When getting butt implants, will you see the implant line?

Question

I noticed a few women mentioning there implant line shows in certain Angles or ways they are standing. So with butt implants there is nothing you can do to prevent the implant line from showing?

Ryan A. Stanton, MD · Answer

As long as a few but critical surgical details are adhered to, buttock implant "lines" can indeed be concealed. The implant must be positioned under (or within) the gluteus maximus muscle and the implant shape and size must match that of the patient's buttock cheek. Please read on for more details:Regarding buttock augmentation, let me start off by saying that I currently see at least 2 - 3 patients per week that failed "brazilian buttock lift" (i.e. the fat melted away after 10 - 12 months) and are now seeking a more reliable and permanent option (i.e. buttock implants). One of the most important factors in creating the perfect derriere with implants is indeed selecting the right size AND shape. I have found the best way to assure this is to simply measure the actual dimensions of the patient’s buttock cheeks. With these anatomical measurements, I can select an implant that not only significantly augments the buttock but also supplies the correct 3-dimensional enhancement to look as real as possible. Traditionally, teardrop oval implants have a 20+% risk of rotation and thus unnaturally change the buttock shape/appearance when doing so.  However i have recently created and patented a new "Stanton Anatomic" shaped implant that avoids this issue. The benefit of this is the fact that ~80% of women patients have more of an oval shaped buttock cheek than round, thus creating a much more natural and harmonious buttock contour. Thus, the only way for you to know what implant works best is to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in this procedure and have him/her take your measurements before selecting an implant and proceeding with surgery. The largest stock buttock implant currently available in the USA is a 690cc round implant. Indeed custom implants can be ordered larger, not only at a premium price but at a premium risk for most patients'. Unlike breast implants which are placed under the very expandable tissue of the breast and half of the pectoral major muscle, buttock implants are (most preferably) placed under (or at least within) the largest strongest muscle of the body, the gluteus maximus muscle, which is not nearly as expandable or forgiving. Thus most patients simply do not have a large enough native buttock muscle to fit an implant much over 500 ccs', without leading to significant complication such as wound breakdown/opening &/or implant exposure...necessitating removal. Some of those sought after video-vixen and celeb-types (without mentioning names) with cartoonish bottoms could have either gotten extremely lucky with a huge oversized implant (very unlikely if properly placed under the muscle), had a very large volume of filler injected such as silicone, PMMA, or hydrogel - all NOT recommended because of high risk of severe infections, migration and/or hardening over time,  and even deadly consequences in rare but significant instances (if mistakenly injected into the blood stream); and/or have been genetically "blessed" - although quite unlikely.I generally do not recommend fat grafting at the same time as placing buttock implants because of a significantly increased risk of infection. For fat to survive it must be grafted into muscle, however that is also where the implant sits. Thus, if fat it injected into the implant or implant pocket then it will die and almost assuredly get infected - necessitating removal of the implant as well. Fat transfer later on must be done very carefully and cautiously, preferably by the original surgeon, for the very same reasons as above. In both instances, the risk/reward ratio is very high (meaning high risk to very low potential reward) because over 80% of the fat is likely to melt away yielding very small gains in augmentation. Nonetheless, buttock implants are a proven safe and effective method of buttock augmentation as long as the recommendations of a board certified plastic surgeon specialist are adhered to.Glad to help.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

It is very difficult to determine the exact size and shape implant you will require to best match your ideal butt image without an examination by a board certified plastic surgeon. Not just any board certified plastic surgeon, but one with many years of frequently performing breast augmentation surgery including different approaches, techniques and implant choices. This is because several measurements not to mention your breast characteristics are needed to determine the optimal implant size to obtain your goals. Without knowing these dimensions it would be difficult to make this determination. For example, the existing base width of your buttock will determine, in many cases, the maximal volume per implant profile that you can accommodate. Liposuction of your lower back and fat transfer is also helpful as an adjunct to implants. Using “want to be” photos however are useful if simply provided to the surgeon.

Victor Urzola, MD · Answer

It is very common to see the implant line when they are placed subcutaneously; in this plane they tend to sag rapidly and they tend to flip very often.  When the implants are placed intramuscular, it is very hard to see or feel the implant and the overall aesthetic result is better.Best regards,Dr Urzola.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If there is adequate soft tissue coverage, then the implants will probably not be visible. Intramuscular camouflages better than subcutaneous. Best of luck.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

If the buttock implants are placed in the intramuscular position, no transition line will ever be seen. In some patients with a thicker subcutaneous layer, a subfascial location may also avoid a transition line. But over time it may eventually develop. It can then be treated by fat injections. But if you have thinner buttock tissues then the intramuscular location is the best way to ever avoid this aesthetic problem.

When getting butt implants, will you see the implant line?

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When getting butt implants, will you see the implant line?

Answers (5)

Answer: Butt implants

Answer: Butt implants

Answer: Buttock Implants

Answer: Buttock Implants

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Everything you need to know about Butt Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.