Chicago buttock lifts are gaining in popularity

Am I a candidate for buttock lifts?

• If you have experienced a loss of skin elasticity of the thigh, hip, or buttock areas.
• If your skin area is saggy, has an "orange peel," flabby and/or dimpled appearance.
• If your thigh appearance improves dramatically when you lift the lax skin.
• If you are self-conscious about your lower body appearance.

Chicago buttock lift options

1. Size:The actual size of an attractive buttock is determined by the individuals preference, although cultural influences will play a major role in establishing the ideal gluteal size. The gluteal size can be improved in several ways. As long as the skin is of good quality, then liposuction of these three areas: upper/outer part of the buttock, the love handles, and the outer legs, will give the appearance of a younger larger lifted buttock. However, some patients may desire more fullness over the buttock area and in this particular case, we could Transfer the removed fat to the buttock. During fat transfers, the fat is placed deeply in the muscle in several different layers so as to create a smooth augmentation without irregularities. The great news about fat is that the results can be extremely natural and it is your own body substance. There is no chance of rejection since there is no foreign material in your body. The only drawback with this technique is that fat is unpredictable. By this we mean, that all the fat that is transferred may not survive and some of it will disappear, just how much will remain is what we can't predict. However, whatever remains after 3 months will remain permanently. An interesting observation has been that immediately after the procedure some swelling is present and as the swelling improves most patient feel the fat has disappeared but in reality it was the swelling. This is why we need to wait 3 months before making any final determinations. In patients that don't have much fat or are looking for a more predictable solution then An implant will be needed. What we have to keep in mind, is that it is not the size or the quantity of tissue present but the way it is distributed.
2. Shape: Although size may be important, traditionally it is the buttock shape that really attracts the eye. In order to understand what creates the shape we must first talk about what makes the buttock. The buttock is made of muscle, fat, skin and its underlying support is bone. The shape and contour of the butt depends greatly on the person's framework the so-called -bony structure. However, its main volume and definition comes from fat. It is how this fat is distributed that will make the difference between and attractive buttock and one that is not so attractive. It is amazing to note that these two patients can have the same amount of fat and yet look so different. An aesthetic buttock has most of the fat located directly posterior on the buttock and has enough fullness superiorly to give it a lifted round look. If the fat is located in the upper outer aspect, the so-called hip roles, then the buttock will look square and unattractive In poorly distributed fat the patient will look wide and flat. The procedure that is best for you in order to improve the shape will depend greatly on the quality of the skin.
3. Skin Quality: It is the skin quality that will determine whether a buttock lift, or liposuction with or without implants is needed. The difference between these procedures will be the extent of scaring. If you have poor skin quality and a droopy buttock, then a buttock lift may be needed. Let us take several scenarios to discuss your options. Good skin quality: no stretch marks, no droopy or excess skin, no cellulite, no skin irregularities, no looseness to the skin.
   
   If someone has a young buttock with excellent skin tone but poorly distributed fat, then liposuction alone may be the answer. A buttock augmentation could be done and this will definitely improve the result, since it further augments what is already naturally pretty. Since our concern was mainly shape and not volume, the augmentations in this case could be done with either fat or with implants, the choice will be up to you and your surgeon.
   
   If you have good skin tone but just not enough buttock volume then and implant is the answer. Fat would not be as good a choice since fat is unpredictable and may disappear. In this scenario we don't have much fat to remove and volume is the main concern. We therefore need something that is more predictable - an implant.
   
   Average Skin Quality: Overall pretty good skin tone with very little skin looseness, you may have some stretch marks, mild irregularities, mild cellulite.
   
   In patients that have average skin tone, our options will depend on what the goals may be. If you have fatty deposits in the wrong area, then liposuction alone can improve the appearance. Many times fat transfers or an implant will add to the final results. The appearance can be improved without having to do a buttock lift.
   
   If you desire a larger buttock an implant will improve the appearance of your skin tone and will lend an overall nicer buttock shape. However, in this type of skin there is usually some droopiness in the lower buttock area. In these cases, a careful examination will determine if this is due to excess fat or excess skin. If we determine the cause is fat, then we can contour this area with liposuction, however, if the overhang is too severe or it is from excess skin, then we may need to excise that portion that is in excess. This does leave a scar which is placed in the buttock crease so it is camouflaged. Having to perform this tissue removal is very rare, most of the time it is improved with liposuction.
   
   Poor Skin Quality: In this type of skin there is a great deal of skin looseness. You literally can grab the skin and lift it up a great distance. There is usually a great deal of cellulite and skin irregularities. Stretch marks are usually present. This type of skin is seen in patients that have had a massive amount of weight fluctuation either weight gain or loss. It is also seen in very sun damaged skin, and in the older patient.
   
