Buttocks Augmentation with Sculptra

Up until recently, the only options for augmenting your backside were buttocks implants or a Brazilian Butt Lift (Vaser Liposuction with fat transfer to the buttocks), both invasive surgical procedures. Nowadays, there is a new buttock lift gaining popularity and it doesn’t involve surgery. Also known as the “Sculptra Butt Lift”, this innovative technique involves using a long-lasting dermal filler to give your backside a fuller, more lifted look without the risks or downtime associated with more invasive procedures. This non-surgical buttock injection works to enhance the shape of your buttocks and it is the perfect alternative to surgical buttock implants. However, this treatment is meant to gradually increase the buttocks by stimulating collagen production over the course of several months, to give you a more “natural” look and feel. Of all the fillers around, Sculptra is the one that is best suited to this purpose because patients can get a fairly significant augmentation without actually using that much product (1). Rather than hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvederm, Restylane) which basically just pump more volume into the skin, Sculptra triggers an inflammatory response in your body. This treatment uses the body’s own rejuvenation response to gradually increase your buttocks, reduce cellulite, and boost your self-confidence.

Sculptra, or poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA), is a dermal filler used for skin and soft tissue augmentation. PLLA stimulates the body’s own collagen production and can be used for volume restoration and skin rejuvenation (2). If you want to increase the size of your derriere but do not want plastic surgery, do not have enough fat for a Brazilian Butt Lift, or want to avoid a long recovery time, then Sculptra buttock injections may be for you. During the treatment, topical lidocaine is applied to the area to be injected to reduce any pain or discomfort. Once the skin is numbed (usually after 30 minutes), a blunt tip cannula is inserted, and the product is injected to the upper buttock using very small needles. An immediate plumping effect can be noticed after the poly-l-lactic acid injections have been performed, but that is only because they also contain water. The skin returns to its normal state a few days later. It’s only then that the magic actually starts to work, as the microparticles are absorbed into the skin and the body is coaxed into reproducing lost collagen. Depending on the desired level of augmentation, most patients require about three sessions of Sculptra, four to six weeks apart. Although results can be noticed as early as six weeks after the treatments, the optimal outcome will take up to 6 months to show.

There is a minimal downtime after a Sculptra Butt Lift session. Patients may have some soreness and bruise marks at the injection site that may last for 7-10 days. Other rare complications include the formation of small nodules under the skin, which may be treated by a plastic surgeon for resolution. To encourage the Sculptra to spread out among the tissue, plastic surgeons recommend that patients massage the area throughout the day, five times a day for the first five days after the procedure. Moreover, it’s of highly importance that the process remains sterile, since it’s taking place near the genitalia (3). This is one of the reasons why it is of the utmost importance to deal with a board-certified and experienced plastic surgeon. Experts generally agree that Sculptra results last between two and three years, although some have reported that this buttocks enhancement treatment can continue to promote collagen production for as long as five years, or even longer. However, patients will most likely find that touch-up injections are required after one-two years to prolong the beautiful effects of the Sculptra Butt Lift.

References:

(1) Mackenzie, Macaela. “Non-Surgical Butt-Lifts Are the Latest Trend In Injectables”. Allure. https://www.allure.com/story/non-surgical-butt-lift

(2) Bido, Tatiana. “This Is What It Looks Like When You Get a Sculptra Butt Lift”. Yahoo Lifestyle. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/looks-sculptra-butt-lift-215445938.html

(3) Breslow, Gary. “The Sculptra Butt Lift: Procedure, Before and After, Recovery, and Cost”. Zwivel. https://www.zwivel.com/blog/sculptra-butt-lift/