Want Back? Butt Implants May Just Be the Answer

Buttock implant surgery, also known as glutealplasty, is an invasive surgical procedure in which soft, solid, silicone implants are inserted beneath the buttock muscles in order to enlarge, lift, and shape the buttock mounds. Buttock implants come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are most effective for individuals who've found exercise and weight training can not give them the shape they desire, individuals who have suffered disfigurement from an accident, or those who have a congenital defect.

Performed under general anesthesia and usually taking two to three hours to complete, glutealplasty begins with a two to three inch incision between the buttocks and the midline. Through this incision, the buttock muscle is lifted and the implant is inserted beneath the muscle. Dissolvable stitches are then added and a compression bandage, which remains in place for two to three days, is applied in order to reduce swelling and promote healing.

Following the surgery, pain, swelling and bruising are not unusual. However, pain medications are prescribed in order to reduce discomfort. Furthermore, because the surgery makes moving around difficult, it is important that someone is available to help the patient get out of bed and cook meals for several days post-op. After about a week, the patient is able to walk, sit, and move more comfortably. Although activities such as weight training and other exercise can usually be resumed within four weeks following surgery, it may take up to six or eight months before the patient feels completely comfortable with his or her implants.

Though complications are rare, all surgery carries some risk. Problems which can result from buttock implant surgery include excessive bleeding and infection as well as implant displacement or rejection. Unlike breast implants which use liquid silicone, the solid silicone implants used in glutealplasty do not carry the risk of breaking or leaking.

The cost of buttock implant surgery can vary depending upon the qualifications of the surgeon and the complexity of the procedure. However, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average surgeon’s fee for this procedure in 2006 was $4,409.

Although buttock implants promise to make the rear look firmer, rounder and larger, they do not effect strength or muscle tone. For more information about butt implant surgery, contact your plastic surgeon.