Fat Injections vs. Buttock Implants

Find Buttock Implants Clinics in London & UK »

Buttock augmentation, the enlargement and reshaping of the buttocks, is a rapidly growing area of plastic surgery. The two main methods of altering the appearance of your buttocks are fat injection (aka the Brazilian butt lift) and implants, each of which has its own pros and cons.

What is fat injection?

Fat injection is the process of reshaping and augmenting the buttocks by basically removing fat from one part of the body, typically the abdominal area or thighs and hips, purifying it, and then injecting that fat into the buttocks in such a way that they appear larger, fuller, firmer, and rounder. Fat injection is often supplemented by removing the fat (liposuction) in areas around the buttocks like the small of your back or your thighs to enhance the effects of the injection procedure.

What are buttock implants?

Buttock implants are not unlike breast implants in that silicone implants are inserted by means of a small incision to augment the region in question. Unlike breast implants, however, the implants used for buttocks are soft solids as opposed to the gel filled option used in breast enhancement. This is because of the more robust nature of solid silicon which is necessary in your buttocks as you sit on them and use them for daily activities like walking and running.

Fat injection versus buttock implants

Each option has its own pros and cons. Fat injection, for example, is generally thought to yield a more natural appearance as the patient’s own body fat is used, this also means there is a much smaller chance of infection or tissue reaction. While silicone is used because of how well the body tolerates it, the risk of infection or rejection is still present when you introduce any foreign, non-organic material into the body.

Fat injection also involves a much smaller incision when compared to the one used in implantation, meaning a much smaller surgical scar that is much more likely to heal completely and less likely to get infected. The recovery period for fat injection is shorter as well, meaning that you’ll be back on your feet and back to everyday life in much less time. You might consider the liposuction involved in fat injection to be an added advantage as well, fat is removed from areas like the abdomen and thighs which you might feel would improve your overall appearance.

That’s not to say implants don’t have their own advantages though. Implants are extremely useful as they grant patients with little body fat the opportunity to augment their buttocks. Furthermore they circumvent one of the risks of fat injection, which is the reabsorption of fat by body after the procedure. This is a small risk, but one that bears consideration if you are opting for the fat injection procedure.

Both procedures are now routinely practiced and conducted, and so the choice comes down to which one better suits your needs. If you are considering buttock augmentation then it’s worth having a look at both options and discussing them with your surgeon who might be able to give you some valuable advice about which option would suit you best.

---

« Alternatives to Buttock Implants