Explore Plastic Surgery

The shape of the buttocks has taken on great interest in the past decade. Whether it be too big, too flat, or sagging with age, the interest in changing one’s buttock has never been greater. Each of these buttock problems are treated differently.

By far, the ‘simplest’ buttock problem to treat is the one in which the buttock is too big. The problem is ‘simple’ only because the only treatment approach is that of liposuction. The results from liposuction of the buttocks is usually modest and the patient must not have to high an expectation. Contrarily, one must avoid too aggressive liposuction as this may cause the skin of the buttocks to sag after being ‘over-deflated’ by the fat removal.

The flat buttock is treated either by implants or fat injections. Solid rubbery implants (which cannot leak) can be placed inside or on top of the muscle through a small incision in the upper buttock crease. Buttock implants are best for those patients who don’t have enough fat to transfer and want extra fullness in the upper portion of the buttocks. The implants generally don’t add much fullness to the lower portion of the buttocks. The discomfort with buttock implants is not insignificant and physical activity must be restricted for several weeks after surgery. Exercise can not be resumed for about 6 weeks after surgery. Surgical risks include infection, bleeding, fluid collections (seroma) around the implants, shifting of the implants, and uneven appearance between the two sides. Once you have buttock implants, removing them (if necessary) will lead to further disfigurement due to sagging skin……….Conversely, fat injections are useful when only a small increase in buttock size is needed. It is unpredictable how much injected fat will survive and multiple surgery sessions may be needed to get the desired result. Usually fat is simply redistributed……sucked from one undesired location and transferred to the buttocks. This gets a double benefit of contouring two areas which creates a better overall result.

The sagging buttock can be treated by two types of lifts. When only a small amount of skin is sagging over where the crease joins the back of the thigh (banana roll). This more limited buttock lift creates a scar in this crease and helps shape this lower buttock area. When the entire buttock needs to be lifted (usually in the bariatric surgery patient where a large amount of weight has been lost), a more aggressive lift is done by creating a ‘cutout’ of upper buttock and back skin (often done in conjunction with a tummytuck around the front, thus creating a 360 degree scar, a.k.a. a body lift). The buttock skin is then lifted and sewn upward, providing a lift to more of the entire buttocks.

Dr Barry Eppley
www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com
www.ologyspa.com
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis