Buttock lift – Gluteal lipectomy

It is specifically targeted for patients with relatively big and fat buttocks complicated by distinct droopiness. Because buried thread suspension or other methods such as autologous fat grafting cannot effectively treat this problem, excess upper buttock skin and fats should be dissected and removed to lower the weight load of the buttock, which eventually lifts and tightens the buttock. This surgery includes various resection methods, and the physician designs the surgery in light of each patient’s buttock size and laxity degree. Generally, if the buttock cellulite droops and concentrates at the buttock inferior margin, inferior gluteal resection and inferior gluteal fold reconstruction are directly conducted so that the scar is concealed in the concave shadow of the gluteal fold and is less visible. However, in case of severe gluteal depression at the superior buttock, superior gluteal resection (belt lipectomy) should be conducted to remove the skin and fats at the margin between the buttock and lower back, and then, inferior gluteal tissues can be suspended and stitched upward to the incision, thus lifting the overall buttock. This method leaves a refractory scar, which necessitates postoperative scar care for a period of time.

Surgical conditions

Duration

0.5hr
  • Type of anesthesia: General anesthesia
  • Type of incision: A 10–15-cm incision at the superior buttock margin or inferior gluteal fold
  • Recovery: 7–10 days
  • Removal of stitches: 10–14 days

General instructions

No food and water on the day of surgery

0hr
  • Avoid lying in the supine position or sitting upright for 1 week postoperatively to prevent compression to the buttock.
  • Avoid running or jumping or other strenuous lower limb activities for 1 month postoperatively.
  • Wear buttock lift pants for 3 months postoperatively to fixate the buttock shape.

Ideal candidates

  • Patients with congenital and excessive buttock hypertrophy
  • Those with obvious buttock fat and combined skin laxity
  • Those with distinct cellulite at the gluteal inferior margin that results in chronic skin disease such as eczema
  • Those with fat loss at the superior buttock that leads to excess skin looseness and buttock drooping

Possible complications

  • Scar proliferation
  • Poor wound healing
  • Undermined skin sensitivity

Surgical advantages

  1. It resolves buttock cellulite and skin droopiness at one time.

  2. It concurrently provides buttock lift and a reduction effect.

  3. Surgical results are relatively obvious and persistent.

  4. There is no risk of prosthesis implantation or fat injection.

Surgical drawbacks

  1. The postoperative scar is relatively obvious.

  2. Buttock skin sensitivity may be temporarily affected.

  3. Postoperative recovery is long.

Comparison of various gluteoplasties

Buttock augmentation Buttock lift (buried thread method) Buttock lift (gluteal lipectomy)
Ideal candidates Patients with flat, small buttocks or mild to moderate sagging Patients with mild to moderate buttock sagging or concurrent regional depression Patients with hypertrophic buttocks and combined massive cellulites and obvious sagging
Surgery method Fill and plump up the buttock to support the skin Suspend and tighten the skin Resect loose skin and cellulite to lift the buttock and reduce the weight loading
Anesthesia method General anesthesia IV sedation + local anesthesia General anesthesia
Implanted materials Buttock solid silicone implant or alternatively cohesive silicone breast implant or autologous fat Special buttock threads No
Surgical incision A 4–5-cm incision at the central gluteal groove A 0.5-cm incision at three sites of the buttock A 15–20-cm incision at the superior or inferior gluteal margin
Buttock plumpness Good fair No
Buttock lift effect Good fair Good
Skin tightness fair No Good
Buttock reduction No No Yes
Scar Invisible No Obvious
Durability At least 10 years 2–3 years on average Over 6–8 years