Having been the ubiquitous subject of many a song, photograph or leering gaze, the human behind has inspired fashion trends, influenced perceptions of the ideal human body, and jumpstarted the careers of celebrities for many generations. A well-formed, firm, smooth and curvaceous derriere is currently one of the key indicators of youth and beauty. Consequently, those who do not possess one naturally, or have lost it over time due to aging, disease or other factors, have turned to the realm of cosmetic surgery to achieve the look and feel of a butt in the prime of youth, or at least one that has been toned through exercise and healthy living. A relatively new procedure for plastic surgeons, the technique improves the contour of the bottom and lifts it substantially, resulting in a far improved look for the beach or a tight pair of jeans.

A buttocks lift operation may be performed as a solo procedure, or as part of a series of body lift treatments, and is normally conducted after the administering of general anesthesia to the patient. It can achieved in one of two methods: through the removal of excess skin and the tightening of skin above the buttocks, or through the use of fat injections or implants to add volume and shape, and to provide the buttocks with more projection and definition. The latter method is commonly referred to as the Brazilian butt lift. The choice of which technique to utilize depends on what sort of enhancement the patient requires. If sagging is the primary concern, the excess skin removal method would serve the patient better, as it basically pulls back up what gravity and age have dragged down. On the other hand, if the problem lies in enhancement of poorly defined, flat, sunken or uneven buttocks, injections and implants will have a more satisfactory effect.

Buttock lifts are not particularly common because of the large scars that the procedure tends to leave on the skin, which can interfere with one of the primary objectives of the butt lift – to look spectacular in a bikini bottom from the rear. For large butts that require reduction, sometimes liposuction will be recommended instead, to remove excess fat deposits, and if skin elasticity is normal, this should allow the buttocks to adjust to the fat loss, with the help of therapy and exercise.

If the surgery is required, but the sagging of the butt is not significant, the doctor may recommend a “butt wedge” excision, where tissue is removed from the butt crease. This process leaves behind a barely noticeable scar. The excess tissue is taken from the junction of the lower back and the butt. In conjunction with liposuction to the hips and thighs of the patient, the overall procedure will produce dramatic results.

Recovery from butt lift surgery could take up to two weeks, or even longer if your occupation requires you to sit down for extended periods of time. Some numbness and pain are anticipated, which can be treated with standard pain medication. During the recovery period, the patient is not allowed to sit down or otherwise apply pressure to the operated area, and should generally refrain from strenuous physical activity or exercise. A patient can engage in vigorous exercise within four to six weeks, as prescribed by the doctor. Swelling and bruising are expected in the treated location, and should vanish within three weeks, but some swelling may persist for six months up to a year. If you’ve elected to undergo this procedure, you will be able to appreciate the substantial improvements to your buttocks as the swelling subsides.