For patients who want a fuller, rounder, more lifted buttock — and who either lack enough donor fat for a Brazilian Butt Lift, or want a more dramatic and consistent projection than fat transfer alone can deliver — cohesive silicone gel buttock implants offer the most reliable path to the shape they are after. Unlike fat transfer, where a percentage of the transferred fat is reabsorbed during healing and the final volume depends on how well the fat integrates, implant-based augmentation delivers a predictable, pre-determined volume that stays put. For the right candidate, it is the procedure that produces the well-rounded, lifted contour that genetics may not have provided.

Dr. John Anastasatos performs buttock augmentation with implants at his Beverly Hills practice with the reconstructive training this implant-based operation requires. Dr. Anastasatos served as Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham — senior-level training covering the full reconstructive and aesthetic spectrum, including the implant-based augmentation techniques central to this procedure. He has also delivered plenary lectures at the Pan-Hellenic Congress of Plastic Surgery on body contouring. Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World.

Buttock Augmentation with Silicone Implants

Implant-based buttock augmentation is one of the most reliable ways to enlarge buttock size, create a defined shape, and achieve meaningful lift and projection in a single operation. The procedure is performed through a small seven-to-eight-centimeter incision placed discreetly within the natural buttock crease — a location that heals well and stays hidden. Even in G-string or thong swimwear, the incision is not visible after healing. Both sides of the buttock augmentation are completed through this single central incision, which means no lateral scars on the buttocks themselves.

The implants used are cohesive silicone gel, engineered specifically for the gluteal region. Their consistency and texture are firmer than the silicone implants used in breast augmentation — a critical difference, because buttock implants need to hold their shape under the pressure, movement, and weight-bearing demands that the gluteal region experiences with every step and every seat. Breast implants would not survive this environment; buttock implants are built for it.

Implants can be placed either within the gluteus maximus muscle (intramuscular placement) or above the muscle (subfascial placement). Each location has specific advantages, and placement is discussed individually with each patient during consultation based on anatomy, desired projection, activity level, and long-term goals. The surgery typically takes about one hour.

“Butt implants are the right procedure for a specific patient profile: someone who wants dramatic, predictable projection and either doesn’t have enough donor fat for a Brazilian Butt Lift or wants a more consistent long-term result than fat transfer can guarantee. The consultation is where we figure out whether implants are the right answer — and if they are, whether intramuscular or subfascial placement suits the patient’s specific anatomy and lifestyle.” — Dr. John Anastasatos

Other Buttock Enhancements

If silicone gel implants are not the right choice for your goals, Dr. Anastasatos offers several other buttock enhancement options that may be more appropriate for your specific anatomy and objectives:

• Brazilian Butt Lift (Fat Transfer): Buttocks are augmented using fat harvested from liposuction performed on other body areas — the abdomen, flanks, or thighs — and the processed fat is carefully transferred to build projection and shape. Learn more about Brazilian Butt Lift.
• Filler Injections: Hyaluronic acid or other injectable fillers can be used for temporary buttock enhancement without surgery. Results typically last eighteen to twenty-four months, making fillers a reasonable option for patients wanting to preview a surgical result or for those seeking subtle, temporary enhancement.
• Surgical Buttock Lift: For patients whose primary concern is skin laxity rather than volume — the classic “saggy butt” after weight loss or aging — a surgical lift elevates and reshapes the tissue. The trade-off is a visible scar in the upper buttock region.
• Non-Surgical Buttock Lift: For a narrow group of appropriate candidates, suspension sutures can produce modest lift with minimal scarring — though this technique is not suitable for every anatomy.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Butt Implants

Butt implants are ideal for patients whose anatomy and goals specifically call for what implant augmentation delivers. Common candidates include:

• Limited Donor Fat: Patients who are thin or fit without sufficient fat reserves for a Brazilian Butt Lift to produce meaningful projection.
• Desire for Dramatic Projection: Patients seeking more pronounced augmentation than fat transfer alone can reliably achieve.
• Predictable Volume Goals: Patients who want a specific, pre-determined volume result rather than the partial-resorption variability of fat transfer.
• Prior BBL With Inadequate Results: Patients who have had fat transfer and want additional projection beyond what another fat transfer could deliver.
• Realistic Expectations About Trade-Offs: Understanding that implant-based augmentation involves a discrete scar in the buttock crease and the known infection risk associated with this procedure.
• Good Overall Health: General medical health sufficient to support the operation and its recovery.
• Non-Smokers: Non-smokers heal better, with lower complication rates.

Implant vs. Fat Transfer: Making the Right Choice

For patients uncertain which approach is right for them, the key distinctions matter.

