What is it and how is it done?
Buttock enhancement is the umbrella term for several methods that aim to change the volume and shape of the buttocks and their proportion to the rest of the body; it is also known as buttock augmentation. Which method is suitable depends on your build, the current shape of the buttocks, skin quality and how much fat can be harvested from the body.
The most common method is fat transfer to the buttocks, also known as the Brazilian butt lift (BBL). Fat removed by liposuction from the abdomen, waist, back or thighs is processed and injected into the buttocks; this slims the donor areas and adds volume to the buttocks with your own tissue. The fat is placed only in the fatty layer beneath the skin; it is not injected into or beneath the muscle. The reason is that large veins lie deep within the buttock muscle, and fat injected there can, rarely, enter these veins and travel to the lungs. This condition, called fat embolism, is uncommon but can be life-threatening. Safety recommendations from plastic surgery societies likewise advise keeping the fat in the layer beneath the skin.
Part of the injected fat is absorbed by the body in the first months. How much survives varies from person to person and cannot be predicted with certainty; more than one session may be needed to reach the desired volume. Fat that has taken responds to weight gain and loss like fat elsewhere in the body. To keep the transferred fat from being compressed, you do not sit directly on your buttocks or lie on your back for the first weeks.
For slim people without enough body fat, silicone buttock implants designed for this area may be an option. Unlike fat transfer, the implant is placed within the buttock muscle so that it is covered by enough tissue; the incision is usually in the crease between the buttocks. Recovery takes longer, and implants carry their own risks, such as infection and implant displacement. After major weight loss, if the problem is sagging skin rather than volume, a buttock lift, which removes excess skin along the upper edge of the buttocks, is considered.
The aim is proportions that suit your build and are in harmony with hip width, waistline and legs. Excessive volume increases skin tension and risk, and makes it harder for the fat to take. At his practice in Nişantaşı, Istanbul, Prof. Dr. İlker Yazıcı assesses the shape of the buttocks, skin quality and the areas from which fat can be harvested. Where appropriate, proportions are reviewed with 3D body imaging; a simulation is a tool for discussing the possible change, not an exact copy of the result. Operations take place in accredited partner hospitals.
What are the aims?
- To give the buttocks volume and fullness in proportion to your build.
- To create a rounder buttock shape and a more defined transition between the waist and hips.
- With fat transfer, to also slim the waist, abdomen and back where the fat is harvested.
- To create a tighter look by removing sagging buttock skin after weight loss.
- To reduce asymmetry or hollows between the two buttocks.
Who is it suitable for?
- People who want to change the volume or shape of their buttocks in proportion to their body.
- For fat transfer, those with enough fat in areas such as the abdomen, waist, back or thighs.
- Slim people without enough body fat who are considering implants.
- Those whose buttock skin has sagged after major weight loss.
- Those whose weight is stable and whose general health allows surgery.
- Those who can follow the sitting and sleeping restrictions during recovery.
- Those with realistic expectations who accept that more than one session may be needed.
When is it postponed or not recommended?
- For people without enough body fat, fat transfer may not achieve the desired volume; other options are discussed.
- Those who are still losing or gaining weight; surgery is postponed because the transferred fat would also be affected.
- Those with a previous deep vein thrombosis, a clotting disorder or uncontrolled chronic conditions; a detailed assessment is needed first.
- Those who want a very large volume out of proportion to their build; safety and healing risks increase.
- Those who cannot stop smoking; nicotine impairs fat survival and wound healing.
Alternatives
- Exercise
- Regular exercise that works the gluteal muscles can change the shape of the buttocks to some extent; it does not add significant volume.
- Liposuction alone
- Removing fat from the waist and back can make the buttocks look more prominent; it does not add volume to the buttocks.
- Filler injections in the buttocks
- Permanent fillers or liquid silicone injected into the buttocks are not recommended, as they can cause serious problems that are difficult to treat.
The process step by step
- 1
First contact
You can send photos taken from the front, side and back, together with your questions, by WhatsApp or e-mail, or call the practice. This information gives you a general idea of the options and helps plan the examination; the medical assessment and the decision take place at the examination in Nişantaşı.
