Buttock enhancement or buttock augmentation has become an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure. Most people agree that a fuller backside balances out a person’s figure, especially if they have large breasts or large hips. You can also get a buttock augmentation if your buttocks are sagging. But, what is buttock augmentation, and how is it done?
What Is Buttock Augmentation?
Buttock augmentation surgery gives your buttocks a rounder and fuller shape. This can be accomplished through one of two ways. The first (and more well-known) is through fat grafting, where fat is harvested from the waist and abdomen (or other areas) and injected into the butticks. This is known as a Brazilian Butt Lift. The cost of fat grafting buttocks in Buffalo, NY, depends on the size of the implant and the surgeon performing the procedure.
The other way is through butt implants. A plastic surgeon inserts silicone implants into/below the gluteal/butt muscle to achieve the desired fullness and shape.
How Is Buttock Augmentation Performed?
Your plastic surgeon’s first decision is what type of butt augmentation you are undergoing.
With a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), fat is taken from the body, purified, and injected strategically into different areas of the buttocks to shape a rounded, full, and balanced derriere.
With butt implants, the surgeon will add a predetermined implant into both butt cheeks.
Once the doctor has decided where the butt implant will be placed, the surgery will proceed with your consent.
Step One- Administer Anesthesia
Medication is administered to keep you comfortable during buttock augmentation. Most patients go for general anesthesia, although intravenous sedation is an option.
Step Two- The incisions
For a BBL, small incisions are located at the liposuction areas (to remove the fat) and very small incisions (if any are) located on the butt to inject the fat (which heal and become unnoticeable.
For an butt implant procedure, the plastic surgeon will make an incision, typically placing the cuts in the body’s natural creases. Incisions can be made between the butt cheeks where the buttocks meet the thighs, or even one incision can be made down the center of the sacrum (crease between the gluteal cheeks).
Step Three- Injecting the Fat or Placing the Implants
For a BBL, fat is usually injected with a cannula into different regions of the buttocks.
For implants, your surgeon will create a pocket for the implant and place it inside the buttock muscle or underneath. The technique the surgeon employs here depends on the size of the implant, the type of implant, and your body type.
Recovery after a Buttock Augmentation
The results of buttock augmentation surgery are immediately visible after the surgery. However, as the body heals, a few changes may occur (particularly if you have had a BBL, since up to 30% of the transferred fat can be absorbed by the body). Your doctor will prescribe pain medication and release you to go home after the anesthesia wears off.
You may be required to wear compression garments and avoid putting pressure on your buttocks for several days or weeks. Since the incision site is still raw, you will be advised to avoid taking a shower for the first 48 hours. To make things easy, your surgeon may prescribe a stool softener and antibiotics.
Buttock Augmentation Q&As
Can I have buttock augmentation done on only one gluteal muscle?
Yes, you can have buttock augmentation on one buttock. Some patients may only need one buttock increased or shaped to match the other. However, this is rare.
Does buttock augmentation leave a scar?
Buttock augmentation with implants leaves behind a scar, but it is in places that are easy to conceal. Talk to your surgeon to learn where your incisions will be, how big they’ll be, and if they’ll be easy to conceal.
How long does a buttock augmentation last?
Implants are meant to be durable, so you can count on them to last you a few years. Most patients go for decades without issue. If you grow uncomfortable with the shape or size of your implants, you can simply have them removed and replaced.
Results with a BBL are also long lasting; however, these are determined more by how you maintain your results with a stable weight.
Is buttock augmentation painful?
Most people will experience some level of discomfort or pain after any kind of surgery, and buttock augmentation is no exception. However, this shouldn’t scare you because your doctor will prescribe strong painkillers to make the pain manageable.
How long does buttock augmentation surgery take?
A buttock augmentation surgery can last a few hours, depending on how much work the plastic surgeon must do.
What are the possible side effects of buttock augmentation surgery?
If well managed, complications and risks are minimal to none. Keeping the incision site untidy can lead to infections which can be managed by taking antibiotics and keeping the site clean. If the fluid is not drained properly, you may get fluid buildup under the skin called a hematoma. Your surgeon can help you rectify this complication. Some patients get an uneven appearance after the surgery and may have to go back into surgery to correct the asymmetry.
How long does it take to recover from a buttock augmentation?
Healing from a butt implant surgery takes time, and your surgeon will advise you to avoid sleeping on your back or sitting for at least three to four weeks. Of course, this is except when eating or using the toilet. After this, you may need to sit on a pillow for a further eight weeks.
