About Buttock Augmentation Are You a Candidate for Buttock Augmentation? About the Procedure What to Expect After Your Surgery Your Recovery Possible Complications
About Buttock Augmentation
For most patients, a buttock augmentation, also known as gluteoplasty, can add increased volume and fullness to underdeveloped areas of the buttock resulting in improved overall appearance and self-confidence.
Are You a Candidate for Buttock Augmentation?
The primary candidates for buttock augmentation are men or women who are unhappy with the underdeveloped size, shape, and/or volume of their buttocks. Though age is not a major consideration; older patients who may have diminished skin elasticity may not achieve the same results as a younger patient with tighter skin.
At the time of your consultation Dr. Javaheri will ask you about your general medical history, specifically pertaining to any medical conditions that could cause problems during or after your surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or a tendency to form excessive scars.
If you are a smoker you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Regular smoking constricts blood vessels resulting in decreased blood flow to a given area, which can prevent normal healing.
About the Procedure
In most cases, buttock implants are made of a soft solid silicone gel, which is inserted through an inconspicuous incision. The incision is made in the center near the tailbone and the middle part of the buttock muscle known as the Gluteus Maximus is released.
The implants are inserted below this muscle resulting in additional bulk and shape. In most cases, the implants are not visible.
In some cases, a fat transfer procedure may be used to add additional shape and volume. The patient must have sufficient body fat that can be used for the procedure. Please note that buttock augmentations performed using a fat transfer procedure are not permanent as the body will eventually reabsorb the fat.
A buttock augmentation can be performed either with local anesthesia or a general anesthetic. This will also depend on a multitude of factors including whether you are having other procedures performed simultaneously. If a local anesthetic is used, a sedative will be administered to ensure your comfort during the procedure, though you may still experience some mild discomfort. Dr Javaheri will discuss your options in more detail at the time of your consultation. The surgery normally takes between one to two hours, and is normally performed on an outpatient basis.
What to Expect After Your Surgery
After your procedure, you will experience various degrees of discomfort, tightness, and swelling. You will be required to wear a special garment to aid in the healing and contouring process.
Your Recovery
Most patients experience mild discomfort, particularly when sitting, for several weeks, though most return to work after one to two weeks. It is recommended not to sit for a period of one month to prevent complications, especially in the case of fat transfer. Excessive physical activity should be avoided for four weeks, especially any activity that may affect the buttock region including bicycling.
As with any cosmetic procedure, there will be some scarring. You should expect the scars to be red, raised, lumpy and even itchy to begin with they should fade and flatten with time as this is part of the healing process. Please keep in mind that this may take up to two years for this healing process to complete.
Possible Complications
Individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable. As with any surgical procedure, the risk of infection is always a possibility. This can be minimized by the preventative administration of antibiotics both at the time of your surgery and afterwards while in recovery. However, on occasion, mild infection can occur and is relatively common, although it usually subsides after two weeks. The risk of infection is higher in the case of implants, and this generally occurs following the breakdown of the incision.
Several complications specific to this procedure include capsule hardening around the implant, rejection and asymmetry, all which would require additional surgery.