The buttocks are an area of our body that is highly valued when it comes to beauty and body harmony. That's why it has been studied and today there are different techniques that allow both women and men to take advantage of this latest trend in plastic surgery.

Dr Rui Lima, a renowned plastic surgeon from Up Clinic, who spoke to The Portugal News at the HPA Health Alvor Hospital - where the surgeries are also carried out in the Algarve - said that these techniques are very common, not least because they are usually associated with other surgeries.

Making the most of fat

Buttock augmentation is usually associated with other surgeries to remove fat from other areas of the body. This is because when the patient undergoes a surgical procedure to remove excess fat from the belly, for example, it is possible to use this fat to fill out the buttocks, making the overall result much more satisfactory.

According to Dr. Rui Lima, gluteal augmentation will further enhance the results of surgeries such as lipoabdominoplasty. "As the person is having a lipoabdominoplasty, the fat removed from the abdomen, flanks and back can be reused." In fact, 9 out of 10 Brazilian butt lifts are performed in combination with other surgeries.

Brazilian butt lift

"Gluteal augmentation is the gold standard treatment because it is the most widely used and has the best results. Known as Brazilian Butt Lift, it's a treatment in which fat is removed from the areas around the buttocks, namely the flanks, the outside of the thighs or the inside of the thighs or the abdomen, and then this fat is used to fill out the buttocks, filling in the areas where there is less volume", he said.

According to the doctor, the main aim of this approach is often not only to increase volume but also to obtain a better shape, which becomes much more elegant. "Then it depends on the patient herself in terms of volume. When we treat with fat, the volumes depend from person to person. Normally, per buttock, we can place 250 to 500c3 of fat, but it depends on the patient," he added.

It's important to note that of these 250c3 to 500c3 per buttock, not all the fat will survive. Even with the best techniques, guaranteeing maximum preservation, only 50 to 60 percent of this fat will survive, the remaining fat will be reabsorbed by the skin, which means that even with the introduction of 250c per buttock, the final result, visible three months later, could be half that amount.

What if I don't have enough fat?

Although fat is the best filler for the buttocks, there are also alternative forms when the patient doesn't have enough fat: prostheses and hyaluronic acid.

According to the doctor, buttock augmentation with prostheses is only performed on people who have no fat, as the risk of complications is higher compared to filling with fat. The advantage of using implants is that they allow for a higher projection of the buttocks.

Regarding the techniques used, "when implants are placed, the primary technique, which I prefer to guarantee a more natural result without complications, is to place the implant inside the gluteus muscle, because if it's on the surface it's very noticeable and if it's deep down there's always the risk of affecting important tissues”.

If they are done well, “they are quite durable and look great, but once again, they have a higher complication rate”, Dr. Rui Lima pointed out.

In some cases, it's possible to combine the two approaches: using fat and implants. This is done when patients have little fat, but there is still some, "We still need the implant, but this time combined with fat. The result is even more natural”. Using fat always makes the end result more natural, which is usually what patients are looking for.

Hyaluronic acid

In certain exceptions, you can also have a treatment with hyaluronic acid, "but I reserve that for small adjustments, not for a full augmentation with hyaluronic acid, because the result isn't as good. That's why it's used to complement other techniques. If you do a buttock augmentation with hyaluronic acid alone, the result is not comparable to a buttock augmentation with fat."

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

As with the face, there are many people who prefer to avoid surgery and try something less invasive. However, the doctor says that a Brazilian butt lift is much better, because although it is surgery, the long-term result isn't even comparable.

Recovery

The Brazilian Butt Lift itself has an almost painless recovery, but it will always depend on the procedure that is carried out, which is usually done under general anesthesia for the patient's comfort and safety.

Usually, after two weeks, the person can resume normal life. "When I say two weeks, it's not two weeks in bed. It's two weeks of recovery in which the patient is advised to move accordingly."

All in all, the results are fantastic and, if you want to know more, the clinic team will be happy to give you all the information you need before you start.

For more information, please visit Up Clinic’s website at https://upclinic.pt/plastic-surgery/body/brazillian-butt-lift/?lang=en-lift/?lang=enor contact them on +351 925 227 377 (chamada para rede móvel nacional) or +351 213 150 201 (chamada para rede fixa nacional).

Author

Paula Martins is a fully qualified journalist, who finds writing a means of self-expression. She studied Journalism and Communication at University of Coimbra and recently Law in the Algarve. Press card: 8252

Paula Martins