Buttock Augmentation

Buttock augmentation (also referred to as a butt implant) provides an opportunity to shape the buttocks to something that is more attractive to you, whether you want a more rounded shape or a firmer backside. The cosmetic surgeons at Johns Hopkins, in Baltimore, Maryland, will either insert silicone implants or do fat transfer, also known as fat grafting. 

What to expect during buttock augmentation

With fat transfer, your plastic surgeon will take fat from another part of your body, possibly the abdomen or somewhere on your buttocks, through liposuction. The fat will be cleaned and then reinserted where it is needed to create the shape you want. If you opt for having implants, your plastic surgeon will make an incision in one buttock and create a pocket for the implant, which can be placed either under or on top of the gluteus maximus muscle. The same procedure will be done on the other buttock.

Whether you are having implants or using fat transfer, the procedure is generally done as an outpatient procedure that takes two to three hours for implants, and four to six hours for fat transfer. You will receive either general anesthesia to put you to sleep or a local anesthetic with a sedative to keep you comfortable.

Recovery from buttock surgery

Because buttock augmentation stretches the tissue, it will be painful afterward, especially if you have had implants put in. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication to deal with the worst pain, which is in the first few days after the procedure.

Your cosmetic surgeon will tell you to avoid sitting or lying on your back for some time after the surgery until you are fully healed. You may also notice bruising and some swelling, which will dissipate in the weeks after the procedure. In addition, your doctor may recommend that you wear a compression garment to hold down swelling.

You can expect to be in bed for the first 24 hours after the surgery, and then you can begin to slowly resume normal activities, as directed by your plastic surgeon. You may need to be off of work for as long as two weeks. It may be several weeks before you can resume normal physical activities and exercise. While there will be some permanent scarring, it will fade over time to white lines.

Our buttock augmentation surgeons