Buttock Lift
What is a buttock lift?
Referred to medically as a lipectomy procedure, a buttock lift can remove sagging excess skin and dimples from the buttocks and upper thigh area.
What does a buttock lift improve?
Aging, weight fluctuations, and genetics may leave a person with sagging skin or dimples on the buttocks area.
A buttock lift can:
- Improve the shape of the underlying tissue that supports the skin and fat around the buttocks.
- Create smoother contours of the buttocks, proportionate to the rest of the body.
A buttock lift is not a procedure to remove fat, but it can be combined with a procedure such as liposuction to assist patients whose skin may not have enough elasticity for the best aesthetic result.
How is the procedure performed?
A buttock lift is an outpatient procedure that can be performed with either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. If any fat is to be removed via liposuction, that procedure is done, and other internal tissue is tightened, reshaped and secured with internal sutures. Then skin is smoothed over the new contour, with excess skin removed, and incisions are closed.
What are the risks?
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac or pulmonary complications
- Change in skin sensation
- Poor healing
- Fluid accumulation
- Persistent swelling
- Skin discoloration
- Sutures may not absorb, and surface through the skin causing irritation, drainage and redness
- Scarring
- Skin loss
- Fat necrosis (when fatty tissue found deep in the skin dies)
- Pain
- Unsatisfactory results
What can be expected after the surgery?
Will I have bandages/drainage tubes?
Elastic bandages and/or a compression garment may be used over the treated areas to reduce swelling and help shape skin into the body's new contours. Also, drainage tubes may be used to remove excess fluid.
How soon until I can return to work?
Every patient is different. Heed the surgeon's advice about when to return to work and resume your typical activities following surgery.
How soon until I see results?
Results may be apparent immediately, though it could take much more time - perhaps a year or more - for final results to develop.
Is a buttock lift covered by insurance?
A buttock lift is considered a cosmetic procedure and is generally not covered by insurance companies.