   If loose and excess skin is present then no matter how much liposuction is done or what size implants we place, it will always look like a sack of potatoes or dirty diapers. This type of skin has only one solution, and that is the buttock lift. The excess skin that is droopy needs to be removed and lifted. The difference made will be tremendous, but the drawback is that it does leave extensive scars. The scars are placed in the upper buttock area and goes across the back area it can extend around to the sides of the abdomen. These scars are visible, but they can be hidden in the undergarment so that you can enjoy wearing bathing suits or sexy lingerie.
   
   The area that has the overhang needs to be carefully evaluated since it can be in three different areas. It can be in the lower buttock, the inner part of the buttock or on the sides of the buttock. Nearly all types of excess can be improved with the traditional buttock lift. (Placing the scar in the upper buttock area, all across the back). However sometimes if you have a localized area especially in the lower buttock area, then you can perform a limited excision of the skin in this area and these scars are placed in the buttock crease. If a larger buttock is desired an augmentation can be performed 3 months later.

Where in Chicago will your buttock lift surgery be performed?

1. Your overall medical condition, and
2. Your Body mass index: Body Mass index is a number that is determined by your height and your current weight and it is compared to the weight that you should be at. This number allows us to assess how much over your ideal body weight you may be and consequently, assess your risk factor for many medical conditions that overweight patients can develop.
   • If you are in good health and your Body Mass index is below 31, then the operation can be safely performed in a surgical center as an outpatient basis. However,
   • If you are over 30% of your ideal Body weight or your Body Mass index is greater than 31, then it needs to be done in the hospital. The reason is because you will require at least one or two night stay - over.

Potential risks with buttock lift surgery in Chicago

• Bleeding or Hematoma - This is a collection of blood. This can occur but it is extremely rare, if it does occur this would require exploration of the wound along with drainage of the hematoma and control of any bleeding if it is still present.
• Infection - Again extremely rare, however if is this occurs you will have to take antibiotics that are specific to your particular infection. Oral antibiotics will usually solve the problem, rarely will it require IV antibiotics.
• Skin sensation changes - This is common, you can experience, decrease sensation with either numbness or sweating of the buttock area along with temperature changes in the buttock, the sensation of (feeling cool or warm). This usually resolves over a one to three month period, and it is usually from swelling. The sensation should return although it may take some time, up to one year. Rarely is it permanent.
• Wound healing problems or Wound dehiscence - This is seen more commonly in smokers and patient with poor wound healing, although it can occur in anyone. The wound may open up, requiring dressing changes until it heals. The area in which the incision is placed which is across the upper buttock has tension and is in an area that has constant traction. Therefore, in some patients minor wound problems develop, like the wound opens or has persistent drainage. This problem usually resolves on its own and it just a matter of letting time heal the wound. The scars can heal thick and sometimes a scar revision is needed.
• Prolonged fluid drainage from the incision site this usually is localized fluid that is around the incision site. Many times it may require the wound to be explored and make sure it is not a more severe infection. Often it is a suture that has become infected and needs to be removed. The solution may be to either remove the suture and the problem is solved or it may require that the wound be left open and allow it to heal on its own over time with the aid of dressing changes.
• Bad scaring - This is perhaps the biggest problem with the operation. The scars will be red for the first few months after surgery, but they will gradually fade. You should realize that the scars are permanent, and that their final width, height and color are not totally predictable and this will depend on your own healing properties. Typically the buttock lift heals with wide scars since the wound closure is placed under tension. We try to keep the scar within the bikini line, this way only those that have permission can see it. Sometimes a scar revision can improve the appearance of the scar but this is never guaranteed. Some clever tricks have been to place a tattoo over the scar camouflaging any surgery. Keloids, hypertrophic scars and wide scars are all possible.
• Asymmetry,- one side of the buttock looks different than the other side - This really is not even a complication since it is part of our normal anatomy to have one side of the body different than the other. When we perform the augmentation, you may become more aware of the differences. If you look at your photos before surgery you will see that the differences exited before. You can count on having the scar being at different levels; it is not usually a straight scar since we have to apply different tension levels at different points. This is part to the operation and you have to be prepared for this.
• Recurrence of the droopiness - This can occur, although rare, it is seen more commonly in patients that were very overweight and continued to loose body fat, or in patients with extremely excess skin. The correction would be to perform another body lift.
• Pulmonary Embolism - This is a rare complication but it can happen with any surgery, it is a blood clot from the legs that goes to the lungs. We try and prevent this by placing stocking in the lower extremity and encourage early ambulation.