Explore Plastic Surgery

Buttock Enhancement Surgery in Indianapolis by Dr Barry Eppley:
An Overview of Techniques to Beautify the Buttocks

The appearance and shape of the buttocks has taken on great interest in the past few years. Whether it be too big, too flat, or sagging with age, the interest in improving one’s buttocks has never been this great in the world of plastic surgery. Much of this recent interest in the appearance of the buttocks in the United States is due to the northern immigration of South American culture. Each of the many different buttock problems is treated with various plastic surgery techniques. As I consult with patients here in Indianapolis, it is important to carefully analyze the shape of the buttocks and the patient’s desires and then match the appropriate plastic surgery procedure(s).

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. 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. In rare cases, liposuction combined with a lower buttock lift (cutting a strip of skin and fat from the lower buttock crease) may produce a better overall result.

The flat buttock is treated either by implants or fat injections. Solid rubbery implants (which cannot leak) can be placed inside 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 considerable and physical activity must be restricted for several weeks after surgery. Once you have buttock implants, removing them (if necessary) will lead to further disfigurement due to the extra skin that has been created. 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. As fat is needed to inject, a double benefit is achieved by contouring two areas at once, reduction in size of the donor site (usually abdomen or thighs) and a larger buttocks.

The sagging buttock can be treated by two types of buttock lifts. When only a small amount of skin is sagging over the crease, a lower buttock lift as previously described can be used. The trade-off is a scar in the lower buttock crease. When a larger amount of buttock skin is hanging down (after bariatric surgery, for example, where a lot of weight loss has occurred), the buttock shape is addressed by a circumferential body lift where a low back scar is the result of removing a wedge of skin and fat from above.

As you can see, there are a lot of different approaches to buttock enhancement and a consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon can help you pick the right buttock operation(s) for your problem.

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

Enhancing the Shape and Size of the Buttocks with Butt Implants (Gluteoplasty) in Indianapolis by Dr Barry Eppley

For those women, and rarely for a few men, the desire for a larger more shapely buttocks is more prevalent today than ever in the history of plastic surgery. This buttock enhancement trend is undoubtably fueled by fashion style issues such as the well known ‘J-Lo Butt’ and the northern influence by immigration of Hispanic and South American cultures, which is a larger buttock with no crease underneath. (known as the Brazilian buttocks) As a result, buttock size increase can be done with either implants or fat injections. I will talk here only about the use of buttock or gluteal implants for buttock enhancement or medically known as, implant gluteoplasty.

Buttock implants or gluteal implants are semisolid, rubbery silicone implants that have several basic shapes and sizes for the buttock area. They are not liquid filled nor should any surgeon ever use those type of implants for anything other than the breast. The buttock implants are fairly soft and flexible and don’t feel that much different from dense buttock tissue. The main plastic surgery issue with buttock implants is the surgical technique by which they placed. This has been controversial over the years. Should the buttock implant go into the gluteal muscles (intramuscular) or on top of them? (subfascial) While some controversy probably still exists, I think the best technique is that advocated by plastic surgeon Dr Gonzalez in Brazil. He probably has the world’s largest buttock implant experience and I was privileged to work with one his disciples, Dr. Jose Flores, in Indianapolis for several months.

Through a midline incision in the upper buttocks crease, a pocket is carefully developed in the gluteus maximus muscle. The pocket is developed with an instrument staying within carefully determined markings done prior to surgery with the patient standing. The size and shape of the buttock implant (round or oval) is determined prior to surgery during the initial consultation based on the size and shape of the buttocks and what area of the buttock needs to be increased in size the most. The buttock implant is then slipped into this carefully made pocket. No type of compression garments is needed after surgery. Walking and sitting are allowed after 24 hrs. Sleeping should be done on the patient’s side for 1 week and driving is allowed after 7 days. Working out and running should not be resumed for at least one month after surgery.

I have found buttock implant surgery to be very gratifying for most patients, However, be aware that buttock implant surgery is painful and some sufficient recovery time is needed. The most common complication of buttock implant surgery is fluid collection (seroma) around the implant which may require drainage.

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

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