Every plastic surgery procedure has numerous issues that every patient who is undergoing a procedure should know. These explanations are always on a consent form that you should read in detail before surgery. This consent form, while many perceive as strictly a legal protection for the doctor, is actually more intended to improve the understanding of the buttock implant augmentation procedure. The following is what Dr. Eppley discusses with his patients for this procedure. This list includes many, but not all,of the different outcomes from surgery. It should generate both a better understanding of the procedure and should answer any remaining questions that one would have.
ALTERNATIVES
The alternatives to increasing buttock size without implants are fat injections.
GOALS
The goal of implants is to improve the shape and overall size of the buttocks.
LIMITATIONS
Buttock implants will not significantly lift the buttocks and is designed to improve volume (size) and change their shape, usually affecting the upper and middle portions of the buttocks.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Expected outcomes include the following: temporary pain and swelling of the buttocks, a temporary unnatural firm feel of the augmented buttock, and numbness of the skin overlying the buttock which usually resolves. It may take several months before the final shape and appearance of the buttocks is achieved.
RISKS
Complications may include bleeding, infection, buttock implant asymmetry, differing positions of the implants, hardening of the implants (capsular contracture), pain with sitting, pain with exercise, inadequate shape or size of the buttocks, or chronic fluid build-up around the implant (seroma) Replacement or repositioning of the implants may be necessary should infection, asymmetry, or hardness of the implants develops.
ADDITIONAL SURGERY
There are many variable conditions to risk and potential surgical complications that may influence the long term result from buttock implants. Should complications occur and additional surgery needed, this will generate additional costs.