Butt surgery is used to beautify and shape the buttocks. Butt surgery and butt shaping are in demand worldwide – a trend that has become particularly popular in Brazil, where a plump, round butt is traditionally considered the ideal of beauty. Today, more and more people around the world want a shapely bottom as a sign of health, vitality and attractiveness, just as you can admire on Copacabana, Brazil’s most famous beach.
However, not everyone is naturally blessed with such a bottom. Sometimes there is a lack of fat or muscle, or the buttocks lose their firmness over time or after losing weight.
To compensate for this, modern cosmetic surgery offers various methods to shape the buttocks – be it with implants or autologous fat. The aim of these butt surgeries is always to create an attractive, round and firm butt that emphasizes the body contours and matches the individual’s expectations.
PD Dr Oliver Scheufler, specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery and head of the AARE KLINIK in Bern, has specialized in the various methods of surgical butt shaping. He will be happy to advise you if you are unhappy with the shape and size of your bottom and would like a change.
From his many years of experience, numerous consultations and operations, he knows that butt surgery is not only suitable for a beautiful bottom and better body proportions. In many cases, it also has a positive effect on self-confidence because patients feel more comfortable in their bodies afterwards. This is particularly beneficial for people who feel that their buttocks do not fit their body or who are simply dissatisfied with their current shape or size.
In addition to the Brazilian butt lift, i.e. autologous fat injection of the buttocks, aesthetic butt surgery also includes tightening and augmentation with the body’s own tissue (flap surgery) as well as butt augmentation with silicone implants and combinations of these procedures.
In the following, we explain for whom such a procedure is worthwhile, how it is carried out and introduce you to some of the common methods of aesthetic butt surgery.
A basic distinction is made between buttock lifts and augmentations of the buttocks with implants or the body’s own fatty tissue (lipofilling/dermal fat flaps).
Considerations
Buttock surgery may be appropriate for you if you have one or more of the following conditions:
- You would like a firmer and/or fuller bottom.
- Your bottom is flabby, flat or sagging.
- The volume of the buttocks is insufficient or has receded over time.
- Excess skin in the form of a fold has formed on the lower buttock contour.
- The buttocks are asymmetrically shaped.
- Your well-being and self-esteem are affected by the shape or changes to your buttocks.
Consultation
At the AARE KLINIK in Bern, a successful buttock surgery starts with a detailed consultation. During this consultation, you can discuss your wishes and the options for buttock reshaping that are suitable for you with Dr. Oliver Scheufler. In order to provide you with a good treatment recommendation, a physical examination is first carried out to assess the anatomy and skin quality, among other things. We also draw up an individual treatment plan based on the aim of the butt surgery and the appropriate surgical method.
Of course, we will also discuss the risks, answer all your questions and provide you with an individual cost estimate. We will need your medical history and current findings in order to prepare you properly. You should also discuss any weight loss with us before the operation, as this can affect the result.
Procedure
In butt surgery, individual factors and personal preferences determine the choice of the appropriate surgical procedure to improve the contour and shape of the buttocks. A basic distinction is made between lifting of the buttocks with or without liposuction and augmentation of the buttocks with implants or the body’s own fatty tissue (lipofilling/dermal fat flaps).
1. Buttock augmentation with autologous fat injection (Brazilian butt lift)
In this technique, excess fatty tissue from other regions, such as the abdomen, hips or thighs, is used to enlarge or shape the buttocks. The removal of fat deposits in these areas also contributes to a better overall body contour.
The excess fatty tissue is suctioned from the respective areas, specially prepared and then injected into the fatty tissue of the buttocks using fine cannulas in order to increase the volume of the buttocks, shape the buttocks or compensate for contour irregularities.
The advantage of autologous fat tissue is that it is the body’s own tissue, which is often available in sufficient quantities and does not involve the risks of a foreign body, as well as having good sculptability. This method is also known as Brazilian butt lift.
You can find more information about Brazilian Butt Lifting (BBL) here.
2. Buttocks enlargement with silicone implants (gluteal augmentation)
Silicone implants are particularly useful if there is not enough fatty tissue in other parts of the body to sufficiently increase the volume of the buttocks. The advantage of this technique is the precise planning and dimensional stability of the buttock implants, which today are usually inserted into or under the gluteal muscle. Implants of different shapes, sizes and projections are available and can be selected during preoperative planning according to the patient’s individual needs. Liposuction of the thighs or hips can also be combined to achieve the best possible harmonious contour.
