Butt augmentation revision for bigger implant size?

Hi Augmentation233821,
Thank you for the question. You are correct in that it is generally possible to increase the butt implant size during revision surgery. I place butt implants intramuscularly, which means that I will generally only place an implant that allows me to close the muscle without tension over the implant. Over time, these muscle fibers stretch and a scar capsule forms. This enables placement of a larger implant during the second surgery, while still allowing for a tension free closure to minimize the chances of wound breakdown and implant exposure. Hope this helps!

In short, yes, similar principles as with breast implants are applied when upsizing buttock implants.

Other than placing buttock implants within the gluteus maximus and medius muscles (aka “intramuscular”) NOT on top of the muscle, “subfascial” or “dual plane”, the most important factors in creating the perfect derriere and/or hourglass figure 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 gluteus muscles (not butt cheek fat pad, which may appear “round”) and quantity and quality/density of these muscles. 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...with positional changes (eg. bending over and squatting down) and even in the most petite patients that have small/lean muscles and minimal overlying fat. The fact is, nearly 100% of the human population has a more oval shaped gluteus muscles not round. Therefore an oval shaped implant such as the Stanton Anatomic®️ buttock implant conforms best and produces a more realistic contoured outcome better than round implants. Contrary to what many think, a round implant placed correctly within the muscle actually sits up at the top of the butt cheek, creating an unnatural pointy or “gum-drop effect”, not at the lower part of the butt cheek and thus does not contribute to filling or rounding out of any of the lower buttock pole. Height and weight are considered but not nearly as relevant as the above measurements.

Upsizing of an implant can typically be done at 6+ months after the original surgery.

If you are wanting to utilize the fat to further augment your buttock/hips in addition to implants, then I caution you against this. The reason being that the fat needs to be placed into the buttock muscles for optimal survival. However, this is exactly where the implant needs to reside and thus risks infection and/or death of the fat necessitating removal of the implant and/or lumpy painful fatty necrotic cysts as well. Because of this risk, I avoid fat grafting into a buttock/hip that has an implant. Fat transfer later on must be done very carefully and cautiously, only to correct/improve small contour irregularities but not for augmentation purposes.

Final note, because an extremely few number of board certified plastic surgeons specialize in buttock implants, you may have to travel away from your local area to seek consultation with this particular type of surgeon. Glad to help.