BUTT IMPLANT*

The hourglass Butt Augmentation with Implant in Houston procedure (Click here for Breast Augmentation in Houston)is a type of surgery developed by Dr. Cortés to create a fuller, more alluring posterior by inserting a firm silicone gel implant intramuscularly in each buttock.  (Click here for other Plastic Surgery options) As part of this procedure, Dr. Cortés also harvests unwanted fat from areas like the abdomen, flanks, arms and thighs and uses the fat to create a pleasing shape for your buttocks.  The information below will let you know what factors influence the outcome of this procedure, where and how the surgery is performed, and what to expect after surgery.

The Difference Between the Hourglass Buttock Implant Procedure and standard Buttock Implant

In the hourglass buttock implant procedure; Dr. Cortés combines fat transfer to the side of the buttocks and hips with the actual buttock implant.  A buttock implant alone can give you projection, but it cannot change the shape of your buttock into a sexy hourglass profile.  A traditional buttock implant includes the only insertion of the buttock implant.  It will give you a projection, but not the desired shape.  For this reason, Dr. Cortés always goes the extra mile, using liposuction to harvest fat from different parts of the body to contour the buttocks on the side as well.

Best Candidates for the Hourglass Buttock Implant

For patients who do not have enough fat normally and cannot gain weight for the hourglass buttock augmentation with fat transfer, an hourglass buttock implant is an option.  In this procedure, patients need to be approximately 8 to 9 pounds above their ideal weight.  The fat in selected areas will be used along with the buttock implant to achieve the best shape possible.

You need to be in good physical and emotional health and to have realistic expectations.  Any medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure need to be under control prior to the surgery.  If you are a smoker, you will need to stop smoking approximately two weeks before the surgery.

Your Consultation

During the initial consultation, Dr. Cortés will assess the areas where liposuction is possible and judge whether you have enough fat for the procedure. He will also determine if your skin tone is appropriate to contribute to a good result or if you have a large amount of excess skin in your buttocks, which would be a contraindication for the procedure.  He will also examine your gluteal muscle anatomy and your individual dimensions to determine which implant would be the best for you.  He will make careful notes on the type of buttock that you have before surgery to determine which areas will be improved by fat transfer.

Also during your consultation, Dr. Cortés will have you examine a buttock implant.  The buttock implant is made of solid silicone.  It has a firmer consistency than breast implants have.  A buttock implant will make your buttocks feel firm as if you have been exercising.  This is something you need to consider before having this procedure done.

Surgical Risks

The hourglass butt implant procedure is safe.  Nevertheless, complications related to liposuction as well as to the implant itself could occur.  Any time an implant is placed in the body, the procedure carries a small risk of:

• Chronic pain
• Infected implant requiring removal
• Fluid collection

Because much less liposuction is performed than with the hourglass buttock augmentation using fat transfer, the risks of liposuction are minimized. Nevertheless, postoperative complications can occurwith any surgery, such as the following:

• Infection
• Blood clots
• Skin loss or burns
• Unsightly scars
• Fat embolism
• Bleeding and fluid collections
• Liposuction deformities
• Skin discoloration
• Prolonged pain
• Swelling

If you are a smoker, you need to stop smoking for 2 weeks prior to surgery and 2 weeks after surgery to decrease the potential complication rate related to anesthesia and wound healing.

During your preoperative visit, we will discuss possible risks and complications of surgery.  We will discuss what medications should be avoided, proper wound care, and safe times to return to work or resume an exercise program.  The better informed you are, the better you will be able to reduce the chances of implant infection and wound problems after surgery.

Where Your Surgery Will Be Performed, and Type of Anesthesia

Dr. Cortés performs his hourglass buttock implant procedure at Houston Northwest Medical Center, a fully accredited surgical facility with excellent, well-trained staff.  Patients need to stay overnight.  As the surgery is performed under general anesthesia, you will be completely asleep during the entire procedure.  Local anesthesia is not an option because of the extent of liposuction as well as the incision required to insert the buttock implant.  Your anesthesia will be provided by a board-certified anesthesiologist and his assistant, a nurse anesthetist, who will also monitor your condition during surgery.

The Surgery

Depending on the amount of fat to be harvested, the amount of presurgical projection that you have, and your individual buttock anatomy, an hourglass buttock implant procedure takes about 3 to 4 hours to perform. Typically, Dr. Cortés will perform the liposuction in the thighs, abdomen, flank, and sides first while you are lying on your back.  After these areas are liposuctioned, you will be then re-prepped and re-draped and turned to a prone position, which means you will be lying on your chest.  Then, liposuction will then be performed in the upper and lower back.

When the fat harvest is complete, two incisions will be made in the intergluteal fold, one on each side and Dr. Cortés will create an implant pocket in an intramuscular location, that is, inside the gluteal muscle.  This location is the best option to avoid complications such as buttock capsule contracture.  It also makes it difficult to see or feel the edge of the implant.  Once each implant is properly placed, a drain is placed and the incision is closed with sutures on that side.

After both implants are placed, the sculpting process begins.  After processing the fat that was harvested during liposuction,Dr. Cortés will use a small cannula (about 2.7 mm in thickness) to inject fat in multiple passes around the buttock and around the implant.  Injecting fat on the side, lower and top part of the buttocks will give you a fuller posterior as well as an improved contour.

What to Expect After Surgery

After your procedure, you will be staying at the Houston Northwest Medical Center, where we will give you IV antibiotics to prevent infection as well as pain medications to keep you comfortable.  Dr. Cortés always encourages the patients to drink fluid and to walk around soon after surgery.  This reduces the risk of developing blood clots.  In general, your buttocks will feel quite tight and firm and you will have a general soreness in all areas where liposuction has been performed.  You will be discharged the day following your procedure.  Dr. Cortés will see you at his clinic 3 to 5 days later.  You will not be allowed to sit for about 2 ½ weeks.  The drains and stitches are usually removed 10 days after the surgery. After 2 ½ weeks of no sitting, you will be allowed to sit with a special cushion to protect the buttocks.  If you sit too early after surgery, you will risk having the incision open up and increase the chances of infection.

Getting Back to Normal

The recovery following an hourglass butt implant procedure is a slow process.  We insist that patients walk frequently the first week to reduce the risk of blood clots.  You need to rest for approximately 2 ½ weeks before going back to work.  It will be necessary to wear a girdle for approximately 3-6 months.  The girdle is the main factor that determines how fast your swelling will be decreased.  The swelling will go down over the course of weeks to months, and you must be patient because there is no medication that will reduce the swelling quickly.  When it comes to sitting, you will be able to sit for a short period of time to perform your necessary bodily functions, but when sleeping or doing anything else during the first 2 ½weeks after surgery, you need to lie on your stomach.   After the no-sitting period, we will provide you with a specialized cushion so you can sit when driving.  You will need to use this specialized cushion for about 2 ½ months.

Dr. Cortés will provide you instructions on medications, what to expect after surgery, showering tips, and drain care as well as other important information.  Keep in mind that following surgery everything in your body will be swollen. Even your face, vagina, flanks, and legs may feel firm and hard, and you will experience numbness and tenderness in some areas.  All these symptoms will resolve with time.  The final results will be visible in about 6-9 months.

The New You

You will need to get used to the way your buttocks feel. The results are permanent for the most part, as long as you do not lose a significant amount of weight.  During your recovery, Dr. Cortés’s staff will communicate with you through emails, phone, and text messages to monitor your progress. The hourglass buttock implant will give you amazing results, including both improved projection and an attractive hourglass shape.