- 2
Examination and planning
At the practice in Nişantaşı, Prof. Dr. İlker Yazıcı assesses buttock shape, skin quality and the areas from which fat can be harvested; where appropriate, proportions are reviewed with 3D imaging, and the method is decided together.
- 3
Preparation for surgery
Blood tests and an anaesthesia assessment are carried out. Smoking is stopped at least 4 weeks beforehand, your medications are adjusted with the doctor's approval, and a compression garment and sitting cushion are prepared.
- 4
Day of surgery
Surgery takes place under general anaesthesia in an accredited partner hospital. With fat transfer, the fat is placed only in the layer beneath the skin.
- 5
Early check-ups
You usually stay in hospital for one night. Dressings and wounds are checked during the first weeks, when you avoid sitting on your buttocks and lying on your back.
- 6
Long-term follow-up
Because fat survival and the settling of volume take months, the result is usually assessed at 3 and 6 months; any additional session is discussed at this stage.
Recovery timeline
Days 1–3
The donor areas and buttocks are swollen, bruised and tender. You lie on your front or side and do not sit on your buttocks. Short walks start straight away.
Weeks 1–2
The compression garment is worn at all times over the donor areas. You spend the day standing, walking or lying down; desk work that allows the sitting restrictions to be followed can resume towards the end of this period.
Weeks 3–6
With the surgeon's approval, you start sitting for short periods on a cushion placed under the thighs. Strenuous exercise and activities that put pressure on the buttocks are still not advised.
Weeks 6–8
After a check-up, normal sitting and exercise are resumed gradually. If buttock implants were placed, the restrictions may last longer.
Month 3
Swelling decreases considerably, and how much fat has been absorbed and how much volume remains starts to become clear.
Month 6 onwards
Buttock volume and shape usually settle during this period; an additional session, if needed, is planned at this stage.
Risks and possible complications
Every surgical procedure carries risks. Your personal risk is assessed in detail at the consultation.
- Fat embolism: a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can occur if fat injected into or beneath the muscle enters the large veins; this is why fat is placed only in the layer beneath the skin.
- Blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and clots that travel to the lungs; early walking, compression and, where needed, medication are used to prevent them.
- More fat being absorbed than expected, with loss of volume; an additional session may be needed.
- Fat that does not survive hardening into palpable lumps or oil cysts (fat necrosis).
- Asymmetry between the buttocks; rippling or contour irregularities in the donor areas.
- Fluid collection (seroma), blood collection (haematoma) and infection.
- Risks specific to buttock implants: infection, wound separation, implant displacement or palpable edges, capsular contracture and, if necessary, implant removal.
- With a buttock lift, thickened or widened scars and delayed wound healing.
- Numbness or altered sensation, usually temporary. With implants, leg pain caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve can rarely occur.
What determines the cost?
The fee for buttock enhancement depends on the method chosen. For fat transfer, the number of donor areas and the length of surgery are the main factors; for buttock implants, the implants themselves; and for a buttock lift, the amount of skin removed. Anaesthesia time, the number of nights in hospital and post-operative items such as the compression garment and sitting cushion also affect the fee.
Because fat survival varies from person to person, a second fat transfer session may be needed; this is a separate operation and is planned separately. For this reason, the fee is not set without an examination. After the consultation with Prof. Dr. İlker Yazıcı, you receive a written quote that itemises the planned procedures and states what is included.
If you are coming to Istanbul
Patients coming from abroad are usually advised to plan on staying in Istanbul for 5–7 days after fat transfer to the buttocks, or 7–10 days after buttock implants, during which the first check-ups take place; because you should not sit directly on your buttocks on the journey home, how to travel is discussed with the surgeon in advance. The practice is authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health for international health tourism (certificate no. ST-2365); help with accommodation near the clinic and airport transfer can be arranged through authorised partners. Back home, you stay in touch with the practice by sending photos and messages; if something needs to be examined, a check-up in Istanbul or a visit to a local doctor is arranged. Return visits are usually advised at 3 and 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Is buttock enhancement painful?
