Nonsurgical Butt Lift: What You Need to Know

Sculptra is a unique dermal filler made of poly-L-lactic acid. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm, which immediately plump the skin, Sculptra triggers an inflammatory response that stimulates your body to produce both scar tissue and collagen growth. Your butt cheeks plump themselves from within. 

“Instead of an instant augmentation, the results appear over time,” says San Diego dermatologist Dr. Kimberly Butterwick. Because of this, a good candidate is someone seeking a natural effect. The Sculptra butt lift gives subtle, flattering body contouring results.

It’s also worth noting that Sculptra is currently FDA-approved for the face only. While many dermatologists and plastic surgeons regularly inject it into the buttocks, this is an off-label use of Sculptra.

During the treatment, your provider will numb the injection sites with lidocaine and then inject the filler. You may feel soreness or have mild bruising and swelling in the treatment area afterward, but there’s no downtime, and you can resume normal activities immediately.  

You'll see the best results after a series of three to four treatments, spaced several months apart.

A Sculptra butt lift can get very expensive if you’re looking for dramatic results. One vial costs around $1,000, and many patients need two to four vials for each treatment session—and multiple sessions to see the full effect. Many providers offer lower prices per vial when multiple vials are used at one treatment session.

The results from a Sculptra butt lift can last a few years. After that, their collagen growth benefits will fade over time.

Pros

• The treatment is quick, with no downtime. 
• It delivers a subtle lift, so it's ideal for patients who want a natural-looking, gradual change to the size and shape of their derriere. 
• It also helps smooth skin and improve the look of cellulite. 
• Sculptra injections are a good option if you don’t have enough fat to harvest with liposuction for a Brazilian butt lift (the gold standard of surgical procedures for butt augmentation), which involves incisions and fat transfer.
• RealSelf members who rated their procedure as “Worth It” were pleased with the noticeable difference in the size and shape of their buttocks.  

Cons

• Unlike dermal fillers made of hyaluronic acid, Sculptra can’t be dissolved, and there’s always the risk of ending up with lumps, bumps and dimpling. To mitigate the risk of these side effects, make sure the doctor you choose has extensive experience with this particular treatment.  
• Injecting Sculptra into the butt is an off-label use, meaning that it's not FDA-approved. 
• You’ll need to wait several months for your final results to develop. 
• Unlike more invasive procedures, results are temporary, and you’ll need additional treatments every few years to maintain them.

• Average Cost:
• $4,175

• Range:
• $5,000 - $17,500

Your price will depend on the treatment you choose, your provider’s experience level, and their practice location.

As mentioned above, a Sculptra butt lift will likely cost $2,000 to $4,000 per session. The average cost of Emsculpt is just over $3,000. Given that the results are not permanent, a surgical procedure like a BBL can be more cost-effective in the long run.

The nonsurgical butt lift photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Emsculpt and CoolTone are nonsurgical procedures that use high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) to create muscle definition and burn fat.

They're both FDA-approved for use on the abs, thighs, and buttocks. (Emsculpt is also approved for the arms.)

The electromagnetic pulses emitted from the device provoke strong muscle contractions that can’t be achieved through normal exercise (as many as 20,000 contractions during one 30-minute session), forcing your muscles to strengthen and thicken—which firms your buttocks.

Supplying the energy for these contractions causes fat cells in the area to break down and ultimately die, after which they are metabolized by your body and eliminated through your urine.

During a high intensity focused electro-magnetic technology (HIFEM) treatment, your provider will strap two paddles onto your buttocks and gradually dial up the intensity of the device for 30 minutes. While you’ll feel your muscles twitching and working, it’s not painful. Expect to feel sore afterward, however, as if you just did an intense workout, but otherwise there's no recovery time needed.

You may see some results after one session, but four sessions, spread out over a two-week period, are recommended. You’ll see final results a few months later.