Do butt implants look and feel real? I have a thin frame.

Question

Despite some surgeons on this sites reccomendations for butt implants for a desired larger butt (ive found the reccomendations usually come from surgeons who perform them regularly), I have heard from people who have seen them in real life who are not surgeons say that they are very unatural in look and feel. I am a dancer so my career can either be advanced or ruined by my decision in this procedure. therefore, I am looking for genuine advice. I am thin and afraid fat transfers do not last long

Ryan A. Stanton, MD · Answer

I am going to tell you what you may not hear from others. Currently the only two safe and effective methods for Buttock Augmentation are Autologous Fat Transfer (transfer of your own fat to the buttocks, aka "Brazilian Butt Lift") and Buttock Implants (semi-solid soft silicone rubber implants). Both are very good options so what it comes down to, like any surgery, is proper patient selection. Indeed because at least 50+ % of the fat transferred will melt away within a year, most patients are not good candidates because they lack an adequate amount of fat to harvest. Thus buttock implants become a very good, safe, and long term reliable option for most patients seeking buttock augmentation (at least in my practice). I personally recommend either the round or the oval shaped implants dependent upon the natural anatomic shape of the patient's buttock cheeks. The implant should always be placed under or within the gluteus maximus muscle. In this position, the implant is less palpable, less visible, and does not sag over time unlike implants placed on top of the muscle. Therefore it is extremely important to seek consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in this technique. Additionally, in this type of surgeons hands the often quoted "high risks" of complications especially infection are actually much lower around 5%. Best of luck...RAS

Johnny Franco, MD, FACS · Answer

The Brazilian
butt lift is the most common butt augmentation procedure as it has the benefit
of sculpting a patient’s waist, it transforms the patient from a square shape
to more of an hour glass figure.  The fat
can then be used to enhance the buttock. 
The other benefit is that you are augmenting the butt with your own
natural tissue.  It thus looks and feels
as natural as possible. The down side is that you have to have enough fat to do
the augmentation and that there is a limit to how big you can make the butt in
one setting with fat transfer.  In very
thin patients it can be difficult to have enough fat for the Brazilian Butt
Lift.

Butt implants
have the benefit that they can be used independent of the amount of fat that a
patient currently has available.  Also
the implants tend to give patients more projection of their butt, so even when
patients are very flat they will have an incredible result.  The implants only augment the butt they do
not sculpt the waist. The implants do tend to be much more firm that fat
transfer.  The implants can be small and
give patients a more natural appearance, however a lot of patients that want
implants want a larger implant and thus a less natural appearance.

Butt implants
with fat transfer is the third option and very common in my practice.  It has the best of both worlds as it has the
augmentation of the implant and the shaping of the liposuction.  The fat that is harvested can also be used to
enhance the hips or other areas that your plastic surgeon may want to enhance
after the placement of the implant.  It
can also add a buffer to the implant, softening the feel and appearance.

Please discuss
you butt augmentation with a board certified plastic surgeon that performs a
high volume of these procedures.

Matthew J. Nykiel, MD · Answer

Hello, and great question.  Butt-implants are made from soft-silicone.  Implants in the butt, like in the breast can be position above or below the muscle.  And just like in the breast, we (as surgeons) rely on your bodies skin to “hide” or “camouflage”.  If you are very thin, it does not matter if the implant is above or below the muscle it can still be felt and seen.  Typically, I will also inject fat above and around the implant to soften the implant.As you go bigger in size of the implant, your implant becomes more noticeable, less “real”, and you can “feel” it.  At some point, based on your size, the implant will be too big even for fat grafting to conceal it.

If you are a dancer, I would have serious reservations about placing and implant within or below your butt muscles because, as you said,  it can potentially ruin your career.Therefore, my first option would be to utilize liposuction and fat grafting.  If you don’t have enough fat, then my second option would be to utilize a moderate sized implant and liposuction with fat grafting to soften it.  I would NOT want to place the implant within your butt muscle due to your career as a professional dancer.  I hope that helps.  Best of Luck!

Stanley Okoro, MD · Answer

Butt implants are a great way to enhance the back side especially if you
don't have enough fat for fat transfer to the buttock a.k.a Brazilian 
buttock
lift. We perform a lot of butt implant. All of our butt implant are placed under the muscle and looks really
natural. When performed well, you should not feel your butt implants. For best results, we instruct our patients not to sit for 10-14 days. Its okay to 
walk and you can sleep on your tummy of sides (if not fat transfer to 
hips). Most patients will need to take about 2 weeks off from work. We 
are told that is feels like a deep muscle sore after a long work out. We
 provide our patients with postop meds for the best comfort. Most 
patients are very happy and would do it again if needed. Its worth it! 
Make sure to find a "real" Plastic Surgeon you can trust. Do your home 
work well. Good luck

Douglas M. Senderoff, MD, FACS · Answer

Be sure to choose a board certified plastic surgeon who has extensive experience with buttock augmentations AND has high success rates with this particular procedure.  Its very important as there are not many surgeons out there that fit these requirements.  As long as you choose your surgeon wisely you can count on this procedure being a wonderful change for your body and your career.  Good luck with your plastic surgery journey.

Daniel P. Markmann, MD · Answer

I have done Hundreds of Buttocks Augmentations, both implants and Brazilian Butt Lifts.  I used to do mostly Butt Implants.  Now when patients come in wanting Butt Implants (which is uncommon), I only recommend them as a last resort. 
	In answer to your question, Butt Implants occasionally "look" natural.  They almost never "feel" natural.  Fat Grafting is 100% natural feeling and looking. 
	As far as Fat Grafting, in the right hands, the results can be amazing. In the hands of plastic surgeons experienced with the Brazilian Butt Lift, fat survival is on average about 80% and I have seen some of my patients who had nearly 100% fat survival! Fat Grafting does last if it is done correctly.  I have seen patients of mine years after their Brazilian Butt Lift procedure and find very little, if any change in their appearance when compared to their appearance at 3 months.  It does last at least for years, and most likely permanently! If you have excess fat in other areas, then the Brazilian Butt Lift is the better option in my opinion. 

	
	Butt Implants have a very high complication rate, infections and often the need for removal.  This means typically anywhere from 5-10% (on the very low side) up to 20 or 30% (on the high side)  of patients have infections or other complications and often need reoperations to try to salvage them or to have their implants removed.  So if you find a surgeon who is very experienced with the procedure of Butt Implants, you have a 1 in ten or maybe a 1 out of 20 chance of needing to have your implants removed. 
	I still do Butt Implants on rare occasion, and explain these risks to all of my patients before we proceed.  I think it's only fair that patients know the risks.

Kenneth R. Francis, MD, FACS · Answer

Cape Cod,

	Buttock implants can indeed look natural.  They often feel very firm.  There are advantages and disadvantages to placing them above, below, or within the muscle.  A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will enlighten you in that regard.  Buttock implants are a reasonable option for buttock augmentation.  Good luck!

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

Butt implants look amazing. Personally, I have been putting in butt implants for 12 years and never had to remove one, indicating that patients are not only happy but they are safe and look great aesthetically. A butt implant is a great option, but be sure to go to a doctor with plenty of experience with them.

Do butt implants look and feel real? I have a thin frame.

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