Brazilian butt lifts”.

Furthermore, if you want to avoid the long recovery time associated with other surgical options, consider Galderma Sculptra butt injections for minimal recovery time and a gradual change. Medical spas across the nation are including buttock filler injections on their services. Galderma Sculptra uses poly-L-lactic acid rather than hyaluronic acid fillers, making it the filler best suitable for butt lifts. Hyaluronic acid fillers pump volume into the skin, providing immediate but short-term results. Sculptra injectables are more effective as they increase your body’s natural production of collagen.

This triggers an inflammatory response and creates a combination of collagen and scar tissue that will lift and tighten your buttocks. The results gradually show but will last longer and look more natural. Sculptra Aesthetic is currently only FDA-approved for the face. However, in recent years, Sculptra has been used as a butt lift treatment and is proven to have safe and effective results. Additionally, non-surgical butt lifts have no recovery time as patients experience little to no pain. Patients will see a noticeable difference three weeks after the first session. It takes 2-3 sessions to fully reach desired outcomes.

What is the surgical treatment like local or sedation?

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you. The choice of anesthesia is also based on how much pain you can or how healthy you are.

What is the recovery like?

EIt takes up to four weeks to recover from buttock surgery. Implants typically add volume. The general recovery timeline after receiving butt implants is two to three weeks. You should plan to take at least two weeks off from work and rest at home as much as possible. Even though you may be able to resume work and light activities after two weeks, bruising and swelling may last for a short while longer.

How long does it take?

Buttock augmentation is typically performed as an outpatient procedure requiring between two and three hours. The time it takes to perform the procedure can vary, however, depending on the physician’s experience, the patient’s anatomy, the technique utilized, as well as other considerations. Butt implants are placed through an incision made either where the cheek meets the back of the thigh or in the buttock crease (where scars are not as noticeable). The surgeon then creates a pocket large enough to place the butt implants. For both male and female patients, butt implants can be placed above or below the muscle. Once placed, the surgeon confirms that each cheek is symmetrical and looks natural. The incisions are closed, and a compression garment is applied. Buttock augmentation patients typically can return to quiet, low-intensity work within a few days. Full recovery may take several months.

Buttock augmentation can be achieved through either the use of implants or through transferring your existing fat, or sometimes a combination of both. Your surgeon may choose between a variety of incision patterns and techniques. The appropriate technique for you will be determined based on: Butt size and shape, The amount of fat you have on your body that is available for use through liposuction, Your goals and activity level, Skin quality and elasticity as well as the amount of extra skin.

Buttock implant procedure
Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

The incision
An incision will be made. The incision can be made toward the top of both sides of the upper buttocks, toward the bottom in both of the gluteal creases (the areas where your “cheeks” meet the top of the thighs), incisions between both cheeks (hidden in the crease) or with one incision placed down the center of the sacrum, or the crease between the buttocks. The length of the incision and scar is directly related to the affected areas.

Implant placement
A silicone implant specially made for the buttocks is inserted either in the muscle or above the gluteal muscle on each side.
The method for inserting and positioning implants depends on the type of implant, degree of enlargement desired, your body type and your surgeon’s recommendations.

Closing the incisions
Incisions are closed with layered sutures in the buttocks tissue and with sutures, skin adhesive or surgical tape to close the skin.

See the results
The results of buttock augmentation are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover and realize the fulfillment of your goal for a fuller butt. Results of this surgery are permanent.

How long has it been around?

Breast implants have been around since the 1890s, but butt implants first appeared in medical journals (and pants) around 1969. Dr. RJ Bartels is credited as the first to successfully plump a posterior. The first butt implants weren’t exactly a hit. Dr. Bartels and his team used the original “Cronin-Gerow” silicone breast implant, its shape inspired by a standard medical blood bag. The look was not convincing, most likely because butts and boobs are different parts of your body.

A year later, pioneering Mexican doctor Mario Gonzalez-Ulloa swapped out the silicone-filled Cronin-Gerow model for a more shape-defining prosthetic, which lifted up the entire butt. This was an improvement, but because the implants were simply inserted between the skin and the gluteus maximus muscle, it was not particularly stable. Like, you could rearrange your new butt if you pulled hard enough.

Sticking prosthesis between the skin and the gluteus maximus wasn’t working, so Argentinean surgeon Jose Robles realized muscle layers. That’s exactly what he did in 1984. Robles’ “submuscular gluteoplasty” is both the least sexy way to describe a booty procedure, and — up until that point — the most effective kind. The implant went between the outermost and middle layers of muscle, which led to fewer complications. It’s not the easiest surgery to perform, though, so it didn’t set the world on fire.

