The ideal feminine contour has a narrow waist, slim thighs and fuller, convex buttocks.

With ageing the buttocks often deflate, losing their contour. Fat commonly accumulates in the anterior abdomen, on the sides or flanks and in the thighs which, together with buttock deflation, detracts from the ideal feminine body contours.

Some patients may naturally have small, flat buttocks which they’d like augmenting.

Where the patient has sufficient available fat in the abdomen, flanks and thighs this can be removed using low-pressure liposuction and the fat grafted into the buttocks to produce more ideal contours.

How is Fat Grafting to the Buttock performed?

Surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic. Pre-operatively the areas of fat to be removed and the sites in the buttock to be grafted are marked.

Small (3-4mm) incisions are made around the areas of fat to be removed and fluid injected to reduce blood loss and bruising and minimise post-operative discomfort.

A number of suction cannulas are inserted to remove the excess fat under low pressure. The fat is collected, separated from any fluid and reinjected into the buttocks to augment and improve their shape using small 3-4 mm incisions until the required contours are created.

The incisions are subsequently sutured with fine sutures and a compression garment applied.

How long is the recovery after Fat Grafting to the Buttock?

Dressings are changed and stitches removed at 9-10 days, and a compression garment worn for six weeks to reduce swelling and encourage the skin to conform to its new shape.

Patients are normally advised to sleep on their front or sides for the initial 6 weeks after surgery. We also recommend they should place cushions below their thighs and behind their back to ‘suspend’ the buttocks off the seat when sitting. They can also purchase a ‘buttock buddy’ which is similar

Patients normally return to work at 10-14 days after surgery. Exercise is normally gradually resumed after 3-4 weeks.

At 6-8 weeks a good idea of the final result should be apparent but this continues to improve for 3-6 months as the skin contracts.

What are the advantages of Fat Grafting to the Buttock?

Buttock fat transfer has the advantage of avoiding the use of a buttock implant, which has a longer recovery time than fat transfer and the risk of infection. It produces a more natural result, improves the contours of the donor areas also and, as fat is a rich source of stem cells, improves and rejuvenates the quality of the overlying buttock skin.

PROCEDURE IN BRIEF:

Anaesthetic: General anaesthetic

Hospital Stay: Day case or 1 night

Dressings: Stitches removed at 10 days

Return to Work: 10-14 days post-op

Return to Exercise: 3-4 weeks

Other Advice: Compression garments worn for 6 weeks

For more information on the Fat Grafting to the Buttock procedure, book a consultation with Mr Tulley.