Implants Are Better When

Donor fat is limited, desired projection is dramatic, predictable pre-determined volume is the priority, or the patient wants the most consistent long-term result regardless of weight fluctuation.

Fat Transfer Is Better When

Adequate donor fat is available, waist/flank/thigh contouring is also desired as part of the transformation, a more natural-feeling softer result is preferred, or the patient wants to avoid the discrete scar location that implant surgery requires.

Dr. Anastasatos evaluates each patient’s specific anatomy, donor fat availability, projection goals, and lifestyle during consultation to recommend the approach — or combination of approaches — that will produce the best result.

What to Expect From Recovery

Buttock implant recovery is typically more involved than Brazilian Butt Lift recovery because of the nature of implant surgery. The most pronounced discomfort is experienced during the first week post-operatively, with gradual improvement over the following weeks.

Patients sleep on the stomach or side and avoid direct pressure on the buttocks for approximately three to four weeks to allow the implant pockets to heal properly. A compression garment is worn to support the healing tissue. Return to desk-based work is typically within ten to fourteen days. Strenuous exercise and high-impact activity are restricted for approximately six to eight weeks. Normal sexual activity typically resumes after four to six weeks. Final refinement of the shape emerges over three to six months as residual swelling resolves and the implants settle into their permanent position.

Because of the infection rate associated with this procedure (approximately twenty percent per the medical literature), post-operative protocols including specific hygiene instructions, antibiotics, and close follow-up are essential and are outlined in detail during consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Butt Implants

How long do buttock implants last?

Cohesive silicone gel implants are designed for long-term use and do not have a fixed expiration date. Many patients keep their implants indefinitely. Replacement is typically only considered if a complication arises or the patient later chooses a change. This is different from some other implant categories where regular replacement is expected.

What happens if I gain or lose weight after butt implants?

The implants themselves do not change with weight fluctuation. The surrounding soft tissue can, however — meaning significant weight gain or loss can affect the overall proportions and appearance of the augmented area. Maintaining a stable weight optimizes the long-term aesthetic result.

Will the scar be visible?

The seven-to-eight-centimeter incision is placed within the natural buttock crease, where it is well-concealed. Even in thong or G-string swimwear, the scar is not visible after healing. The scar fades over time into a fine line within the existing natural crease.

How is buttock augmentation different from the Brazilian Butt Lift?

The Brazilian Butt Lift uses fat harvested from other body areas and transferred to the buttocks. Implant augmentation uses silicone gel implants instead of fat. BBL delivers contouring of the entire figure simultaneously (because fat must be harvested from somewhere) but has variable final volume based on fat survival. Implants deliver predictable, pre-determined projection but address only the buttock area. Each suits different patients.

Can buttock implants be combined with fat transfer?

Yes. A hybrid approach using both implants for base projection AND fat transfer for blending and contouring can produce the best result in certain patients. Dr. Anastasatos discusses combined approaches during consultation when the anatomy suggests they would produce a superior outcome.

What is the most important factor for success?

Patient selection and surgical technique, combined with strict adherence to post-operative protocols given the known infection risk. Dr. Anastasatos’s consultation process screens carefully for appropriate candidates and his operative and post-operative protocols reflect the additional care this procedure requires.

Why Choose Dr. Anastasatos for Butt Implants

• UAB Plastic Surgery Chief Resident: Senior-level training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham covering the full reconstructive and aesthetic spectrum — including the implant-based augmentation techniques central to this procedure.
• Pan-Hellenic Congress Lecturer on Body Contouring: Plenary lectures on body contouring at the highest academic level.
• Board-Certified and FACS: Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons reflect rigorous, verified training.
• Multiple Placement Options: Expertise in both intramuscular and subfascial implant placement, allowing technique to be matched to each patient’s specific anatomy and goals.
• Combined Augmentation Techniques: Capability to perform hybrid implant-plus-fat-transfer approaches when the anatomy calls for it.
• Strict Post-Operative Protocols: Specialized post-operative protocols addressing the known infection risk of buttock implant surgery.
• Featured in Leading Media: Reuters, the Boston Globe, FOX News, Forbes, Vogue, Elle, and the plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck.
• Top 10 International Recognition: Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly and U.S. News Top Doctor.

Schedule Your Butt Implants Consultation in Beverly Hills

A rounded, firm buttock area can improve your self-confidence in your appearance, especially when hitting the beaches in California — but the right procedure to get you there depends on what your anatomy allows and what projection you actually want. If you are interested in learning more about butt implant surgery or the other buttock enhancement options Dr. Anastasatos offers, the consultation is where the right path becomes clear. Dr. John Anastasatos welcomes patients to the Beverly Hills office at 436 North Bedford Drive, Suite 202, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Contact us at Los Angeles Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation with Dr. Anastasatos.