Introduction

Buttock augmentation surgery with prosthetic insertion has become quite a popular operation, particularly in countries such as the United States and Colombia, where in 2016 there were more than 1,500 operations in each country, as ISAPS reports show .

What is the butt lift?

Gluteoplasty, also known as buttock augmentation, is a plastic surgery procedure, performed under local anesthesia and sedation, which allows the volume of this area to be increased by inserting implants.

The objective is to correct and shape flat or empty buttocks and obtain, in addition to a higher volume, an even more defined, round and toned shape.

The size of the prosthesis used for a natural result is usually 200 cm3 and is similar to those used for breast augmentation, with the difference that the silicone gel that makes up the gluteal prosthesis is more resistant and consistent than the breast one. .

The results that can be achieved allow correcting several imperfections:

Shape flat buttocks
Improve sagging skin
Elevate sagging buttocks

According to Dr. Jesús de Benito, the rise of gluteoplasty is due to celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and the aesthetic canon of Latin America since, usually, in these countries they have larger buttocks than in European countries. A study published in The National Institutes of Health also confirms this trend as the results conclude that “the new ideal updates previous standards and indicates a new, more dramatic and” more curvilinear “ideal, indicating a major paradigm shift of preference. “.

Who can do it?

In general, people who want to perform this type of surgery are those who feel the need to have a more suitable body. They are people with flat buttocks with little volume (for example, after a strong weight loss), or people so thin and without fat to perform lipofilling.

The patient who needs a gluteoplasty must be in good general health , both physical and psychological. In fact, it is important that the patient not only be able to safely undergo surgery without incurring avoidable complications, but also have realistic expectations of the possible results.

Although women do more buttock augmentation, there is nothing to prevent men from using this procedure as well . According to Dr. Jesús de Benito, men who resort to gluteoplasty do so to achieve a muscle mass in the buttock area that is proportional to that of the rest of the body.

Age is not a limit for this surgical procedure, as long as the patient is of legal age and has reached full physical development.

It is recommended in case of overweight, that the patient reaches his ideal weight first and then undergoes surgery, since any change in weight could compromise the final result of the operation.

How to choose the right surgeon?

The choice of the surgeon should never be made lightly, regardless of the type of treatment or cosmetic intervention desired.

Two simple rules can make this process easier:

Contact a doctor specialized in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery affiliated with at least one of the leading societies in the sector, such as the International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) or the Spanish Society for Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery (SECPRE).
Make sure the operation will take place in the operating room of an approved clinic that meets health and safety standards.

The surgeon must not only be a licensed physician, but also, and above all, inspire trust, because a relationship based on empathy and mutual trust is always the basis of a successful intervention. Establishing a relationship of trust and sincerity is also important because the patient must feel free to communicate his doubts to the doctor and ask him to view the images of the results of the interventions he has carried out.

What will the first visit be like?

Once you have identified the best specialist for your case, you can go to the first consultation. At this stage, the patient has the duty to inform the surgeon in detail about his health status and about any cardiovascular pathology, diabetes, bleeding disorder or any other disease. Make sure your doctor knows if you use tobacco or alcohol.

During the visit, the surgeon will evaluate your initial condition and your expectations to make an initial evaluation of the results, risks and potential costs.

The doctor will then be able to tell you which intervention is best for you and if the operation should be combined with other procedures, such as liposuction.

How it is performed?

Buttock augmentation consists of inserting silicone implants in the buttocks. The procedure lasts approximately 2 hours and is performed under general or epidural anesthesia. Overnight hospitalization may be required, as directed by the physician. In some cases, gluteoplasty can also be associated with other interventions, such as lipofilling, for an even more natural result.

To insert the implants, explains Dr. Massimo Re, the surgeon must make a 5 cm incision in the intergluteal groove or at the base of the buttock , so that a possible scar remains hidden. The prostheses are then inserted into the gluteal space.

The techniques used to place the implants can be three:

Subfascial technique with positioning below the muscle fascia and above the muscle;
Submuscular technique below the gluteus
Intramuscular technique inside the gluteus

How to prepare for the day of surgery

On the day of surgery, it is always advisable to go to the clinic with at least one friend or family member so that you can have the support of a trusted person when necessary.

Generally, the fifteen days before surgery to facilitate the healing process it is recommended:

Do not take anti-inflammatory drugs that contain acetylsalicylic acid such as aspirin
Quit tobacco

Types of prosthesis

Buttock augmentation surgery can provide natural results, provided that the size of the chosen prostheses respects the proportions of the rest of the body. This is why prostheses are manufactured in different sizes and in two shapes:

Round prostheses: with these implants, the result will be more evident in the upper part of the buttocks, but they will still be natural
Anatomical prostheses: the result may be more natural than the previous one.