Buttock enhancement is performed under general anaesthesia, so you feel no pain during the procedure. After fat transfer to the buttocks, most of the discomfort is felt in the donor areas such as the abdomen, waist and back, which become bruised and tender. With buttock implants, pain is more pronounced and lasts longer because of tension in the buttock muscle. For most patients the discomfort is controlled with pain relief and usually eases within the first two weeks.
Is a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) safe?
Like any operation, a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) carries risks. The most serious is fat embolism, in which fat injected deep into the buttock muscle enters the large veins and travels to the lungs; it is rare but can be life-threatening. For this reason, the fat is placed only in the fatty layer beneath the skin and is not injected into or beneath the muscle. Careful patient selection, a reasonable volume goal and performing the operation in an accredited hospital also help to reduce the risk.
When can I sit down and go back to work after buttock enhancement?
After fat transfer to the buttocks, you usually avoid sitting directly on your buttocks and lying on your back for the first 2–3 weeks so that the transferred fat is not compressed. After that, you sit for short periods on a cushion placed under your thighs for a while. Returning to desk work is possible within 1–3 weeks if you can work standing up or follow these restrictions. With buttock implants, sitting restrictions last longer; the exact timing is set at check-ups.
Is fat transferred to the buttocks permanent, and how many sessions are needed?
Part of the fat transferred to the buttocks is absorbed in the first months, while the fat that survives behaves like permanent tissue. How much survives varies from person to person and cannot be predicted with certainty, so more than one session may be needed to reach the desired volume; a second session is usually planned a few months later, once the result has settled. Because surviving fat changes with weight, a stable weight is important. The result usually becomes clear around month 6.
Buttock implants or fat transfer: which is more suitable?
The choice between buttock implants and fat transfer depends largely on how much body fat you have. For people with enough fat, fat transfer slims the donor areas and adds volume to the buttocks with their own tissue. For slim people with little fat to harvest, silicone buttock implants may be an option, although recovery takes longer and implants carry their own risks. The decision is made at the examination based on your build and health.
Does buttock enhancement leave scars?
Scarring after buttock enhancement depends on the method. Fat transfer uses only small incisions a few millimetres long for liposuction and injection; these become faint over time but may not disappear completely. With buttock implants, the scar lies in the crease between the buttocks and is barely visible. A buttock lift after weight loss leaves a long scar along the upper edge of the buttocks, often extending around the waist.
Can buttock enhancement be combined with a tummy tuck or liposuction?
Fat transfer to the buttocks already involves liposuction, since fat taken from the abdomen, waist and back is placed in the buttocks. Buttock enhancement in the same session as a tummy tuck is possible for some people, but total operating time increases and the positioning rules for recovering from the two operations can conflict. For extensive plans, a staged approach may therefore be advised; the decision is made at the examination based on your health.
Do smoking and my medications affect buttock enhancement?
Smoking and other nicotine products reduce blood flow; in buttock enhancement they make it harder for the transferred fat to survive and increase wound-healing problems. For this reason, no nicotine should be used for at least 4 weeks before surgery and throughout recovery. Blood thinners, some herbal supplements and hormone-containing medications can affect bleeding or clotting risk. The doctor decides which medication to stop and when; do not stop your medications on your own.
What does the cost of buttock enhancement depend on?
The cost of buttock enhancement depends on the method chosen: for fat transfer, the number of donor areas and the length of surgery; for buttock implants, the implants themselves; and for a buttock lift, the amount of skin removed. Anaesthesia, the number of nights in hospital and items such as the compression garment and sitting cushion are also taken into account. A second session, if needed, is planned separately. After the examination, you receive a written quote that itemises the planned procedures and states what is included.
I am coming from abroad. How many days should I stay in Istanbul for buttock enhancement?
Patients coming from abroad are usually advised to plan on staying in Istanbul for 5–7 days after fat transfer to the buttocks, or 7–10 days after buttock implants. The first check-ups take place during this time. Because you should not sit directly on your buttocks on the journey home, how to travel is discussed with the surgeon in advance. Return visits are usually advised at 3 and 6 months to assess fat survival and the result; in between, you stay in touch with the practice by sending photos and messages.
Last updated: · Responsible for content: Prof. Dr. İlker Yazıcı · info@ilkeryazici.com