Depends upon when and who you ask. It is indeed a painful surgery and initial first 2-3 weeks of recovery. The first 2 weeks is the most challenging with swelling, tightness, and discomfort. Also sitting is prohibited for these 2 weeks. Patients may return to work after 2 - 3 weeks as sitting and basic daily activities become easier. For those whom work from home, return to work resumes much sooner if they can work standing, kneeling, and/or lying down reclined in the "dentist chair" position. After 2 weeks patients may sit for up to 30 minutes at a time then stand up or take a short walk for 15 - 30 seconds before sitting back down, 3 weeks for up to an hour, and at 4 weeks unlimited. At 3 weeks patients can resume upper body exercises while standing only, at 4 weeks upper body exercises while seated may be added. By 6 weeks, all restrictions are lifted as life nears normal again, all exercise (including squats and lunges) and sports may be resumed again but at low intensity. Like breast implants, around 5-6 months postop the body has adapted to the implant as a foreign object so it recognizes it as self. On the other hand, if you ask a surgeon that does not perform buttock implants, you will hear all types of false horror stories.