As you get older, your skin changes and becomes looser. In addition, sun damage, fluctuations in weight and genetic factors can contribute to poor skin elasticity.

These factors can cause your buttocks, as well as other parts of your body, to sag.

A buttock lift is typically done in combination with other body contouring procedures.

You might consider a buttock lift if you:

• Have lost a significant amount of weight and your weight has been stable for at least six to 12 months
• Are overweight and haven't been able to lose a significant amount of weight through physical activity and changes in your diet
• Have a normal weight, but want a dramatic improvement in the appearance of your lower body
• Have a normal weight, but your skin won't contract after liposuction due to poor elasticity related to aging

Keep in mind that a buttock lift won't change your skin quality.

Many people are unhappy with the size, shape, and position of their buttocks. Therefore, the ideal buttock lift candidates are individuals who wish to enhance the appearance of their buttocks by removing loose, saggy skin and excess fat. 

You may wish to consider a buttock lift if you:

• Are experiencing sagging buttocks after major weight loss, aging or illness
• Feel unhappy with the appearance of your buttocks
• Are bothered by loose skin, excess fat or the general shape of your buttocks
• Have tried diet and exercise to combat this unsuccessfully
• Have realistic expectations of what surgery can do for you
• Are mentally and emotionally ready for surgery
• Are a healthy with a stable weight

When you speak to your surgeon about what you are unhappy with, they will be able to adjust the procedure to suit your individual needs.

Furthermore, you may be able to combine this technique with other treatments such as liposuction, a thigh lift or a tummy tuck.

A buttock lift procedure can last 1 to 3 hours.

You may need to stay in the hospital for one night or you may be able to leave on the same day if your procedure is a day case.

• A buttock lift procedure usually done under general anaesthesia.
• There are different types of incisions for buttock lift. The type of incisions and where the scars will be located will have been already discussed with you in your consultation.

These different types of incisions are dependent on a number of factors including:

• The size and shape of your buttocks
• The amount of fat that needs to be removed
• Your own goals for the surgery
• The quality of your skin
• The amount of excess skin you have
• Your muscle mass

Your surgeon will make the incisions in one of the following ways:

Upper buttock lift

An upper buttock lift is considered to be a more intense method of surgery where the surgeon will make an incision at the top of your buttocks.

They then remove any excess underlying tissue and reposition the buttock to enhance its appearance.

An upper buttock lift can leave a long scar at the top of the buttocks but is effective in lifting the position of the buttocks.

Lower buttock lift

A lower buttock lift incision may be a suitable option if you have mild to moderate sagging only.

This involves making an incision in your lower buttocks where there is a natural crease.

This allows them to remove excess tissue from the lower end whilst lifting the crease upwards.

This method results in a less visible scar as it lies in the natural crease line and therefore may be more discrete.

The incisions will be closed with either absorbable or non-absorbable stitches. These may then be covered with dressings which will help the healing process.

If you smoke, have a high BMI or have any serious medical conditions it can increase the risk of complications occurring during and after surgery.

General surgical complications

All surgical procedures come with some general risks.

These include:

• Blood clot formation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blood loss
• Reaction to the anaesthesia
• Post-operative pain
• Allergic reactions

Bleeding and bruising

A common complication of surgery is minor bleeding and bruising.

You should expect to see some small amounts of bleeding around the incision after the operation.

Bruising is to be expected after buttock lift surgery, but should settle within 1-2 weeks.

Infection

Most of these infections are only mild infections that develop around the wound and delay the healing time.

These minor infections often settle down with a short course of antibiotics.

Please notify your surgeon or seek medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Feeling feverish with a temperature over 38° C.
• Redness at the incision site that is spreading after the first 48 hours.
• Yellow pus-like or foul-smelling fluid from the incision.
• Pain or discomfort that your pain medication does not solve.

Scarring

The amount of scarring you may experience depends on your skin’s ability to heal.

Occasionally, some patients experience more severe forms of scarring, known as keloid or hypertrophic scars.

Most patients are aware if they are at risk of developing these as they have had them before.

Aesthetic

There is always a risk that you may be unhappy with the aesthetic result of your buttock lift procedure.

Therefore, we advise that you fully understand the procedure and choose your surgeon carefully.

Make sure you spend as much time as you need to discussing your desired outcomes and make your goals clear to your surgeon.

Revision surgery

After a buttock lift procedure, the aging process will continue as it does for everybody.

As a result, the outcome of your buttock lift may seem to fade over time as the skin naturally becomes a bit saggier.

In addition, if you experience a large change in your weight after surgery you may notice a change to the shape and size of your buttocks which is not preventable.

You may, therefore, find that you need further treatment to return to the aesthetic that you desire if this applies to you.

After having your procedure, a follow-up appointment will be one to two weeks after your surgery.

During this appointment, your surgeon will check the treatment area is healing and that you are recovering well.

They will also check that no complications have arisen, and if needed, carry out any required treatment.

You will need to take some time off work to help you with your recovery.

Generally, you will be able to return to work after around two weeks.

For an office job, you may be able to return more quickly and for a more physically demanding job you may need up to three weeks off.

For the first four weeks after your surgery, you will need to avoid all sport 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.

It is important that for at least two weeks after your surgery that you avoid prolonged sitting.

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.

In addition, you will be encouraged to sleep on your front or sides after surgery.

You should avoid sleeping on your back for the first three weeks as this also puts pressure on the buttocks.

You will have a compression garment to wear it for around four to eight weeks after your surgery.

The purpose of a compression garment is to reduce swelling and help to achieve the best final result.

To help the results of your surgery last as long as possible, you should continue to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet that contains lots of fruit and vegetables.

You should try and eat foods that are high in protein and low in sodium and fats.

You should try and drink lots of water and caffeine-free fluids.

It is recommended to avoid alcohol, smoking and recreational drugs both before and after you have a buttock lift.

Although you will be able to see the results of your buttock lift immediately, it can take three to six months to fully appreciate the final cosmetic results.

The results of your buttock lift will be long-lasting; however, the procedure cannot halt the process of ageing or the effects of a large change in your weight.

This means that as you get older you may notice the buttocks begin to sag again. Also, gaining or losing lots of weight can change the result of your buttock lift. Therefore, you should try and maintain a stable weight to gain the full benefits of your buttock lift.