Buttock Lift

Loose sagging skin in the buttock area can be caused by a number of common factors:

• Genetics - occurs naturally
• Dramatic weight loss
• Ageing

No special preparation is required although it is generally advisable to do the following before any surgery:

• Stop smoking. Smoking decreases blood flow in the skin and can slow the healing process. If you smoke, your doctor will recommend that you stop smoking before surgery and during recovery.
• Avoid certain medications. You'll likely need to avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, which can increase bleeding.
• Arrange for help during recovery. Make plans for someone to drive you home after you leave the hospital and stay with you for at least the first night of your recovery at home.

Buttock lift surgery should take two hours.

You should start to see results in the days following buttock lift surgery. These will fully start to appear from around the six-week mark and improvements will be ongoing for the first 12 or so months post-procedure.

As we age the elasticity of our skin changes and becomes looser. The ageing process will continue from your new post-procedure point, and skin laxity will gradually increase over time. The ageing process will start from a far better point, however, so it should be many years before this becomes noticeable again.

As you get older, however, you should expect to see the buttock skin begin to sag again, particularly if you gain weight.

The results will be long lasting so long as you maintain your body weight following surgery. If you gain weight, this stretches the skin and if you lose a large amount of weight, you are subsequently left with an amount of excess sagging skin, which may require further surgery. We recommend you eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to avoid weight fluctuation. 

We would strongly recommend you quit smoking as this can accelerate the ageing process and impact the longevity of the surgery results.

Your results will be long lasting so long as you maintain your body weight following surgery.

The ageing process will however continue from your new post-procedure point, and skin laxity will gradually increase over time. The ageing process will start from a far better point, however, so it should be many years before this becomes noticeable again.

As you get older, however, you should expect to see the buttock skin begin to sag again, particularly if you gain weight.

You will not feel any pain during the procedure as you will be under the influence of anaesthetic.

Immediately following surgery, you may experience discomfort but any pain should be tolerable. Your surgeon can provide painkillers for this and the majority of patients no longer need them a few days after buttock surgery.

Buttock lift surgery is straightforward, safe surgery although you should be aware of all the risks and complications before going ahead with surgery. Some are listed on this page, but your surgeon at your will go through these at length and in full at your consultation.

Recovery time for this procedure will depend on the individual patient.

We usually advise that you take around two weeks off work following surgery as there will be bruising and swelling which may take around 10 days to subside. We also recommend you do not resume exercise for 4 – 6 weeks.

In the following few weeks, as you heal, smoother skin on the buttock and scars will start to heal.

Our expertise in scarring techniques along with our highly-experienced surgeons ensure a great result, and whilst a Buttock lift surgery is not an especially painful procedure, you may experience discomfort due to the tight sensation of the skin. Effective pain relief can be provided by your aftercare team should you require it.

If you have undergone Liposuction, you will feel a little bruised and stiff for a few days but there is no restriction on movement. Any dressings can be removed in a couple of days or when they come loose, and stitches removed in a week.

Yоu may соntіnuе tо experience ѕоmе mіld, реrіоdіс dіѕсоmfоrt and ѕwеllіng durіng thіѕ tіmе, but ѕuсh fееlіngѕ аrе nоrmаl. Sеvеrе pain, bleeding or swelling should bе reported tо your surgeon.

You will receive more detailed advice from your surgeon ahead of surgery.

You will need to wear a tight-fitting body garment for the first few weeks to support the area. You should not engage in any strenuous activities until your surgeon releases you to do so.

Your scars will be permanent but will eventually fade. You should allow 9 - 12 months for your scars to flatten and lighten in colour.

A buttock lift is typically done in combination with other body contouring procedures, such as a tummy tuck, thigh lift or even a knee lift.

A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure which sees excess skin removed from the waist and the tightening of the muscles and fascia of the abdominal wall to achieve a tighter, flatter-looking stomach. 

A thigh lift aims to lift and tighten the loose, sagging folds of skin in and around the thigh area. It is designed to remove excess tissue to leave a firmer, smoother contour. Like the buttock lift, the thigh lift is suitable for patients who have excess sagging skin caused by dramatic weight loss. 

On the front of the knee, there are generally two bulges, just below the kneecap on the front on either side on which the fat can be removed.

All these procedures can be combined with liposuction to remove excess fat.

Buttock lift surgery is performed as a day case, meaning you will be able to return home after the surgery. You can expect to have reasonable mobility back after a few days, and a return to your full daily activities after 6-8 weeks.

A buttock lift isn't for everyone. Your doctor might caution against a buttock lift if you:

• Have a severe chronic condition, such as heart disease or diabetes
• Plan to lose a significant amount of weight
• Have a body mass index that's greater than 32
• Are a smoker
• Have an unstable mental health condition

It is important that for at least two weeks after your surgery you avoid sitting for a prolonged period of time. As a general rule, you should avoid putting direct pressure on the buttocks as much as possible after your surgery.

You can do this by using a pillow to raise your buttocks when you sit down. You should also try to sleep on your front or sides immediately after surgery. We recommend that you try and avoid sleeping on your back for the first three weeks as this also puts pressure on the buttocks.

For the first four weeks after your surgery, you will need to avoid all sports and strenuous exercise. During this time, we recommend going on gentle walks to keep active, which in turn will help with your recovery.

After week four, you will be able to start doing some exercise again. However, you should still avoid strenuous activity and contact sports. After six to eight weeks you should be able to resume all sports and exercise. This includes contact sports and weightlifting.

You should ask your surgeon for specific timeframes of when you will be able to return to sport and exercise.

Once you have recovered enough to start exercising again, there are a number of different exercises which can help to maintain the result of your buttock lift surgery.

You should consider introducing squats, lunges, weighted bridges and donkey kicks to your exercise regimen. Step-ups and deadlifts will also help. You should try using resistance bands to do sidestep squats.

The amount of scarring depends on the type of technique used in your buttock surgery.

If your surgeon performs a lower buttock lift or a lateral buttock lift, the scarring is minimal as the incisions are well hidden. An upper buttock lift is a far more invasive surgery and leaves a long scar at the top of the patient’s bottom.

The fourth technique we use here at the Cadogan Clinic, the butterfly buttock lift, sees the incision starting from the central crease of the bottom, carrying on upwards and outwards, to resemble the wings of a butterfly.

The type of method will depend on how much excess skin you have and what you hope to achieve through surgery.  Your surgeon will advise which type of method will be best suited for you.