The Classification of Gluteal Augmentation

Gluteal enhancement is a major growing trend within aesthetic surgery practice. Patient needs include volume augmentation and enhancement of the roundness of buttocks. Nonsurgical and surgical options exist. These procedures recently have the highest growth rate among all cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States.[1] [2] In this letter, we suggest a classification of gluteal augmentation procedures. The gluteal augmentation can broadly be classified into pseudo-augmentation (illusionary) and real (true) augmentation ([Fig. 1]).

Fig. 1 Diagram of the Sabri-Daoud gluteal augmentation classification.

• Pseudo-augmentation (or illusionary augmentation): It is the way by which the size of the buttocks appears to be altered, without actual alteration to the buttocks themselves. It consists of performing liposuction to the areas surrounding the gluteal region, such as the love handles and side saddles, to give the impression that the buttocks are bigger.

• Real (true) augmentation: It involves altering the actual size of the buttocks, via nonsurgical (aesthetic medicine act) or surgical means.

  • ∘ Nonsurgical means of true gluteal augmentation is by the injection of various fillers into the gluteal region, such as Macrolane, HYAcorp, and others. The advantages of this method include that it is a minimally invasive procedure, with avoidance of surgery and general anesthetic risks. The disadvantages, however, include a significant risk of complications such as filler migration, inflammatory reaction, granuloma formation, and infection; that it is expensive; that the effects are often suboptimal and short-lived.[3]

  • ∘ Surgical methods of true gluteal augmentation include fat injection, gluteal implants, and composite gluteal augmentation.

1. Fat injection involves the process of liposuction and subsequent lipofilling to the gluteal region. The advantages of this method include the double-effect of fat removal in desired areas and volume gain in the buttocks region. The disadvantages include needing to have enough fat to perform the original liposuction; the high percentage of fat resorption within 6 months following the procedure which may apply a necessity to do more than one session to obtain the desired result, and the risk of fat embolism.[4] Sterodimas et al,[5] described stromal enriched lipograft, which increased and prolonged duration of the grafted fat that makes the necessity to repeat procedures very rare, as this technique allows to target the subcutaneous layer as the recipient site.[5]

2. Gluteal implants are another method by which the buttocks may be truly augmented. They are long-lasting, can vary in size according to patient preference within the limit of implants size availability, and continue to hold their firmness over time. They have minimal associated disadvantages—pain that may radiate to lower limbs and it could continue for couple of weeks and needs to be managed by some analgesia and corticosteroid, the implant can be flipped over and that can be happened once or more than once, other complications like infection, seroma, wound healing complications, visible scars, and implant extrusion.[1] [6]

3. Composite gluteal augmentation involves the combination of gluteal implants and fat grafting. This technique is used to hide the implants, leading to a more natural and fuller look to the buttocks.

Authors' Contributions

The authors contributed equally.

Ethical Approval

None.

Publication History

Received: 28 July 2023

Accepted: 12 October 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
16 October 2023

Article published online:
04 April 2024

• References

• 1 Petit F, Colli M, Badiali V, Ebaa S, Salval A. Buttocks volume augmentation with submuscular implants: 100 cases series. Plast Reconstr Surg 2022; 149 (03) 615-622
• 2 ASPS National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Procedural Statistics. Plastic surgery statistics report 2016. Accessed December 1, 2021 at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2016/plastic-surgery-statistics-full-report-2016.pdf
• 3 De Meyere B, Mir-Mir S, Peñas J, Camenisch CC, Hedén P. Stabilized hyaluronic acid gel for volume restoration and contouring of the buttocks: 24-month efficacy and safety. Aesthet Plast Surg 2014; 38 (02) 404-412
• 4 Astarita DC, Scheinin LA, Sathyavagiswaran L. Fat transfer and fatal macroembolization. J Forensic Sci 2015; 60 (02) 509-510
• 5 Sterodimas A, Nicaretta B, Figus A, Boriani F. Safety and efficacy of gluteal contouring based on stromal enriched lipograft in 194 patients. Eur J Plast Surg 2022; 45: 641-648
• 6 Oranges CM, Tremp M, di Summa PG. et al. Gluteal augmentation techniques: a comprehensive literature review. Aesthet Surg J 2017; 37 (05) 560-569