Also known as a Brazilian butt lift, butt implant or buttock augmentation, butt lift surgery is a cosmetic procedure this is designed to reshape and enhance the appearance and aesthetic appeal of your butt. By selectively removing fat in some areas while adding shape and “fullness” in others your cosmetic or plastic surgeon will be able to provide you with a shapelier and more uplifted buttock profile.
You may be an excellent candidate for butt lift surgery if you suffer from any of the following issues:
- Your butt is too small for your frame
- You butt is too flat or square and generally lacks curves
- The skin on your butt is loose or sagging following weight loss or as a result of aging
- Clothes and/or swimwear do not fit properly on your figure.
Non-surgical silicone injections are an unsafe and unacceptable option for buttock augmentation and have not been approved by Health Canada. These injections are often offered by unlicensed individuals and should be avoided. Always consult with a board-certified cosmetic or plastic surgeon if you are considering a butt augmentation procedure.
Methods
There are two primary methods for conducting butt lift surgery; the first is autologous fat transfer, which uses your own excess fatty tissue harvested from an area such as your thighs, stomach or love handles. The second option is to use an implant, which may or may not include fat transfer for additional smoothing or contouring.
The exact technique used by the surgeon will vary based on a patient’s existing tissue, whether the procedure will include an implant, as well as the desired aesthetic outcome that the patient is looking for. Your cosmetic or plastic surgeon will recommend the type of butt lift surgery, as well as any secondary procedures, that will together achieve the results you are looking for.
Fat Transfer
Most commonly referred to as the brazillian butt lift, butt lift surgery using autologous fat transfer is very popular as it can be used to extract fat from someplace you would like less fat, and use it to enhance and reshape your bottom. Fat being removed can be taken from a number of different locations, however it is most commonly taken from your inner thighs, stomach and love handles.
During this procedure your cosmetic or plastic surgeon will use a suction tube (cannula) to remove excess fatty tissue from one of the areas mentioned above. The fat is then processed and purified in order to make it ready to be re-injected into the body. Your surgeon will then reinject the processed fat using syringes connected to cannulas. The fat is grafted in layers at multiple levels to ensure a smooth and natural shape to augment the buttocks area.
Butt Implant
Butt augmentation using implants is the preferred method for correcting a flat or poorly defined butt, and in women who have an insufficient amount of fatty tissue to harvest and use for a Brazilian butt lift. The implants used for your butt lift will be made of a highly cohesive silicone gel, which will provide a solid, youthful and perky look to your bottom with the natural feel that clients have come to expect in their silicone implants. Also, as the implant is made with a highly cohesive silicone gel, it will maintain its shape and will not leak should the shell to the implant rupture.
There are three possible incision locations that may be used for this procedure. The first requires the placement of two incisions at the top of your butt, one on either side. The resultant scar can be hidden by your underwear or bikini bottoms. The second option uses two incisions made directly under the butt cheeks (one on either side), where the cheek meets back of the thigh. The third option requires only one incision be made down the center of the sacrum (between the butt cheeks) and leaves the least visible scar of the three options.
Depending on the size of your implant, the type, and where it is to be located (within or on top of the muscle), your cosmetic or plastic surgeon will recommend the best incision option for you at your consultation appointment. Additionally, your surgeon may recommend that some fat transfer augmentation be used to enhance the overall look and aesthetic appeal of your butt together with your implant surgery.
Butt Lift Surgery
Butt lift surgery is a relatively straightforward, outpatient procedure that is performed while the patient is under general anesthesia or using a combination of local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Surgery can be completed in as little as 1 hour, however, the actual length of the surgery may vary based on the number and type of additional procedures being performed (i.e. Additional liposuction, tummy tuck, breast lift, etc.).
There are variations to the surgical procedures used given the method selected for butt lift surgery. Given the particulars of your specific case and desired outcome for the shape and appearance of your butt, your surgeon will employ one of the methods for conducting butt lift surgery (described above) after having discussed it with you during your consultation.
Recovery
Today’s techniques allow for a relatively comfortable and brief recuperation after butt lift surgery. Most patients take 7-10 days off from work to rest and heal at home, although they are still able to move about the house and participate in light activities.
Recovery prior to resuming exercise and more active activities is a bit longer at 6-8 weeks following surgery. It is very important to carefully follow your plastic or cosmetic surgeons’ directions for self-care after surgery. At your follow-up appointments, your surgeon will gradually clear you to resume specific activities as your progress in healing permits.
While you wait to be cleared for more demanding activities, try to limit physical exertion, wear your compression bandage and apply cold compresses to sooth pain and reduce swelling and accelerate the healing process.
If pain and swelling persists, contact your surgeon to find out if your pain, redness and swelling is normal, or a sign of a problem requiring additional attention.
Considerations
While butt lift surgery will give your bottom a more perky, youthful look, the benefits of the surgery will be best maintained if you care for your body and adopt a healthy diet and exercise program.
It is important to note that the effects of a butt lift can slowly diminish over time as a result of weight fluctuations and the natural aging process. In addition, and as with most other cosmetic surgical procedures, butt lift surgery will leave some scarring. If properly cared for these scars will typically fade with time and are easily hidden by underwear or bikini bottom.
As one of the more popular elective procedures, butt lifts are quite safe. However, no surgery is completely free of risk. Some of the possible complications include reactions to anesthesia, bleeding, infection, nerve damage, scarring, damage to underlying structures and the need for revision surgery.
