Women 'Very Satisfied' With Buttock Augmentation, ASPS Study Finds

SAN DIEGO -- Fuller bottoms have been popular for some time, à la Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian. Now there's new research out for women considering plastic surgery in quest of a curvier backside. According to a new study being presented at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, the annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Oct. 11-15, in San Diego, women who have buttock augmentation, using their own fat, report being highly satisfied with the procedure.

"Unfortunately, the increase in women desiring a fuller bottom has led to a rise in illegal buttock injections being performed by people with little to no plastic surgery training," said David Reath, MD, ASPS Public Education Committee chair. "It's important for the public to know that buttock augmentation can be done safely, with excellent cosmetic results, when performed by board-certified plastic surgeons."

In the study, patients underwent liposuction of the flanks, thighs, saddlebags, and sub-gluteal region, to harvest fat and provide additional contour and better definition to the buttocks. The harvested fat was then injected into the buttocks. To prevent the fatty tissue from dying (fat necrosis), the authors avoided grafting large volumes of fat in any one particular area.

Fifty-eight women who had buttock augmentation, and the surgical team, evaluated pre-and postoperative photos to rate their level of satisfaction with the procedure, using a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being excellent improvement. Fifty-seven patients (98 percent) reported being "very satisfied" with their results. No major complications were reported. Four months after surgery, one patient complained of volume resorption, received additional fat grafting, and subsequently reported being satisfied with her outcome.

"It is important to note that a good result did not depend on a lot of fat infiltration," said Dr. Reath. "The best aesthetics were achieved when the elimination of fat by liposuction and fat grafting were combined harmoniously."

The study, "Gluteoplasty with Autologous Fat Tissue," is being presented Sunday, Oct. 13, at 10:45 a.m. at the San Diego Convention Center.

Reporters can register to attend Plastic Surgery The Meeting, or arrange interviews with presenters, by contacting ASPS Public Relations at (847) 228-9900, media@plasticsurgery.org or in San Diego, Oct. 11-15, at (619) 525-6330.