The exterior of the gluteal prosthesis is made of silicone and the interior is made of silicone gel. In addition, the prostheses contain inside a type of barrier that prevents the leakage of the material.

These prostheses, like breast implants, are considered safe, as long as they come from manufacturers approved and certified by the main international control bodies, such as the CE or the FDA.

The most common brands used by surgeons around the world include:

Implantech
Feel
AART
SEBBIN

The results

According to the ISAPS, the results can vary from one patient to another, but in general, this procedure allows to give a greater volume and a more defined shape to the buttocks.

The results are permanent but will not be immediately appreciated by the patient. In fact, as with other plastic surgery procedures that involve the insertion of prostheses, postoperative hematomas or swelling may appear that prevent the final result from being assessed until a few weeks have passed.

The final result can be visible from the second month after the operation, but it is generally recommended to wait at least 6 months before being able to see and appreciate the real result obtained.

The National Institutes of Health states in a study published on its website that ” the sensitivity of the buttocks is essential since it represents an erogenous zone and provides protection through sensory stimuli for the prevention of pressure ulcers and burns. After gluteoplasty no difference in sensitivity was observed in the area. ”

Postoperative

In the immediate postoperative period of buttock surgery, typically only 2 to 3 days of total rest are required, explains the Mayo Clinic.

The resumption of normal daily activities should be gradual:

During the first 72 hours you cannot sit
After 10 days you can go back to work
After 3 weeks you will not feel the presence of prosthesis
Don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes for at least 3 weeks to aid healing
After a month you can do sports but with gentle exercises
After 3 months you can resume normal sports activity, always following the precautions and instructions of your doctor
Avoid exposing yourself to the sun for at least a month and apply a protection of + 50 SPF to protect the scars

Other techniques

luteoplasty is not the only existing procedure that can increase and define the volume of the buttocks. In fact, there are other techniques that will allow you to elevate your sagging, empty buttocks. Let’s see in more detail what these interventions are:

Lipofilling , lipotransfer or liposculpture of the buttocks: It consists of collecting the autologous adipose tissue of the patient in areas such as the abdomen and repositioning it in the deficient areas through the use of microcannulas such as those used during liposuction. This procedure lifts the buttocks, especially in patients who have suffered significant weight loss resulting in a sagging of the buttocks. The advantage of lipofilling is that it allows to intervene not only on the buttocks, but also on the silhouette as a whole. According to Fat augmentation offers good results and is natural to the touch but is not useful for patients who need large increases in volume or for patients who do not have enough fat donor sites.

Hyaluronic acid: The infiltration of hyaluronic acid allows to increase the volume of the area, without resorting to the scalpel or prostheses. The fillers used for this purpose are Macrolane and HYAcorp. The result is immediate and the treatment can also be performed in the clinic under local anesthesia. However, since hyaluronic acid is a resorbable substance, the result is not permanent. Therefore, it is necessary to repeat the treatment after a few months, depending on the response of the body.

Buttock lift or lift: An internal suspension of the fascia and gluteus maximus muscle can be performed, anchoring it at a higher level. It is performed under epidural or general anesthesia. It can also be done as a combined technique with the buttock implant. A simpler surgical procedure can be performed under local anesthesia and / or sedation and involves inserting tension threads through a small incision made near the crease between the thigh and the buttock. According to , the procedure that he performs using the Served technique lasts one hour and achieves a very natural result without the possible complications of prosthetic placement.

Side effects and risks

Gluteoplasty is a surgical and invasive procedure, so the risk of complications may be present, although putting yourself in the expert hands of specialized surgeons reduces the risk.

The main complications of this procedure are the following:

Breakage of the prosthesis
Capsular contracture and hardening of the area
Infection
Side effects related to total or epidural anesthesia

Frequent doubts

Is gluteoplasty painful? The surgery is not particularly painful but bothersome because of the limitations that it entails.
How long do gluteal prostheses last? A gluteal implant lasts between 10 and 20 years. Regular reviews every 5 years will detect a possible rupture.
What prosthesis should I choose for my gluteoplasty? The best prostheses are those chosen by the expert surgeon especially for the patient. The silhouette, structure, volume, consistency of palpation, excess and laxity of the skin have different therapeutic implications and often require a combination of procedures. So, we must start by choosing the right specialist.
Does gluteoplasty leave obvious scars? The scar is hidden in the inter-gluteal cleft, invisible when standing. It is most often confused with the natural midline.
What is the Brazilian butt lift? The fashionable buttocks of Brazil are made with injections of your own fat. This cosmetic surgery of the buttocks consists of the extraction of the fat cells by means of liposuction, the preparatory treatment of the fat and the micro-reinjection of this fat. The Brazilian Butt Lift also redesigns the waist and lower back, representing a complete sculpting of the posterior contour.