The Bigger the Bum, the Harder they Fall--The Pros and Cons of Buttocks Augmentation

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As 2010 drew to a close, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery came out with their predictions for 2011. Among them was the assertion that, “In the coming year patients will be seeking posterior body lifts, buttock lifts, and surgical and nonsurgical buttock augmentations to shape and augment their buttocks.”

A pretty safe bet it is. As the ASAPS noted, celebrities like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez have made a shapely rear end a “must-have accessory.” Leaving aside the interesting use of the term “accessory,” there’s no denying that rail thin is no longer “in” and curves are back. Does this mean you should consider cosmetic surgery to augment your posterior?

Only you can decide if buttocks augmentation—also called buttocks lift, posterior body lift and Brazilian butt lift—is right for you. If you feel your rear is rather flat, square or skimpy and it bothers you a great deal, there’s never been a better time to consult a cosmetic surgeon. Augmentation techniques are advancing rapidly, and the chances that you’ll be pleased with your results are better than ever.

But before you consider a buttocks augmentation procedure seriously, here are some points to ponder.

Today, fat transfer to the buttocks is the preferred method for augmentation. Many plastic surgeons no longer offer butt implants due to the possibility of displacement and, consequently, asymmetry. Not only that, the surgery tends to be painful and recovery quite uncomfortable. With that in mind, if you happen to be a woman with a spare frame and little fat available for harvesting, implants may be your only option.

Maybe that’s not the case for you. Let’s say you have saddlebags or a tummy pooch you would gladly sacrifice for a fuller, rounder rear. If so, you may be a great candidate for the procedure popularly known as the Brazilian Butt Lift, or augmentation using your own fat. As compelling as that may sound, be advised that fat transfer is still an inexact, unpredictable proposition. Not all the fat cells harvested and injected into your bum will survive their journey. It’s not uncommon for a patient to need a second, or even third procedure to achieve the fullness and symmetry they have in mind.

Let’s say you do opt for a Brazilian Butt Lift and choose a plastic surgeon experienced in harvesting fat and successfully transplanting it in the target area. Let’s also assume the fat grafts mostly survive, and you have the round, full cheeks you’ve been hoping for. Now, consider the lesson millions of breast augmentation patients have learned the hard way: voluptuous breasts on a young woman become saggy breasts on a mature woman. With the passing years, the one-two punch of lax skin and gravity pulls body parts southward—cheeks, eyelids, upper arms, thighs and—yes—breasts and buttocks. The full, round bum you see looking over your shoulder will inevitably droop with time. In other words, the bigger they come, the harder they fall.

Finally, consider that cultural tides will inevitably turn. It’s very likely that skinny will again be the ideal shape sometime in the not too distant future. Just in the past few generations we’ve seen the popular hourglass figures—aided with corsets and bustles—of our great-grandmothers’ day give way to the boyish physiques favored by the flappers of the 1920’s. Then, the sexy, curvy look of pin-up girls of the 40’s and 50’s was eventually eclipsed by the underfed, waif-like appearance of models and actresses of the psychedelic era.

The choice, of course, is yours. If you’re contemplating buttocks augmentation, consider these key questions:

Forget how a certain celebrity may look--will a generous rear fit your frame?
Will a butt that’s bigger than the one you have now age gracefully along with the rest of you?
When thin is once again “in,” will you still be content with your rear?

References:
http://www.surgery.org/media

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.