You can find more information on gluteal augmentation here: Butt augmentation with implants.
3. Buttocks lift (gluteoplasty)
In a buttock lift, excess skin is removed, usually from the upper part of the buttocks, more rarely from the lower buttock crease, and the buttock skin is lifted and tightened. Excess fat deposits on the buttocks or the adjacent regions (hips/thighs) can be removed in the same session by liposuction, or missing buttock volume can be replaced by a silicone implant, by injecting the patient’s own fat (lipofilling) or using a dermis fat flap.
4. Buttocks enlargement with dermis-fat-flap (gluteoplasty)
Dermal fat flaps can be used to simultaneously tighten the skin and augment the buttocks with the body’s own tissue, particularly in patients who have lost a lot of weight. Once the excess skin has been removed, the underlying fatty tissue and its vascular supply are used to build up the volume of the buttocks. In contrast to lipofilling, the adipose tissue of a fat flap is supplied with blood and has a higher survival rate than injected adipose tissue. As with a simple buttock lift, the position of the scars is usually at the upper borders of the buttock contour.
A buttock lift is usually performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis in the practice or as part of a short inpatient stay. The operation usually takes 3-4 hours. In some cases, drains are inserted at the end of the operation to remove blood and wound secretions and are removed after a few days.
Risks
Butt surgeries are common procedures that are rarely associated with serious complications, provided the procedure is performed by an experienced specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. Nevertheless, patients must be aware of possible risks such as infections, circulatory disorders and other complications before deciding to undergo butt surgery. For this reason, all patients at the AARE KLINIK are informed in detail and an individual risk profile is drawn up. This also includes the fact that smokers or patients with certain chronic diseases, such as diabetes, have a higher risk of more serious complications, which can be reduced by changing their behavior, as with smoking.
Minor complications, such as bruising or swelling, are more common, but are usually not severe and only temporary.
General risks
- Haematoma (bruising), bleeding and swelling
- Seroma (accumulation of wound fluid)
- Healing problems or infection
- Wound breakdown/dehiscence (separation of wound edges)
- Injury of nerves or vessels
- Numbness in area of operation (temporary or permanent)
- Circulatory problem in the buttock skin (skin slough)
- Scars
- Slight asymmetry
- Unsatisfactory aesthetic result
- Secondary surgery
- Thrombosis or embolism
In the hands of an experienced plastic surgeon, buttock reshaping is a safe procedure with few complications and a high level of patient satisfaction. You can help minimize certain risks by following the behavioral guidelines we recommend before and after surgery.
Preparation
At the AARE KLINIK, buttocks shaping is usually performed on an outpatient or short inpatient basis. However, there is also the option of inpatient treatment in a private hospital if this is desired or medically necessary. The operation is always performed under general anesthesia and takes between 2 and 4 hours, depending on the chosen method and whether, for example, implants are inserted, autologous fat is transferred or a tissue graft is used. You will always be operated on personally by PD Dr. Oliver Scheufler, who will also have advised you beforehand so that you already got to know your surgeon well before the procedure.
After the operation, you will wake up in the recovery room and remain there under observation until you are able to get up. Our patients are often ready for discharge on the same day. However, you should ensure that you are cared for at home for the first 24 hours after the operation.
Over the next few days, you will return to the AARE KLINIK for follow-up visits, where we will assess the healing process and inform you about the postoperative course and further measures as needed to promote healing.
Day of surgery
Buttocks augmentation and reshaping is usually performed as an outpatient procedure at the AARE KLINIK. If the surgery is extensive or if there are pre-existing medical conditions, surgery may be undertaken as an inpatient treatment in an affiliated private hospital. This may be the case, if buttocks augmentation is combined with other procedures, such as extensive liposuction or skin tightening procedures (gluteoplasty).
- During surgery you will receive various medications for your wellbeing.
- For your safety, your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen supply etc. are monitored during the operation.
- After surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room, where you will have continued monitoring until you awaken and are able to get up.
- Compression garments will be applied to aid the healing process and to promote uniform skin contraction.
- You will be taken to the recovery room, where you will have continued monitoring until you awaken and are able to get up.
- You will be allowed to return home after a few hours.
- If you are an inpatient, you will remain in hospital under surveillance until the following day.
- Already on the day of the surgery you should get up regularly for a few minutes in order to minimise the risk of thrombosis.
