The cultural obsession over butts is perhaps greater than it has ever been. Everyone is dying to have the perfect butt, with models, musicians, and other celebrities sporting their amazing derrières. But achieving the perfect balance of “thicc” and firmness isn’t as easy as hitting the gym. For some of us, we may need help with a butt lift.
While many people may be afraid of the traditional butt lift because of the surgical implications, there are now non-surgical butt lift options with Sculptra that drastically improve a butt’s appearance without the need for surgery.
In this article we will discuss the different types of butt lifts to help you discover the perfect butt lift procedure for you and your needs.
What Causes Sagging Butts?
Sagging butts is primarily a result of the weakening of the gluteus maximus, the major muscle in the buttocks area (the butt and thighs). Like all muscles, the gluteus maximus can become stronger or weaker, depending on the level of attention given to it.
As the muscle strengthens, so does the appearance of the buttocks area improve, becoming tighter, firmer, and more voluminous. Certain causes of the gluteus maximus becoming weaker include:
- Aging. We lose 5% of our muscle mass every ten years over the age of 35, meaning it becomes more difficult to maintain the same muscle levels as we age.
- Lack of exercise. A lack of exercise leads to the accumulation of body fat throughout the body, including the gluteal muscles.
- Sitting down. Sitting down too much in a sedentary lifestyle leads to fat cells specifically accumulating in the behind.
- The skin becoming looser due to age
- Sun damage causing damage to the appearance of the skin
- Weight fluctuations throughout life, leading to excess skin
- Poor skin elasticity due to genetic factors
Thankfully, the butt lift procedure can drastically improve sagging butts.
What Is a Butt Lift?
A butt lift or a buttock lift is a surgical cosmetic procedure that focuses on the general appearance, size, and shape of the butt. This procedure is sometimes included in a complete lower body lift or a tummy tuck, or procedures that focus on improving the appearance of the abdomen, thighs, groin, and buttocks.
According to various studies, patients can safely undergo butt lifts or buttock augmentation treatments when combined with other treatments to achieve a more complete look (source).
Also known as a gluteal augmentation procedure, butt lifts have risen drastically in popularity, with an increase of 252% butt lift procedures from 2000 to 2015, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (source).
Understanding the Different Kinds of Butt Lifts
There are various approaches towards achieving an improved look for the butt. These different butt lift procedures include:
Fat Transfer
Fat transfer, commonly known as the Brazilian butt lift, was the most popular butt lift procedure for some time, however, it has recently fallen into hot water due its dangerous and unpredictable results (source).
The Brazilian butt lift involves a basic fat grafting procedure. Your doctor will take fat from a certain part of the body – generally the thighs, flanks, or abdomen – and graft (inject) it into the butt area.
This adds volume and shape to the butt, giving it a lifted appearance. In some cases, silicone implants are paired with the fat transfer procedure to create a more natural appearance.
Gluteal Implants (Silicone Implants)
For patients who want less invasive surgical procedures that involve no fat grafting or liposuction, silicone implants can be an effective standalone butt lift procedure. Through an incision at the side of the butt cheeks, doctors place silicone implants into the patient’s butt.
The most prominent result of a silicone implant is volume, which fat transfer procedures can have difficulty affecting. When done by trusted professionals, silicone implants are safe procedures for butt augmentation.
Sculptra Butt Lift
The Sculptra butt lift is the only butt lift that involves no surgical procedure. This means little to no downtime and recovery, little to no pain, and maximum safety throughout the non-surgical procedure.
