Buttock Implants

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Reviewed by Siamak Agha-Mohammadi, MD, PhD

Most people who opt for gluteal (buttock) implants are women looking to emulate the curvaceous look of a J.Lo or Beyonce, and those who simply want to rid themselves of the sagging effects that aging has had on their buttocks, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

If you are considering butt implant surgery, consult a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced with the various buttock augmentation surgeries. It is important that you are open and honest about your goals and expectations during your consultation so that the surgeon may best cater to your needs.

Think about how big and round you want your buttocks prior to your consult. During this first visit, the surgeon will take a full medical history to ensure that you are healthy enough to have the procedure. You will likely be given very detailed information about things to do and expect before and after the surgery. For example, smokers will be advised how important it is to quit prior to surgery.

The Basics of Butt Implant Surgery

The buttock implantation (buttock augmentation) procedure most often begins with a three-inch incision made at the midline of the buttocks. This incision is used to create a pocket within which the surgeon can place the solid silicone buttock implant. Depending on your surgeon's preference, butt implants will be placed either between muscle and fat or in the main buttock muscle. Scar tissue will form in the treatment area, keeping the implant firmly in place.

Natural-feeling buttock implants come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The purpose of the implants is to help round out the upper and outer portions of the buttocks.

The surgery is usually performed using general anesthesia and at an outpatient facility. The duration of treatment is case-dependent; however, on average, the surgery takes between two and three hours. Before closing the incision, your plastic surgeon will make sure that the buttocks are symmetrical and natural looking.

Risks of Buttock Implantation

As with any medical procedure, there are certain risks and potential complications to be considered. Buttock augmentation surgery risks may include:

Asymmetry
Infection
Excessive bleeding
Problems from the anesthesia
A need for a second surgery

Your tissues will be stretched during the buttock augmentation procedure. This could cause pain, especially if the implants are positioned under the muscle. It is likely that your plastic surgeon will ask you to take an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory after the surgery to minimize the risk of infection and help with postoperative pain management.

Depending on your doctor's preference, you may have temporary drains inserted to help remove the extra fluid that could accumulate during the recovery period. A compression garment for support will be necessary for the first few postoperative days.

Some people elect to have butt implants and buttock lifts at the same time; liposuction of the lower back also may be included so that the end result is more balanced.

Sometimes liposuction and fat injections are used together to shape and contour the entire buttock area. It is not a good idea to have the second procedure done at the same time as a buttock implant because there is a risk that the fat injections can contaminate the implant. Also, pressure from the implant can cause the injected fat to be destroyed.

Shape Your Buttocks with Fat Injections

Because buttock implantation can't do anything for the shape of your lower butt, you may want to consider fat injections. Your plastic surgeon will use liposuction to remove fat from other areas of the body where there may be some to spare (i.e., the hips, lower back, thighs or abdomen). The extra fat is put through a purification process and then injected into your backside. Keep in mind that fat injections are not only for the lower butt; they can be used in other areas of the buttocks to sculpt and contour.

A plastic surgery procedure that uses only fat grafting to augment the buttocks is called a Brazilian butt lift. In this type of surgery, approximately 30 percent of the fat may dissolve after injection. A repeat procedure may be needed down the road to maintain the effects of the Brazilian butt lift.

Buttock Lift Surgery

During a butt lift, the excess fat and skin that cause sagging is removed to change the contour of the waist, hips and the back of the thighs. To perform the procedure, a plastic surgeon makes an incision along the lower back, from hip to hip. After the incision is made, the extra skin is pulled to raise the buttocks and outer thighs. Excess skin is then removed to complete the surgery.

When a butt lift is performed by itself and not as part of a body lift, it can take approximately two hours. General anesthesia is typically used for the procedure. Most people who undergo butt lift without additional procedures can go home the next day. Those who have the procedure as part of a more extensive surgery may have to stay in the hospital for a longer period.

Postoperative pain is common, but your doctor can recommend or prescribe painkillers. Worn for approximately four to six weeks after the procedure, abdominal binders also help to provide support to the area while it is healing. Some swelling may last for as long as three months. The full results of this cosmetic procedure should be apparent within a year.

Cost of Buttock Augmentation

According to 2008 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average plastic surgeon fee for buttock implantation was $4,497. For buttock lift, the surgeon fees were approximately $4,709. Fat transfer and injection procedures can cost between $6,000 and $8,000.

The total cost for buttock plastic surgery includes:

Surgeon's fee
Anesthesia cost
Operating room fee
Implant fee

The final cost of the surgery will be dependent on the number of procedures and how involved they are. For instance, if you have a buttock lift as part of a more extensive surgery – like a total body lift – the cost will increase. It also will cost more to have a buttock lift with implants, rather than just the buttock lift itself.

Ask your surgeon for the exact cost of the surgery before you decide whether or not to have it. Keep in mind that bariatric surgery insurance typically does not offset the costs associated with elective, cosmetic procedures. This coverage issue is not reserved to butt implants or even bariatric surgery for that matter. For example, dental insurance plans do not cover cosmetic procedures like tooth bleaching and Lumineers. If the plastic surgery cost is too high for you to pay all at once, speak with your medical provider to see if there are third-party payment options. For more information about financing options, check out our page on patient financing.

Selecting a Board-certified Plastic Surgeon

Selecting the right surgeon plays a major role in your ultimate satisfaction. When choosing your surgeon, keep in mind that plastic surgeons should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This board certification ensures that they have extensive training and are up to date on new technology and techniques. Ask to view plastic surgery before and after photos of a potential surgeon's buttock surgery patients before making a final decision.

About the Reviewer of This Article

Siamak Agha-Mohammadi, MD, PhD, is a board certified plastic surgeon in Orange County, Calif. He received his medical degree and completed his doctor of philosophy degree at the University of Cambridge in England and did his residency in general surgery, and plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Penn. An expert in aesthetic surgery after massive weight loss, Dr. Agha-Mohammadi has published articles in many prestigious journals and is a frequent presenter at major medical meetings.

[Page updated July 20, 2010]