Buttock lift
A buttock lift, or gluteal lift, is a surgery that removes loose skin and raises sagging tissue to improve the shape of the buttocks. It is different from buttock augmentation, because it is not meant to add volume.
What it involves
The surgeon removes a strip of loose skin, and sometimes fat, and repositions the remaining tissue higher. The incision is usually placed across the top of the buttocks, below the waistline, or in the crease under the buttock, depending on where the sagging is.
It can be done on its own or as part of a broader surgery of the lower body contour, for example after major weight loss.
A buttock lift raises and firms, but on its own it does not increase size. Buttock augmentation is a different surgery, which adds volume with your own fat or with implants. The two can be combined when lifting is needed and volume also has to be restored. The assessment defines what your case needs.
Who it is for
It is meant for people with loose skin and sagging of the buttocks, which is common after major weight loss or with the passing of time. Your weight should have been stable for several months, your health should be good, and you should be clear that the surgery leaves scars and does not add volume.
- Loose skin or sagging buttocks after weight loss or with age.
- Stable weight, generally for at least 6 to 12 months.
- Good health, with chronic conditions under control.
- Not smoking, or stopping before and after surgery as instructed.
- It is not the right surgery if you are only looking for more volume.
What to know beforehand
Length of surgery
On its own it usually takes 2 to 3 hours. If it is combined with another surgery, such as a tummy tuck or a buttock augmentation, it can extend to about 6 hours, depending on the case. The assessment provides an estimate.
Type of anesthesia
General anesthesia is the usual choice. In some cases, intravenous sedation may be used. The type of anesthesia is defined before surgery, based on the extent of the procedure, whether it is combined with another one, and your health.
Hospital stay and recovery
It may be an outpatient procedure or require one night in the hospital, depending on the extent of the surgery and whether it is combined with another one. You will need help at home for the first few days. Early walking is recommended, as is avoiding direct, prolonged pressure on the buttocks; your surgeon will tell you which position to rest in, often face down or on your side.
As a general guide, daily activities and desk work are resumed after 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the case. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise are avoided for several weeks, and activity increases little by little over the first months, avoiding positions that pull on the scar.
Aftercare
Your medical team gives you the exact instructions for your case. These are the usual ones:
- Wear the compression garment for several weeks, as your surgeon instructs.
- Avoid sitting or lying on your buttocks for long at first; ask when and how you can do so.
- If you have drains, learn how to empty them and record the fluid until they are removed.
- Walk from the first days to lower the risk of blood clots.
- Avoid bending, squats, and any movement that pulls on the scar during the first weeks.
- Do not smoke: tobacco slows healing and raises the risk of complications.
- Seek care right away for fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, or changes in the wound.
Expected results
The change in shape is visible almost immediately, but swelling takes weeks or months to go down. The tissues finish settling 3 to 6 months after surgery, and that is when the result can be assessed more clearly.
The scars are permanent, and surgeons try to place them where underwear can cover them. They fade over time and can take up to 2 years to mature. The result is usually long lasting with a stable weight, although gravity and age keep acting on the skin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a buttock lift and buttock augmentation?
They are surgeries with different goals. A buttock lift removes loose skin and raises sagging tissue: it corrects sagging, but it does not add volume. Buttock augmentation, or gluteoplasty, adds volume with your own fat or with implants and does not remove skin. Which one suits you depends on whether sagging or lack of volume is the main issue; in some cases they are combined.
What are the risks of a buttock lift?
Like any surgery, it carries risks. Those described include fluid collecting under the skin, bleeding, infection, and slow healing or partial opening of the wound, which is under tension when you sit and move. Changes in skin sensation, which often improve within a few months, wide scars, asymmetry, blood clots in the veins, and the risks of anesthesia are also possible.
Where are the scars?
It depends on the technique. A common option leaves a horizontal scar across the top of the buttocks, below the waistline, from one side to the other. Another places it in the crease between the buttock and the thigh. The scars are permanent; the aim is for underwear to cover them, and their appearance improves gradually.
When will I be able to sit normally?
There is no single timeline. At first, direct and prolonged pressure on the buttocks and on the scar is limited, and the resting position is usually face down or on your side. When and how you return to sitting depends on where the incision is and on how healing is going, so follow the guidance of your surgeon instead of relying on comfort alone.
Can it be combined with other surgeries?
Yes. It is often part of a broader surgery of the lower body contour, together with the abdomen or the thighs, especially after major weight loss. It can also be combined with a buttock augmentation if volume is lacking as well. Combining procedures makes the surgery and the recovery longer, and it is decided at the assessment.
This information is general and does not replace a medical assessment. The timing, technique and recovery for your case are defined in consultation with the surgeon.
Let us talk about your case
Every body needs a personal assessment. Tell us what you are considering and we will review the options that suit you best.