Sometimes referred to as a non-surgical gluteal augmentation the Sculptra butt lift involves the injection of a filler known as Sculptra Aesthetic into the butt. Sculptra adds volume to the butt and rejuvenates the skin, while engaging with the body’s natural collagen production systems to create greater levels of collagen, improving the butt’s general volume.
| Procedure | Fat Transfer | Gluteal Implants | Sculptra Butt Lift |
| Procedure Type | Surgical procedure, cutting into a fat source, sucking the fat out, and injecting into the buttocks | Surgical procedure, cutting into the side of the butt cheeks to insert the gluteal implants or silicone implants | Non-surgical procedure, involving a simple injection of the Sculptra Aesthetic dermal filler into the butt |
| Procedure Duration | 2-3 hours or more | Up to 1 hour | 30 minutes |
| Recovery Time | 3-4 weeks | 4-6 weeks | No recovery time |
| Safety | Criticized as a dangerous procedure | Minor risk of complications | Almost no risk of complications |
| Is There Scarring? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Lifetime of Results | 10 years | Permanent | 2-3 years |
| Type of Results | Immediate results | Immediate results | Results that gradually improve over the next 2-3 months |
Choosing the Right Butt Lift Procedure for You: Pros and Cons of Each Butt Lift Procedure
The Procedure
| Fat Transfer | Gluteal Implants | Sculptra Butt Lift |
| The fat transfer procedure is an invasive, surgical procedure that involves fat grafting or fat transfer to improve the appearance, shape, and firmness of the butt. Fat is grafted from other areas of the body – removed with liposuction – prepared and reintroduced into the body through injection in the butt. | Gluteal implant is an invasive, surgical butt lift procedure that involves creating an incision in the side of the butt cheeks and carefully inserting silicone implants directly underneath the butt cheek skin. This dramatically increases the volume and improves the shape of the butt. | The Sculptra butt lift procedure in the only non-invasive option, allowing patients the opportunity to improve the appearance of their butt without going under the knife. This procedure involves an injection of the Sculptra Aesthetic filler into the buttocks, which boosts the body’s collagen production. |
Pros and Cons
| Procedure | PROS | CONS |
| Fat Transfer | – Immediate results – Natural look and feel to the buttocks area – Less body fat in fat source due to liposuction | – Only works with patients who have fat in other areas of the body – Possible infection risk – Fat embolism, in which the procedure is botched and the fat enters the bloodstream – Fat necrosis, in which the fat dies before it is injected, becoming lumpy in the body |
| Gluteal Implants | – Immediate results – Permanent results, due to the silicone implants lasting forever – Minimal risk of complications, with silicone being the ideal material for implants | – Inconveniently long downtime which some patients may not be able to do – Risk of negative immune system response, with the body tightening the scar tissue – High infection possibility – Less natural feel – Bigger implants lead to greater risks |
| Sculptra Butt Lift | – Results that gradually improve as the body’s collagen production increases – The skin becomes tighter, smoother, and generally more pleasant – Natural and subtle results No surgical procedure at all, meaning no downtime or risk of complications | – Slight infection risk if done by inexperienced doctors – Slight risk for bumps, as Sculptra has difficulty dissolving into the body |
Why More Patients Are Choosing Non-Surgical Butt Lifts
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there has been a steady rise of fillers for plumping and volumizing the buttocks over the last few years (source). Many patients are turning to non-surgical butt lifts for its most obvious benefit: the ability to benefit from a butt lift procedure without going under the knife in surgical and invasive treatment.
With a dermal filler (also known as an injectable), patients can experience subtle but gradually improving results with little to no pain, recovery concerns, and downtime. Dermal fillers have gained popularity in recent years in other parts of the body, most commonly in the lips and the face.
Fillers injected in the butt help to improve the size and shape of the butt by contouring and lifting it without creating an incision that may lead to permanent scars. If a patient is unwilling to undergo surgical or invasive treatment for whatever reason, then non-surgical gluteal augmentation with the use of a filler injection is the ideal treatment for them.
Brazilian butt lifts have also lost popularity in recent years due to issues caused by inexperienced doctors performing the procedure, leading to fatal results in one in every 3000 procedures.
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Why Are Brazilian Butt Lifts Dangerous?
The surgical Brazilian butt lift has been named the most dangerous cosmetic surgery, causing many patients to actively avoid this treatment (source). This rise in botched cases is caused by patients traveling to less experienced clinics in countries such as Turkey and Colombia, where patients can pay around half the cost for the surgery.
