Do butt implants harden or soften? Can I gain muscle over the implant? If I gain weight shortly after where will it go?

Thank you for your question regarding whether buttock implants harden or soften and whether you can gain muscle over the buttock implant. Buttok implants are made of a semi-solid silicone material. Typically, the buttock implants are placed inside the gluteus maximus muscle and underneath the fascia. If you were to gain muscle mass in the buttock region, typically, it would not be over the implant, but behind the buttock implant. As you gain muscle back, it would push the buttock implant out slightly and you would achieve more buttock projection. If you gain weight, this would be in the fatty layer above the buttock implant and would obtain slightly more buttock projection.  Overall, buttock implants do not harden or soften over time. You may develop some mild scar tissue over the buttock  implant, but not like breast implant capsular contractures. All in all, buttock implants stay relatively soft. in general, smaller buttock implants are softer than larger buttock implants because larger buttock implants stretch the buttock skin. In regards to gaining weight after liposuction, new fat cells will equally distribute throughout your body.  Just because you have liposuction in one body part, does not mean that you cannot accumulate fat in that area again. Your body can and will deposit fat in that area, but will distribute fat also throughout the body. Thank you for your question regarding whether buttock implants harden or soften placed in the muscle.  Thank you for your question about permanent buttock augmentation with FDA approved, semi-solid silicone buttock implants.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding whether buttock implants harden or soften and whether you can gain muscle over the implant.  I specialize in buttock implant insertion.  If you have any more questions regarding buttock implants, buttock implant surgery, buttock implant insertion, or buttock implant revision, please contact my office. Since buttock implant surgery is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience buttock implant insertion.   Do your research.   If you cannot find an experienced, buttock implant plastic surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Similar to breast implants placed under the muscle, intramuscular buttock implants feel firm at first because the muscle spasming against the implant combined with the tense postoperative swelling. Over time the muscle spasms relax, the muscle stretches a bit and as the swelling goes away the feeling of the implants softens significantly. This process typically takes at least 6 to 7 months with improvements possible for up to a yea after surgery.  I would say that well over half of my patients go to the gym and/or participate in some athletic activity on a regular basis. Over 99% have been able to get back to the gym and perform at least 99% of the exercises/activities that they were able to perform before surgery.  Thus, if you were able to build muscle in your buttock muscle before surgery you are likely able to grow muscle after surgery.  On the other hand i am not an big advocate of adding fat grafting at the same time to buttock or hip implants because of poor success rates and  increased potential completions.  Glad to help

Those are a lot of questions regarding butt implants. The answers can vary from surgeon to surgeon because everyone uses a different technique and implant selection. In general, most implants do get softer with time. The muscle can grow with working out. Weight gain can augment fat grafting to the hips. Schedule a consult with your board certified plastic surgeon. 

Thank you for your question.
The answer to your questions regarding Buttock Implants will depend on the kind of Implants (Solid vs Gel Filled and Soft vs Firm) and the placement of implants (below or above the muscle). You should discuss all your concerns with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who can help you make a decision. All The Best !

Dear WhitneyNeu,
butt implants have a significant possible complications, so it would be better to avoid them. If you want to increase projection of your buttocks and you have extra fat, fat transfer might be a better option. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Small buttock implants placed inside the muscle (not under the muscle) usually feel fairly soft and not hard when the tissues have settled months after the surgery. It is not known whether the remaining muscle over a buttock implant can become enlarged with exercise. It is probably unlikely in any significant amount but that is speculation. 

If you haven’t done so I suggest having a few in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons who offer this procedure.you should probably write down all your questions and Have them ready During the consultationImplants don’t get soft or hard. Some people will form scar tissue around the implant’s that can become thick and contract. This is more common around breast implants. It’s called a capsular contracture. You can make breast implants feel hard but the truth is the implant doesn’t change only the tissue around the implant.Weight gain or weight loss will happen in your new fat distribution which will permanently be changed from procedures that alter fat distribution like liposuction with or without fat transfer. You can increase your muscle size with exercise with or without a gluteal implant. If a substantial part of your muscle is above the implant then that muscle will behave like it did before. I’m guessing the majority of gluteal muscle will still be deep to your implant but this varies a bit from provider to provider.in the end the results will be what it is and there is an a whole lot you can do to change the outcome afterwards.What you can do is put in an appropriate amount of effort in having in person consultations choosing the best provider to minimize the chance of having a bad outcome. Even then this procedure has a fairly high complication rate as well as failure rate.Unfortunately removing gluteal implants doesn’t always bring people back to pre-surgery states and can leave people with lifelong disfigurement.The majority of plastic surgeons in the United States don’t offer gluteal implants. Fat transfer is a more popular procedure. Both the procedures have advantages and disadvantages.All of this is best discussed and deciphered during in person consultations.Best, Mats Hagstrom MD