Buttock lift (synonym: buttock sculpting) is an umbrella term for several cosmetic surgical procedures to restore an aesthetic buttock contour. Women in particular suffer from sagging skin and fatty tissue in the buttock region due to aging. There are many reasons for sagging buttocks, usually physical training and diets are not sufficiently effective to achieve a satisfactory result. The following causes can be responsible for an unshapely buttock region:
- Age-related sagging of the skin and fatty tissue.
- Genetically determined tissue slackening – e.g. in connective tissue weakness.
- Muscle hypotrophy – muscle atrophy in the buttock area.
- Constitutional, weakly developed gluteal muscles.
- Strong weight loss
Any of these reasons can cause a significant lowering of the buttocks, so only a surgical procedure can bring about an improvement in the feeling of the body.
Indications (areas of application)
- Unaesthetic skin folds in the buttock area.
- Sagging of the buttocks after weight loss or muscle atrophy
Contraindications
Absolute contraindications
- Known allergy to local anesthetics of tumescent anesthesia.
Relative contraindications
- Known tendency to convulsions (epilepsy)
- Taking anticoagulants (anticoagulant medications).
- Too high expectations of the patient for the outcome of the operation
- Severe heart disease
- Severe lung disease
- Severe liver damage
- Severe kidney damage
- Tendency to thrombosis (thrombophilia)
Before surgery
Before surgery, an intensive medical history discussion should be conducted that includes the patient’s medical history and motivation for the procedure. The procedure, any side effects, and the consequences of the surgery should be discussed in detail. Note: The requirements of the explanation are stricter than usual, since courts in the field of aesthetic surgery demand a “relentless” explanation. Furthermore, you should not take acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), sleeping pills or alcohol for a period of seven to ten days before the operation. Both acetylsalicylic acid and other painkillers delay blood clotting and can cause unwanted bleeding. Smokers should severely limit their nicotine consumption as early as four weeks before the procedure to avoid jeopardizing wound healing.
The surgical procedures
The following is a description of the procedures:
- Excision
- Thread lifting
- Implantation procedure
- Liposuction
As mentioned above, different procedures can be grouped under the term buttock lift or buttock sculpting. First is the excision of excess skin and fatty tissue. Here, the surgeon decides on the basis of the individual findings which incision is to be considered in the respective region. The incision is planned preoperatively by determining and marking the incision lines on the standing patient. Care is taken to ensure that the course of the scar lies within the natural body lines or body folds, such as the gluteal fold. These operations are usually performed under tumescent local anesthesia (tumescent anesthesia is a form of local anesthesia in which local anesthetics strongly diluted in saline solution are applied in large volumes as a reservoir into the subcutaneous fat tissue. This is a method that is very often used in aesthetic surgery). Another method is thread lifting according to Serdev. This surgical procedure is based on the skillful placement of an elastic thread in the lateral buttock region. In this procedure, the sterile, bactericide-coated thread is inserted into a very connective tissue area approximately 1 cm above the muscle fascia. The thread is applied under tension so that a lifting and tightening of the gluteal region is achieved. The aim is to stimulate the body’s own connective tissue formation around the thread. This connective tissue ring should maintain the tightening of the tissue during the healing process and permanently secure the new shape. Implantation of the patient’s own fat or silicone implants, a complex method of buttock remodeling, is also called buttock plasty or gluteal augmentation. In this procedure, the materials are inserted between the buttock muscles into previously formed tissue pockets.This procedure is intended to achieve buttock shaping with the help of volume building. Finally, liposuction (liposuction) in the buttock area should be mentioned. This invasive operation is usually performed under general anesthesia, with superficial to medium-deep liposuction of fat tissue. It should be noted that liposuction is not performed in one operation, but usually in several sessions. Especially the fatty tissue laterally (on the side) at the outgoing buttock fold has a supporting function in case of liposuction in the upper buttock area. Simultaneous liposuction of both areas risks additional sagging of the buttocks. Liposuction is often used in addition to other methods.
After the operation
Regular wound checks of the often large scars are of great importance, as wound healing disorders are among the frequent complications. The patient should refrain from athletic exertion for the first 2 weeks and then slowly begin restorative exercise. Compression therapy is usually performed to provide stability and finishing touches to the desired buttock contour.
Possible complications
- Asymmetries
- Scars – e.g. keloids, excessive scarring.
- Sensory disturbances – due to injury to nerves.
- Wound infections
- Wound healing disorders
Benefit
Buttock lift is a common surgical procedure in cosmetic surgery that can achieve impressive results. In the process, patients’ self-esteem can be improved, so a positive body image leads to a better sense of well-being.