A badly performed Brazilian butt lift comes from a failure of injecting the grafted fat into the right place in the butt. Inexperienced doctors may possibly inject the fat into the butt’s surrounding large veins.
The fat enters the bloodstream, leading to fat embolism. The fat can then travel to vital parts of the body (including the brain and the heart), leading to serious issues including death.
Aside from death and severe illness, other possible complications include:
- Tissue death
- Abscesses
- Bacterial infection
- Wound ruptures
- Severe scarring
Why is Sculptra the Best Filler for Non-Surgical Butt Lifts?
Sculptra is the chosen dermal filler for non-surgical butt lifts due to its unique formula that makes it different from most fillers on the market. Unlike most fillers, Sculptra is made up of poly-L-lactic acid.
Most dermal fillers are hyaluronic acid fillers, which increase the volume underneath the skin by pumping product into the area. Sculptra’s formula triggers a safe yet reactive response in the body’s immune system. This response leads to the rapid production of new collagen and scar tissue in the body, leading to a natural increase of volume in the butt.
The reason for this difference in formula is due to the size of the area to be treated. Most dermal fillers are injected into the face, filling in thin lips, wrinkles in the foreheads, and any other areas where the skin has become thin and less plump. This means that the treated area is generally small, so the fillers (made of hyaluronic acid) can fill in the entire area on their own.
Read more: Lip Fillers and Your Smile: The Good and the Bad
However, the buttocks area is much larger, requiring more overall volumizing for any noticeable results. A filler can’t be expected to fill in this much larger area on its own, which is why Sculptra uses the body’s own natural systems to help with its results.
Is a Butt Lift Right for Me?
There are many reasons why you might want a butt lift or butt augmentation. These include:
- Aging: The most common reason why patients undergo a butt lift, aging can loosen the skin, make it more difficult to maintain strong gluteal muscles, and lead to an overall sagginess of the behind
- Pregnancy: Droopy butt is a common consequence of pregnancy, due to less reliance on the hamstring muscles as the pelvis moves forward
- Genetic Conditions: Some people are naturally predisposed towards developing sagging butts due to their genetic makeup, resulting in less tissue elasticity than average
- Sun Damage: Wrinkles, sagging, and brown spots are common side effects of sun damage on the butt
- Weight Fluctuations: While losing weight is hardly ever a bad thing, it can cause a negative side effect to your butt. If you were obese or overweight and lost a significant amount of weight, you may have excess skin in the butt area that is now drooping or sagging
Should I Choose a Sculptra Butt Lift?
If you believe that a butt lift procedure is a right option for you, then you now need to consider the type of butt lift you want. Ask yourself the following questions to understand if the Sculptra butt lift is the right procedure for you:
- Do you want to avoid long recovery times, going under the knife (surgery), scarring in the buttocks area, general anesthesia, and other possible complications from surgery?
- Do you not have enough body fat for a traditional fat transfer or Brazilian butt lift?
- Do you want to experience long-term results in your butt, but not something that will last forever?
- Do you want to get a firmer, tighter, and more attractive butt?
- Do you want to improve the look of your skin by erasing stretch marks, cellulite, and improving texture?
- Do you want realistic, natural-looking subtle results?
- Do you want to make sure that you stay safe and healthy while achieving great results?
The best patients for the Sculptra butt lift procedure are those who are not looking for immediate, drastic results and aim to improve their body’s overall appearance with exercise, healthy diet, and proper care. If your butt just needs a subtle touchup or a bit of help to get that perfect shape, then a Sculptra butt lift procedure might be exactly what you need.
The Sculptra Procedure
Before the Procedure (Consultation)
To ensure absolute safety in any cosmetic or medical treatment you may undergo, it is important to choose the right clinic and doctor to trust. To assess your Sculptra doctor, ask them the following questions:
- What makes me a good candidate for Sculptra butt lifts?
- Why should I choose a non-invasive butt lift?
- Are there any risks of the Sculptra butt lift? If so, what are they?