- The level of pain after a buttocks augmentation or reshaping is usually not severe and can be compared with muscle soreness. However, in individual cases, pain may be more severe and require intensified or prolonged pain medication.
- You are advised to take mild pain relief that reduces swelling and should be continued for several days after surgery.
- In case of an ambulatory procedure, you should have someone to care for you continuously for 24 hours postoperative.
- We also provide the option of an over-night inpatient stay at the AARE KLINIK in a single room with a personal nurse care, if needed.
- We also offer the possibility for a short inpatient stay at the AARE KLINIK in a single room with a nurse if required.
After surgery
- It is important to realise that recovery from an operation varies for every individual.
- Following buttocks augmentation or reshaping, you should rest in the first days after surgery and only walk short distances.
- You should avoid sitting.
- Only take prescribed painkillers and avoid any medication that contains aspirin or other blood-thinning substances.
- You will receive additional blood thinning injections for several weeks.
- Wear the customised compression garments continuously day and night. Notify us if they are too tight or there are any other problems.
- In the first 2–5 days after the procedure, a feeling of tension and light pain will be felt in the region of the surgery.
- Buttocks skin may feel temporarily numb and hypersensitive. This is usually temporary. However, it may take weeks or months, in some cases even longer to return to feeling completely normal.
- Slight swelling and bruising in the area of surgery usually subsides within 2–3 weeks.
- Typically you will be back on your feet a couple of days after surgery and be able to resume your daily activities.
- If used, drains are removed in the first days after the operation, after which you can take showers again.
- Full baths and excessive heat (e.g. sauna), however should be avoided for several weeks until swelling has receded.
- Most sutures will dissolve by themselves and do not need to be removed.
- Non-dissolvable sutures are removed after one week.
- After removal of the sutures, we recommend the start of an intensive skin and scar care with rehydrating creams and light massage.
- In individual cases it may be useful to have special treatment with silicone gel or silicone pads over a period of 2–3 months.
- The fresh scars should be protected from UV radiation for at least six months, in order to prevent increased pigmentation.
- Activities that require prolonged sitting can usually be resumed after 2–3 weeks.
- Compression garments should be worn for a total of 6-8 weeks.
- Physically demanding activities and sport should be avoided for several weeks.
- After surgery you will be examined at the AARE KLINIK at regular intervals, so that the healing process can be assessed until the final result is achieved.
Outcome
The result can be seen shortly after the operation. However, the usual swelling and possible bruising in the first few days and weeks may mask the full picture. Depending on the surgical method chosen, it may take several weeks or months for all traces of the operation to heal completely and for the scars to fade. However, these are hidden in skin folds as far as possible and will be very inconspicuous over time in most cases.
The results of buttock reshaping are generally long-lasting.
Costs
A butt lift is generally an aesthetic procedure that is not covered by health insurance. However, there are exceptions, such as in the case of considerable skin excess that leads to functional complaints or pain. In such individual cases, the costs may be covered by health insurance after prior consultation. Otherwise, the treatment costs must be borne by the patients themselves.
The costs for an aesthetically indicated butt surgery are variable and mainly depend on the complexity of the operation, the method employed, the possible use of a buttock implant and the facility where the operation is performed (AARE KLINIK or private hospital). An exact cost estimate can therefore only be provided after a personal consultation. In total, you should expect costs starting from CHF 10,000.
The costs are composed of:
- Surgical fee (including consultation and post-operative care)
- Anaesthesia fee
- Technical infrastructure costs (AARE KLINIK/hospital)
- Inpatient hospital costs
- Material, such as Buttocks implants
- Compression garements
- Medication
- Diagnostics (laboratory, ECG, scans, etc.)
Appointments for buttock surgery with Dr. Scheufler in Bern
A butt surgery can help you to achieve a more beautiful, better proportioned body shape and greater self-esteem. We are happy to advise and guide you towards this goal.
Why not arrange your personal consultation at the AARE KLINIK now?
PS: Pre-surgical examinations and procedures are, of course, carried out in the presence of a female assistant if you wish so.
PD Dr. Oliver Scheufler, board certified plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon and author of this website, is pleased to be at your service for a personal consultation. Besides his main occupation at the AARE KLINIK, Dr. Scheufler is also scientifically active and lectures at the University of Basel. He also was a visiting professor at Duke University (USA). Please do not hesitate to contact him if you wish a professional consultation!