Dr. R.J. Bartels is credited as the first doctor to successfully plump the bottom around 1969. However, these implants were not impressive. Since breast implants had been around since the 1890s, Dr. Bartels and his team figured they would use the original “Cronin-Gerow” silicone breast implant for butt enhancement. However, since the shape of this implant was originally inspired by a standard medical blood bag, the discovery was made that implants for breasts do not work well for the butt.

Mexican doctor Mario Gonzalez-Ulloa made his mark on butt implants, a year later when he attempted to use a shape-defining prosthetic to lift the entire butt. Although this was an improvement, the placement of the implant was not stable. The doctor inserted the prosthetic between the skin and gluteus maximus muscle which permitted the device to easily shift. The stability of the implant was so bad that patients could actually rearrange their bottom if they tried hard enough.

In 1984, an Argentinean surgeon named Jose Robles took butt implants a step further. He placed the implant between the outermost and middle layers of the muscle. It wasn’t an easy process but there were fewer complications involved. However, this technique did not inspire a lot of people to get implants.

In 1992 the first dermal-fat grafts were written up in scientific journals. Although there were many variations, it all came down to liposuction for fat removal from one area which was injected into the buttock in order to enhance the shape and size. However, fat injections could only get a patient so far. Therefore, when pop stars like Jennifer Lopez arrived a few years later with their enhanced and well-rounded backsides, butt implants began to soar.

In 2006, Dr. Rafael Vergara was credited with a new technique called intramuscular implant. This technique allowed the implant to be placed closer to the surface but with more stability than earlier procedures. The stability allowed for bigger implants than before. This technique was a hit in Mexico and South America due to their desire for larger backsides and lower complications. The Brazilian Butt Lift, which originated in South America, has become a very popular enhancement procedure over the past few years.

The history of gluteal augmentation can be traced back to Bartels in 1969, with the placement of a round breast implant to correct asymmetry of the left gluteal muscle due to atrophy. The implant was inserted through an infragluteal fold incision. It was not until 1973 that gluteal augmentation was performed for cosmetic purposes.

Cocke and Ricketson were the first to describe placing silicone breast implants in the subcutaneous plane with less than optimal results. In 1977 Gonzalez-Ulloa described correction of the ‘sad’ buttock by placing a gel implant with fixation ears in the subcutaneous plane. He described three approaches, including: bilateral supragluteal incisions, the infragluteal fold, and the intergluteal crease. Subcutaneous placement proved to be complicated by skin laxity, malposition, and visibility of the implants.

In 1984 Robles et al first described placement of an implant in the submuscular plane beneath the gluteus maximus and medius muscles. Although this positioning reduced the incidence of capsular contracture, the implants were close to the sciatic nerve and could only be positioned in the upper gluteal region to avoid nerve injury.

In 1996 Vergara and Marcos described placement of gluteal implants in the intramuscular space 2 to 3 cm. below the gluteus maximus muscle through an incision in the intergluteal crease. This technique created a thick layer of muscle to hold the implant in position while avoiding dissection near the sciatic nerve. In 2004 De La Pena described his technique of subfascial gluteal implant placement through an intergluteal incision. This technique avoids muscle dissection and reduces the risk of sciatic nerve injury while providing a stable periprosthetic space due to the presence of strong insertions of the gluteal aponeurosis. Subfascial placement is supported by a 2012 cadaver study of the thickness and tension of the gluteal aponeurosis. This study revealed that the gluteal aponeurosis is capable of holding gluteal implants in the proper position.

Gluteal implants are now placed in either the subfascial or intramuscular position. The accepted surgical approach is through a single midline or bilateral paramedian incisions. The author’s preferred approach is a single midline incision. Two recent surveys of surgeons in the United States and internationally revealed a preference for a single midline incision by 53% and 84% of respondents, respectively. Implants are available in either round or anatomic shapes and can be smooth or textured. Currently, gluteal implants available for use in the United States are made of a soft-solid silicone elastomer of varying durometers. Cohesive gel gluteal implants are available for use outside the United States.

What are the complications?

The implant may need to be removed and/or replaced to treat problems including: implant rupture, formation of scar tissue around the implant (capsular contraction), which may cause the gluteus to feel tight or hard, bleeding, infection and implant misplacement.

Overall, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has documented a 95.6 percent satisfaction rate concerning this type of surgery based on ratings. Despite the high success rate, butt implant surgery still poses risks. Some of the most common side effects include: excessive bleeding after surgery, pain, scarring, skin discoloration, infection, fluid or blood accumulation underneath the buttocks, allergic reactions, skin loss, nausea and vomiting from anesthesia.

It’s also possible for the silicone implants to move or slip out of place. This can leave you with an uneven appearance in the buttocks and requires surgery to fix it.

