Lack of fat in glutes causing folding when sat down - how can I fix this? (Photos)

Allow me to answer your question as best i can based upon your photos. However, please keep in mind that an in-person, or at least a virtual, consultation with physical exam is first necessary before any legitimate evaluation or final surgical recommendations can be made.

Likely, these “indentations/folds” are due to a variant of normal connective tissue bands of anatomy that extends from the investing fascia of your gluteus muscles, through the subcutaneous fat layer, and attaches to the dermis layer of your skin. Although one may consider cutting (“subcision”) of these bands and fat grafting, the results are often very short lived. And, using a “filler” to try and fix this will surely be a waste of time and money. If a patient is also desiring or ok with some level of buttock augmentation then I have found adding volume to the entire buttock with implants to provide the best, long-term results. Please read on for more details about buttock augmentation options.

There are currently only two FDA approved surgical options for augmenting the buttock/hip area: 1) Buttock and cosmetic Hip Implants (which are soft semi-solid silicone rubber implants that cannot rupture &/or leak) and 2)Brazilian Butt Lift (aka BBL) - which utilizes the patients own fat from liposuction then transfers this fat into the buttock. On the other hand, BBL using fillers such as hyaluronic acids, Sculptra, etc… is a dangerous, guaranteed waste of money, and is NOT FDA approved. So what it comes down to, like any surgery, is proper patient selection and long-term results. Implants provide the only guarantee for a sustained permanent result and tend to be ideal for perking up not only lean or deflated buttocks but also providing substantial projection to any butt, which is what every single patient wants. Typically a combination of sculpting the waistline with liposuction and augmenting the buttock with implants +/- the hips with implants provides the best chance for a long lasting and desirable "hour-glass" figure. Based upon your photos, a Stanton Anatomic®️ shape buttock implant may serve you best.

Unfortunately, fat typically melts away leaving disappointing results after 12 months, often sooner. Unless your BBL surgeon is injecting only 200 to 300 ccs of fat into each buttock cheek, a large percentage of that fat is going to die. Dead fat leads to dents and dimpling like cellulite, unevenness, loss of projection, and fatty necrotic oil cysts which are hard marbles and can be very tender
Unfortunately, because ~70+ % of the fat transferred will melt away within a year or two, most patients are not good candidates for BBL because they lack an adequate amount of fat to harvest. Beware, if a surgeon asks you to purposely gain weight (i.e. fat) before BBL, know that the fat you lose first as you get back to your baseline weight after surgery is that very same fat that was transferred into your buttock, hence your new buttock shrinks first, the fastest, and the most...so please do not fall victim to this recommendation. Even those patients that had adequate amounts of fat pre-operatively, still end up seeking buttock implants after a year or so because most of the fat transferred melted away leaving them with minimal result. Fillers such as Sculptra are cost prohibitive, provided enough volume is injected (i.e. at least 400 cc of active ingredient costing over $300,000) and last only 12 - 18 months. Additionally, any physician promoting “biostimulators” for buttock enhancement is just a joke, and any board certified plastic surgeon promoting such, should not be trusted with your butt. So, if you're looking for a reliable, predictable, and long-term permanent option that also provides projection in the central buttock and hips, buttock and hip implants are your solution.

Please note that an extremely few number of board certified plastic surgeons specialize in buttock or hip implants, so you may need to travel far and away from home to find this particular surgeon. Getting it done right the first time around is not only the best chance for success, but also will save you from a lot of headaches and money in the future. Glad to help.

Thank you for your query. Some non-surgical skin tightening with Thermitight or JPlasma along with fillers or fat can help improve the loose skin and folds. Please discuss your options with an experienced board certified Plastic surgeon who can examine you and help you with all your concerns. All the best!

Dear saff_07,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photos, it looks like you would need fat transfer. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you 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

Dear Saff_07, thanks for sharing your pictures and concerns, in order to properly evaluate your case I would require more pictures from different angles. Make sure you go on consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Hope this helps and best of lucks. Dr. Luis Mejia.

Hello
There may be a deficiency in the superficial fat tissue of your hips. To treat this, the septa in that area can first be released, and then fat transfer can be performed to the deeper fat tissue to achieve improvement.

We don’t really make body contouring assessments with patients laying on their side.
To get an assessment, we need to see proper pictures.
Take a look at how plastic surgeon is take before and after pictures to get an idea.
Can’t really understand what the issue may be based on the pictures included.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD