Buttock Aesthetics

Buttock aesthetics is a set of surgical and medical procedures performed to eliminate volume deficiencies in the gluteal region, tighten sagging, and bring the body contour into a more proportionate form. These applications, referred to as gluteoplasty in the medical literature, are not merely a localized augmentation, but a 360-degree body-contouring process that establishes the aesthetic balance between a slim waist and full hips. Performed in accordance with the person’s anatomical structure using fat injection, implants, or lifting techniques, these operations aim to recreate curvature in flattened contours and create a more lifted, rounded, and athletic silhouette.

What Is the Importance of Body Type in Planning Buttock Aesthetics?

Each patient’s anatomy, bone structure, and fat distribution are as unique as a fingerprint. For this reason, the approach of “let’s make it like that celebrity’s hips” is unfortunately not realistic. For a successful result, it is essential to analyze the person’s existing hip form and plan accordingly. Because the technique we will apply is shaped entirely according to this underlying structure.

The main hip forms that we frequently encounter in clinical practice and that determine our roadmap are as follows:

• Form A
• Form O
• Form H
• Form V

Each of these forms requires a different approach. For example, the structure we call “Form A” is generally the group that is already advantageous aesthetically, with a full lower part, a slim waist, and an appealing shape; here, only small touches may be sufficient. “Form O” is a round and feminine structure in which fat is distributed evenly. However, when it comes to “Form H” or “Form V,” things change. In square-looking (H-type) hips, it is necessary to slim the waist and add volume to the sides to create curves. In the “Form V” structure, which we intervene on the most, the upper part of the buttocks is empty and flat. This makes the buttocks look low. The main goal here is to fill the emptiness in the upper part to create the lifted appearance we call the “shelf effect.”

How Is Buttock Aesthetics Performed With Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)?

Brazilian Butt Lift, known as BBL, is the method most frequently preferred by our patients. The biggest reason for this is that the procedure allows you to “kill two birds with one stone.” In this technique, we do not use any foreign material; we achieve shaping entirely by recycling the person’s own body fat.

The process is essentially a “relocation” procedure. First, we remove fat from excess areas that distort the body contour. This stage is at least as important as enlarging the buttocks because the slimmer the waist becomes, the more striking and aesthetic the buttocks appear.

The areas we frequently prefer for fat harvesting are as follows:

• Abdomen
• Waist
• Back
• Hips

These harvested fats are purified through special filtration processes and turned into a viable, stem-cell-rich filler material. Then, they are transferred to the dull, flat, or hollow areas of the buttocks to create the shape we planned. In particular, injections made to the upper part of the buttocks help the buttocks appear more upright and lifted.

Is the Buttock Aesthetics Result Obtained After BBL Permanent?

The issue our patients are most curious about and sometimes concerned with is permanence. Here, it is necessary to be honest and realistic. The fat tissue we transfer is living tissue, and when it is moved to its new location, it tries to survive by being nourished by the blood vessels there. Biologically, it is not possible for all of the transferred fat to take.

The body will naturally resorb a portion of the injected fat over time. Although the amount of resorption varies from person to person, we generally expect some decrease in the transferred volume within the first six months. However, the remaining fat cells that do take become a permanent part of that region.

Factors that affect fat survival rates are as follows:

• Smoking
• Dietary habits
• Postoperative pressure
• Metabolic rate

The remaining fat stays with you for the rest of your life. However, it should not be forgotten that these fat cells are also sensitive to weight gain and loss. If you gain excessive weight, your buttocks enlarge; if you lose a lot of weight, some reduction may occur. Therefore, we recommend keeping your weight stable to preserve the result.

Is the Use of Implants Suitable for Buttock Aesthetics in Thin Patients?

Although BBL is a great method, it requires “raw material.” If a person is very thin and does not have sufficient fat reserves to harvest and transfer, it is impossible to achieve the desired result with fat injection. This is where gluteal implants, that is, buttock implants, come into play.