As is the case with virtually any surgical procedure, buttock augmentation does carry the risk of complications. Although rare, bleeding or nerve and muscle damage may occur. Butt implants could also shift and cause the buttocks to be asymmetrical; however, male and female butt implants are placed above the “sitting area” to reduce the risk of shifting. Patients may experience adverse reaction to the anesthesia. The buttock augmentation procedure stretches tissues and may cause pain, particularly when placed beneath the muscle.

This pain can be managed with medication and should improve with time. Infection, especially when implants are placed through a buttock crease incision, is a risk that must be closely monitored. Your surgeon will provide postoperative instructions on how to keep your incision site clean. Implant rupture is a very rare occurrence. Like any surgery, butt implant has several risks, which the person should consider:

  • Butt augmentation by butt implant method requires general anesthesia to prevent any pain could occur, however, there are risks associated with the anesthesia such as dizziness, nausea and bruising.
  • Bleeding: butt implants require doing some incisions, so sometimes if the surgeons are not qualified enough, damages in muscles or blood vessels could occur during the surgery, causing bleeding and blood clots in some dangerous areas.
  • Implant rupture is another risk, causing scars around the implant.
  • Implant misplacement: butt implants could shift, causing an asymmetric figure to the buttock.
  • The person could be exposed to the infection when silicone implants are placed in the incisions, so surgeons should keep the incisions clean to avoid any infection could occur.
  • The fat tissue under the skin could be exposed to die due to the surgery.
  • Butt implants could lead to skin discoloration or swelling in the skin, lasting for a long time.
  • The person could also experience pains in the gluteus area.
  • If the person, who undergoes the butt implant surgery, could not maintain his weight, the fat, which injected in the butt area, can gain weight as any fat in the body, affecting the final results of the butt after the surgery.

What can you do to speed up recovery?

  1. Sitting Should Get Restricted
    The most important rule is that no weight or pressure should get placed on the buttocks. Limit time spent sitting at all costs. If you must sit, the buttocks should get raised up. Place the weight on the thighs or abdomen instead. Otherwise, you could damage the fat or implants. When resting, lying down is best. You’ll need to sleep on your stomach or side for the first few weeks. Once the pain and swelling go down, you can sit. For the next few months, use a soft pillow to relieve any pressure in your bottom.
  2. Hit Pause on Your Workout Plan
    There should be no strenuous activity during your recovery period. This includes sexual activity.
    Try to avoid squatting or stretching the butt muscles. You should also be careful when bending over.
    The pause in physical activity is a reason many people choose to combine plastic surgery procedures. It results in less downtime and reduced costs.
    After about 6 weeks, you can resume your exercise routine. Your doctor may first allow a less intense workout like walking or yoga. Always check with your doctor first before starting up physical activity.
  3. Watch for Weight Gain
    Gaining weight after a butt augmentation surgery can compromise the results of the procedure.
    Weight gain often accumulates in the buttocks first. This can change the shape and size of the area. It’s important to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle during your recovery period.
    Once you get the go head to resume physical activity, you can begin an exercising routine. Start off with light activity and then work your way back up to your previous fitness level.
  4. Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
    Repeat this mantra: Your doctor always knows best. After surgery, you’ll get outfitted in a compression garment. Wear it according to your doctor’s orders.
    Any support dressings or bandages are not for making a stylish statement. They are to help hold the butt in place. They also reduce swelling and help your skin heal.
    Infections are rare but can happen if the surgical site is not getting cared for the right way. Follow orders on how to clean the site. Report any signs of fever, body changes, or oozing from the incision site.
    It’s also important to attend all your follow up appointments on time. It’s the quickest way for the doctor to ensure everything is healing well.
  5. Take Care of Yourself
    Take this recovery period as a time to pamper, relax, and rejuvenate yourself. Drink plenty of water and get enough rest.
    Enlist the help of friends, family, or your partner. They can run errands and grab groceries for you. You should avoid driving for the first few weeks anyway.
    Also be sure to take enough time off from work. Especially if you have a desk job that involves sitting most of the day. Take Tylenol if you’re in a lot of pain or discomfort. You can ask your doctor for a stool softener if needed. It’s also important to eat a diet high in fiber. It will help avoid constipation. Fill up on apples, sweet potatoes, whole grains, and beans.
    Your doctor may also recommend a lymphatic massage. This will help with drainage and speed up the recovery process.

Do you need to rest up afterwards and for how many days?

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

Patients must sit as little as possible for the first 72 hours after surgery and should lie face down or stand up most of the time. They can start sitting down but putting their weight on the back of their thighs rather than on their gluteal area. Some doctors may recommend special devices for sitting down for the first 10 to 15 days after surgery. The patient should wear a tight garment on the gluteal area and should not do any exercise or lift weight for several weeks. The patient should not consume alcohol after surgery. Alcohol consumption may be resumed after three weeks. Bruising and swelling should be gone after several weeks.

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