Buttock reduction - Buttock lift

The body proportions can subjectively be experienced as disproportional, with or without reasonable objective reasons. A patient's wish for contouring is reasonable enough for surgical correction, as long as there are no medical or other contraindications. The buttocks can be big, small, flat, wide and tensionless.

With aging decreased elasticity and tension of both connective tissue and muscles displaces the buttocks downwards due to the gravity. This flattens the gluteal projection and fills at the conjunction thighs buttocks.

Principle: If the goal is a reduction of the buttocks, skin, subcutaneous fat and sometimes the bigger gluteal muscle have to be reduced. If the tissues are displaced it has to be reposed to its original location as close as possible. Sometimes liposuction alone can do a reshape as long as the skin is retractable.

All wounds and scars in the buttock area are sustained to traction forces because the buttocks take part in all movements of the body, more or less. New scars have decreased strength than normal skin and scars sustained to traction and pull during the maturation phase, are prone to expand and widen and will then be visible. The only site in this region that is relatively immobile is the anal furrow.

Technique: Through a 5 - 6 cm long incision in the anal furrow the middle part of the bigger gluteal muscle on each side can be freed. The muscle is divided and the lower part can be lifted up on the upper part and be fixated in this position. This gives a corresponding lifting and augmentation of the upper part of the buttock. If a more significant lift and reduction is wanted, the skin has to be removed too. The scars will then be as long as the buttocks are wide. The incisions will run in a bow fashion in the gluteal fold out to the thighs or from the anal furrow up and out on the buttock in the upper part or obliquely over the middle of the buttock. These scars will always be visible but protected by the slips.

Anaesthesia: This operation is suitable to be performed in conscious sedation and local tumescent infiltration. General anaesthesia is of course also possible.

Operating time: 2 - 3 hours.

What happens afterwards?

	The operational site is located in a region under constant mobility when being upright or lying. The wound/scar is prone to tension and some discomfort is to be expected, although heavy pains are rare.
	The operational site is located in a surgically dirty region. The risk for infection is greater and antibiotics are prescribed.
	The stitches are removed on two occasions. The first around 8 - 10th day and the second around the 14th day.
	Avoid physical activities during the first 5 -6 weeks. The wounds should be spared. Car driving is disadvantageous during the first 2 - 3 weeks.
	The operational site should be immobilized as much as possible. Avoid to sit directly on the wounds/scars.