Many adult men and women who have flat or undeveloped buttocks can be self-conscious about their backside and desire fuller, rounder or firmer buttocks. Surgical buttock augmentation is also sometimes performed on male-to-female gender reassignment surgery or on transgender or transsexual women who wish to have more feminine buttocks. With a buttocks augmentation, these men and women can enhance the shape and contour of their buttocks and improve their overall body aesthetic.
Approaches to Buttock Augmentation
There are two primary approaches to performing buttock augmentation.
• Implants — Implants add padding to the buttocks through the surgical placement of a non-leaking substance called elastomer. Implants necessitate an incision somewhere above the muscles of the butt seat, typically at the area where the hind part of the thigh meets the butt cheeks. The incision leaves only a faint scar after about 12 months following surgery.
• Fat Transplant —Also known as a “Brazilian Butt Lift” or fat injections, a fat transplant uses fat from other areas of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, back, or thighs, through liposuction. The fat is then inserted through small incisions into different layers of the buttocks. Many injections may be required, at different depths, and in many regions of the buttocks, depending on how much augmentation is desired by the patient. Many patients prefer this method because it is more natural than implants and there is no risk of the body rejecting the fat cells.
Recovery
Any pain or discomfort felt after a buttock augmentation is usually relieved by painkillers. Patients are able to sit down directly after surgery and can return to work after 5-7 days. Those with fat grafts will need to wear a compression garment for 1-2 weeks after the procedure. Physicians may also recommend postoperative massage and ultrasound treatments.
Risks
The primary risk occurs with the fat transplant; with this procedure there is a 30 percent chance the fat will be absorbed within six to eight weeks after the surgery, and many patients will require a second transplant. Many patients will also require minor touch ups to correct asymmetrical buttocks or irregular shaping. Other risks can include bleeding, fluid collection, infection, scarring, and asymmetrical buttocks.
Before deciding on a surgery, you should determine your goals, the size and shape you desire, and the type of augmentation you want by discussing all the options with your surgeon. You should know all the benefits, as well as all the risks and complications that may occur.