- How many sessions will I need for optimal results?
- Do you offer any additional treatments to get the most out of my treatment?
- What are your qualifications, your history, and any case studies you may have?
- What is your procedure process and post-procedure process?
Overall, your consultation should be a thorough and informative discussion regarding your goals and expectations, the doctor’s expertise and qualifications, and everything else you may want to know about Sculptra.
During the Procedure
The Sculptra butt lift procedure may vary from clinic to clinic, but in general, it should go as follows:
- The doctor will begin the procedure by asking the patient to lay down or stand up while they mark the specific sites of injection on the buttocks.
- The area is numbed with a topical agent.
- A cannula (a blunt-tipped injection device) is used to inject the Sculptra filler into the butt.
- The Sculptra is injected in various areas around the buttocks, with a minimum of 5 vials of Sculptra per butt cheek.
After the Procedure (Results and Possible Risks)
It will take roughly three weeks for the Sculptra to begin stimulating the body’s collagen-production system. Patients who are looking for maximum effects will require one or two more sessions; full results will be noticeable about six months after the first session.
There is little aftercare involved after a Sculptra butt lift. Patients may feel some bruising, soreness, and redness in the injection sites; this is normal and should disappear after a few days. While the risk of complications is extremely low, there are some cases where complications do arise.
Possible complications include:
- Bumps: In very rare cases, a patient may experience bumps in their butt due to the Sculptra. These bumps will last for the entire duration of the Sculptra’s effects.
- Infection: There is always a risk of infection when dealing with needles, but this can be mitigated by only going to trusted professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sculptra Butt Lifts
Does the procedure hurt? – A topical agent is applied to the butt prior to the injection to numb it, ensuring that the patient feels little to no pain during the procedure. You will feel the injection going into your butt, but there should be very little or no painful sensation.
How long does the procedure take? – The Sculptra butt lift procedure is fairly simple, but it still requires several injections distributed evenly around the buttocks. Overall, the procedure can last 30 minutes to 1 hour.
How much Sculptra is used during the procedure? – This depends on the expectations of the patient as well as shape and size of their buttocks area. Generally, doctors will apply at least 5 vials of Sculptra to each butt cheek.
When will I see results? – Unlike surgical and invasive butt lift procedures, Sculptra butt lifts require time before noticeable results can be seen. This is because the body needs enough time to produce the fresh collagen stimulated by the injections. Generally, patients can see their first changes about 3 weeks after the procedure. The full results can be noticed a few months after the first procedure, or 2-3 weeks after the third treatment of Sculptra.
How long will results last? – Results from the Sculptra butt lift will last anywhere from 2-3 years. This is how long it takes for the filler to dissolve into the body and stop stimulating collagen production in the body.
Why are results not permanent? – Unlike silicone implants or fat transfers, Sculptra butt lifts involve filler injections which slowly dissolve into the body. While results from a single series of treatments will never be permanent, patients seeking long-term solutions can return for another treatment every year to maintain the results.
How much does Sculptra cost? – Sculptra vials cost anywhere from $850 to $1200 each on average. Each session will require at least 5 vials for each butt cheek.
Should I avoid any activity after the procedure? – While Sculptra is noninvasive and demands no recovery time or downtime, it is still recommended that patients avoid any vigorous activities such as exercise for 1-2 days after every session. This is to ensure that the Sculptra product stays in the general injection site.
Ethos Spa: Your Home for Sculptra Butt Lifts
More patients than ever before are opting for butt lifts thanks to the non-invasive and non-surgical approach of the Sculptra butt augmentation procedure. At Ethos Aesthetics + Wellness, we have perfected the art of injecting dermal fillers like Sculptra over the years, having assisted countless patients with their Sculptra butt lift procedures and more.
Contact us today and inquire about our Sculptra butt lift procedure, and find out exactly why we are the home for Sculptra butt lifts in New Jersey. With professionals you can trust and a history of thousands of successful procedures, there is no better option than Ethos Spa.
