With curvier silhouettes the new trend, butt augmentation has increased in popularity over the last 
several years. Many pursue cosmetic surgery on their posteriors without knowing about the various options they may have — and without understand the risks and benefits that accompany them. Reviewing the process, recovery, and possible downsides of each procedure will help you decide which procedure is a better fit for you.
The two primary surgeries used to enhance the buttocks are butt implant procedures and buttocks fat transfer procedures. These two procedures may produce similar results leading to a fuller, curvier backside — however, time has proven that butt implants are generally riskier and the effects are often less natural-looking than a fat transfer.
How a butt implant procedure works
During a butt implant procedure, the surgeon will make an incision between the buttocks so that the muscle may be lifted up and away from the tailbone creating a pocket. Into this pocket a soft, solid, silicone implant will be placed, and the incision sewed.
This procedure is relatively simple, but there is one downside: Often, drains are needed to allow for the removal of blood and fluids that build up during the first week after surgery. This puts the recovery period at around a week, with moderate discomfort for the patient.
How a buttocks fat transfer — or Brazilian butt lift — works
With a buttocks fat transfer (often called a Brazilian butt lift), fat is removed from various places of your own body — usually the lower abdomen, back, or thighs — and is purified, and then injected across the buttocks at different depths to ensure absorption. Liposuction is often used to contour the buttocks before the fat is injected.
What you can expect from butt augmentation recovery
A butt implant procedure often results in a more painful and longer recovery period than the buttocks fat transfer. The patient should expect swelling, and will likely be bedridden for two to three days. Full activities may be resumed in four weeks. Risks of this procedure include asymmetry, slippage of the implants over time, infection, and the development of scar tissue. It’s also worth noting that a butt implant procedure is not permanent; it lasts between eight and 12 years before requiring implant replacement.
Recovery from a buttocks fat transfer procedure is generally quicker and less painful. Patients can expect to be participating in all activities after three weeks, and will have no need for further surgery. Fat transfers are permanent, depending on how much of the fat the body reabsorbs, and are often more comfortable and natural-feeling than silicone implants.
Contrasting the results of butt augmentation procedures
While both procedures lead to similar results, buttocks fat transfer procedures are often geared towards those interested in a perkier, rounder backside, whereas butt implants are often sought after to add substantial volume. It will be up to you and your surgeon to decide the best procedure for you.
If you’d like to learn more about a buttocks fat transfer or other procedures to look your best, download our free e-book, Your Guide to a Brazilian Butt Lift. If you’d like to take the next step, contact GLOW Surgical Arts to schedule your consultation.
