Looking Perky: Investing In a Posterior Lift
By Sarah Matthews | Published on April 6, 2009 | 0 Comments
With age our bodies tend to droop and sag, and nowhere is this more apparent than when it comes to our buttocks. Remember that scene in Sex and the City when Samantha finally decides to sleep with a wealthy old codger, then calls it off when she sees his flabby, naked butt in all its undraped glory? Don’t let this happen to you!
Many butt lift patients aspire to J. Lo's posterior.
If your bottom looks like it could use some repair work – and exercise and diet have both failed – you may want to consider having a butt lift. Although this form of cosmetic surgery is both painful and expensive, it can give aging, sagging butt cheeks a new lease on life, and make them look shapelier and smoother when either dressed or undressed.
Both men and women can benefit from the op, and although there will be visible scars, most people say the end result – pun intended – is worth it. But before you jump in, however, know exactly what you want, and which procedure will most benefit your own behind.
Ways to Get Your Butt Lifted
Several ways to make your bottom perkier are on the market today, and deciding what is best for you is a personal decision between you and your tushy. They include:
*Traditional Buttock Lift: This type of buttock augmentation involves an overnight stay in hospital for most patients, and either general anesthesia or an epidural anesthetic, which will numb you from the waist down. In some cases, patients opt for liposuction to be carried
out at the same time, to get rid of cellulitic dimples and erase that “orange peel” effect common to the buns of many (if not most) women.
The operation begins with an incision performed right below the buttocks in the crease there, with excess skin and fat taken away. The new edges of the skin are then stitched back together, and although you will be left with a scar it should be mainly hidden by the crease.
However, if you are prone to keloid scars, they may be more visible.
For younger patients, a new technique is available which thread lifts the skin instead of removing it. This is only good for people who have good skin elasticity, which unfortunately we tend to lose as we get older. And if your skin was that great, you wouldn’t need a butt lift
in the first place!
*Brazilian Butt Lift: Don’t confuse this with a Brazilian bikini wax – they are two entirely different procedures. This procedure is best for younger patients with less saggy skin. Your bum will be lifted with injections of your own (purified) fat or implants, to make it appear much higher than it actually is/was. If your body has no excess fat, then implants made of silicone are used, although using donor fat is usually the preferred method.
Be aware that you will find it extremely uncomfortable to sit down for up to a month if you have this procedure carried out. You will also have to have literally hundreds of injections, in some cases, for this to work, so it’s not for the faint-hearted, or those with a low pain
threshold.
Also, the fat in the area near your bum will be used, drawn out of your body through liposuction. The benefit is that having a smaller body near your bum will make your bum look fuller, the drawback is that this can be an extremely unpleasant procedure. But then, no pain,
no gain!
*Paris Butt Lift: This repositions the tissue in the buttocks with small sutures, and is done under local anesthesia only. Relatively new, the jury is still out…
*Marcolane injections. Marcolane is a filler made largely of hyaluronic acid, which has been used in the US for years as a quick way to increase a woman’s breast size by up to two cups. Now it is becoming popular as an Instant Butt Lift, giving both men and women perkier bums in an instant.
The filler is injected into the sides of your bum as well as the top, and patients say they see an immediate improvement. In some cases radio waves are also used to help tighten the skin around the area that has been plumped up.
Nothing lasts forever – and this includes Marcolane. The filler eventually gets absorbed into the body, so you will need top-ups every year and a half or so, depending on your personal situation. Its manufacturers say it is safe when it is absorbed, but very long-term studies have not been carried out.
Recovering from a Butt Lift
Bruising and swelling are considered par for the course if you have a traditional or Brazilian lift, and although you can go back to work within a few weeks some of the immediate side-effects can take months to dissipate. You may have to wear a rather fetching body garment for
some time, so don’t plan a beach vacation too soon after having surgery.
Complications are always a possibility, especially if general anesthesia is used. Along with infection you can also experience DVT (deep vein thrombosis), delayed healing and raised scars. In rare cases patients are left with a lop-sided rear end and nerve damage accompanied by numbness.
You can reduce the risks by doing your homework beforehand, and only using a surgeon accredited with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, or the equivalent, and finding one with a long track record of performing this exact procedure. You can reduce the risk entirely by not having a butt lift – but we’re not all born as blessed as Jennifer Lopez!
Prices vary, but expect to pay up to $15,000 for a Brazilian butt lift or even more – although that figure will vary from clinic to clinic, and depending on the part of the country you live in. Macrolane injections are considerably cheaper – ask around in your area.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.