Buttock implants may resemble breast implants, but structurally they are quite different. Because they will be sat on and exposed to constant pressure, they are produced from a much firmer, denser, and more durable silicone gel. For this reason, the risks of rupture or leakage are almost negligible. This is the most effective way to provide permanent projection to buttocks that are thin, flat, and lack contours.

The planes where the implant can be placed are as follows:

• Intramuscular
• Submuscular
• Subfascial

The technique we regard as the “gold standard” in aesthetic surgery and that provides the most natural result is intramuscular placement of the implant. In other words, the implant is hidden between the fibers of the gluteal muscle. In this way, implant edges are not visible from the outside, are not palpable, and since the muscle tissue holds the implant firmly, the risk of displacement is minimized.

What Are the Prohibitions to Be Observed During the Recovery Process?

Regardless of which method we use, 50% of the success of the surgery depends on what we do on the table, and 50% depends on how the patient takes care of themselves at home. In particular, the recovery process after buttock aesthetics requires a bit more discipline than other aesthetic surgeries.

After BBL surgery, the most critical rule is to protect the transferred fat cells from pressure. While the fat cells are still trying to settle into their new place, sitting on them disrupts their blood supply and causes them to resorb. Therefore, in the early period we ask patients to follow certain rules.

The following should be avoided during the first 3 weeks after surgery:

• Sitting on the buttocks
• Lying on the back
• Doing heavy sports
• Smoking

In implant surgeries, the sitting restriction is shorter, but since the muscle is intervened on, pain management is important in the first few days. In both cases, wearing a special compression garment for approximately 4 weeks is mandatory to control swelling and help the tissues adapt to their new shape. The final result may take up to 6 months to emerge as swelling subsides and the tissues soften.

How Are Buttock Aesthetics and Lifting Performed When There Is Sagging Skin?

Sometimes the problem is not volume deficiency but excess skin. Especially in people who have experienced serious losses such as 40–50 kilograms after sleeve gastrectomy surgery or strict diets, the buttocks sag like a deflated balloon. In these patients, placing an implant or injecting fat alone is not enough to correct the appearance; the sagging skin must be surgically tightened.

We call this procedure a “Buttock Lift.” We surgically remove excess skin and tissue and lift the remaining tissue upward to tighten it. This procedure is mechanically the most effective method to tighten the buttocks, but there is an important detail our patients should know: the scar.

While scars are hidden in BBL or implant procedures, in lifting surgeries there may be a possibility of a thin scar remaining in certain areas. The placement of this scar varies depending on the surgeon’s planning.

Possible scar areas are as follows:

• Waist area
• Gluteal fold
• Hip sides

For this reason, we generally prefer lifting surgeries not for aesthetic concerns but in advanced deformity cases where sagging impairs quality of life.

Are Non-Surgical Buttock Aesthetics and Filler Applications Safe?

Non-surgical options are also available for patients who are hesitant about surgery, do not have time for the recovery process, or have only minor contour irregularities. The method we use most frequently here is filler applications. However, the safety of the material used is vital.

The fillers we safely use in our clinics are generally PLLA (Poly-L-Lactic Acid)-based, body-compatible, and resorbable substances over time. These fillers not only add volume, but also improve skin quality by stimulating collagen production. They are ideal for reducing the appearance of cellulite or filling the hollows we call “hip dips” on the sides of the buttocks.

However, there is a safety warning I must emphasize here with a very bold line. You should absolutely stay away from liquid substances on the market of unknown content that are claimed to be permanent.

The substances that should never be used are as follows:

• Liquid silicone
• Hydrogel
• Biopolymers

These substances can spread inside the body and cause serious infections, deformities, and irreversible damage. In buttock aesthetics, the most important criterion is protecting health before beauty. Therefore, approved, body-accepted, and safe methods must always be preferred. To determine the method most suitable for your anatomical structure, skin quality, and expectations, it is best to have a detailed consultation with a physician specialized in this field.