Gluteal Augmentation

Gluteal augmentation refers to a group of procedures that enhance or reshape the buttocks. The goal may be to add volume, improve projection, lift sagging tissue, remove loose skin, refine surrounding contours, or create better balance between the buttocks and the rest of the body.

Gluteal augmentation is not one single operation. It is a customized treatment category. One patient may need fat transfer to create rounder contours. Another may need implants because there is not enough donor fat. A patient who has lost a significant amount of weight may need a buttock lift instead of volume enhancement alone. Some patients benefit most from liposuction around the waist and lower back because reducing surrounding fullness can make the buttocks appear more defined.

• Brazilian Butt Lift: Uses fat removed from other areas of the body and transfers it to the buttocks for improved shape and volume.
• Gluteal Implants: Uses silicone implants to increase buttock projection in patients who do not have enough donor fat for transfer.
• Buttock Lift: Removes excess skin and lifts sagging tissue, often after major weight loss.
• Liposuction Contouring: Refines the waist, flanks, lower back, hips, and thighs to improve the overall silhouette.
• Combination Surgery: Combines fat transfer, implants, lift techniques, or surrounding contouring depending on the patient’s anatomy.

During consultation, Dr. Candis Lovelace will help determine whether your concern is primarily volume, sagging, loose skin, fat distribution, or body proportion. That distinction is important because the wrong procedure can lead to disappointing results. For example, adding volume to loose, sagging skin may not create enough lift. Removing fat without addressing loose skin may create a deflated appearance. Choosing the correct approach is the foundation of a strong result.

The surgical process depends on which gluteal augmentation procedure is performed.

Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery

For a Brazilian Butt Lift, Dr. Lovelace begins with liposuction of selected donor areas. Fat is removed from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, waist, lower back, hips, or thighs. The harvested fat is then processed and prepared for transfer. The purified fat is strategically injected into the buttocks to improve shape, contour, and projection.

Fat placement is performed carefully to create a balanced result. The goal is to improve the silhouette while prioritizing safety and natural proportions.

Gluteal Implant Surgery

For gluteal implants, silicone implants are placed through carefully planned incisions. The implant pocket and position are selected based on anatomy and surgical goals. Implant size is chosen to enhance projection while maintaining proportion with the rest of the body.

Implant surgery requires careful recovery planning because pressure on the buttocks must be limited during early healing.

Buttock Lift Surgery

For a buttock lift, excess skin is removed and the remaining tissue is repositioned to create a more lifted contour. Incision placement depends on the amount and location of loose skin. In post-weight-loss patients, this may be part of a larger lower body contouring procedure.

Drains, compression garments, and activity restrictions may be part of recovery depending on the procedure performed.

Gluteal augmentation and buttock lift surgery address different concerns. Augmentation adds volume or projection. A lift removes loose skin and improves tissue position. Some patients need one or the other, while others may need a combination approach.

Gluteal augmentation may be more appropriate when the main concern is:

• Flatness
• Lack of projection
• Limited volume
• Poor roundness
• Desire for fuller curves
• Loose skin
• Sagging tissue
• Post-weight-loss skin laxity
• Poor tissue support
• Skin folds around the lower body

During consultation, Dr. Lovelace will evaluate whether your skin can support added volume or whether lifting and skin removal are needed first. This is an important distinction because adding volume to unsupported tissue may not create the desired contour.