Buttock implants

What are buttock implants and how do they change the shape?

Buttock implants (gluteal implants) are solid, soft-feeling silicone devices placed through a single incision in the cleft between the buttocks to add volume and projection. They are used when a person wants rounder, fuller buttocks and does not have enough body fat for fat transfer, or wants a size increase that does not depend on how much fat survives. Unlike fat grafting, the implant is a fixed shape and size, so the result is predictable at the time of surgery, and it is permanent unless it is removed or exchanged.

This guide explains how buttock augmentation with implants is done, where the implant sits, how it compares with a fat-transfer lift, what it costs in Turkey against other countries, how long you cannot sit comfortably, what results to expect and which risks matter. For related body-contouring options see our guides to body lift and thigh lift.

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Where is the implant placed: under the muscle or in the muscle?

Placement is the first technical question to ask, because it affects safety, feel and recovery. Three planes exist:

• Subcutaneous (above the muscle): lower risk of muscle pain, but a higher chance of visible edges, rippling and implant movement in slim patients. Most surgeons avoid it.
• Intramuscular (within the gluteus maximus): the most common choice. The muscle covers the implant on all sides, giving a more natural contour and lower risk of exposure, with a tighter, more painful first weeks.
• Submuscular (under the muscle): lies close to the sciatic nerve, so it is used less often and with caution.

Implants are usually round or oval and come in several sizes and heights. The surgeon chooses width and projection to match your hips, pelvis and skin, rather than simply the biggest size.

Buttock implants or a fat transfer (BBL): which suits you?

A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) uses your own fat, taken by liposuction and injected into the buttocks. Implants add volume independently of body fat. The table compares the usual points a surgeon will discuss.

Safety guidance on BBL has become stricter in recent years because of deaths linked to deep injection, which is one reason some people prefer implants. Implants have their own risks, so the choice should be made with a surgeon who offers both and does not push one by default.

Do buttock implants look natural, and what can they not do?

Well-chosen implants in a person with enough soft tissue cover can look and feel natural, and many patients are satisfied with the shape. Implants add volume and projection to the upper and central buttock; they do not lift sagging skin, fix cellulite or treat dimpled areas. If the buttocks are loose or droopy after weight loss, a lift, or a combined procedure such as a body lift, may be more appropriate. Very thin patients may have visible edges, and very large implants raise the risk of wound opening.

Buttock implants cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany

The figures below are approximate ranges for surgery with both implants, not hospital quotes. The final price depends on implant brand and size, anaesthesia, the hospital, the length of stay and what the package covers.

Ask whether the quote includes the implants themselves, pre-operative tests, the operation and anaesthetist, hospital nights, compression garments, medication, follow-up and transfers, and what the plan is if a second operation is needed. A very low price often leaves out the implants or the follow-up. If you want to combine surgery with liposuction or a lift, request a separate line for each part.

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Who is a good candidate for buttock implants, and who is not?

Good candidates are healthy adults with stable weight, realistic expectations and enough skin and muscle to cover the implant, who want a permanent increase in volume. They are often people with a flat or small buttock shape who do not have enough fat for a BBL.

Implants are less suitable if you smoke and cannot stop before and after surgery, have a bleeding or clotting disorder, active skin infection or poorly controlled diabetes, have very thin skin or very little tissue, or cannot avoid sitting for the required weeks. Surgeons also take care with people who are planning pregnancy soon or large weight change.

What happens during buttock implant surgery?

The operation is done under general anaesthesia and takes about one and a half to three hours. The surgeon marks the planned position while you stand, makes a short vertical incision of about 5 to 7 cm in the natal cleft where the scar is hidden, creates a pocket in or under the muscle, inserts a sizer to check fit, and then places the final implant on each side. The incision is closed in layers, drains may be placed, and a compression garment is applied. Most hospitals keep you one night, sometimes two.

Buttock implants recovery: how long can I not sit?

Recovery is the hardest part of this operation. Most surgeons advise you to avoid sitting directly on the buttocks for two to four weeks, using a lying position or standing, and later a wedge or pillow that takes weight on the thighs. You wear compression for several weeks. Walking short distances is encouraged from day one to reduce clot risk.

Because a long flight means sitting, most patients stay seven to ten days so the surgeon can check the wound before travel, and plan to fly lying across seats or standing breaks where the airline allows it. Ask the clinic for its advice on flying.

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Buttock implants before and after: what results are realistic?

Swelling hides the final shape for several weeks. Most people see the settled result after about three months. Photographs normally show a rounder, higher and fuller buttock, a more defined side profile and better balance with the hips. They do not show the weeks of restricted sitting, the incision scar or revision operations that some patients need. Ask for pictures of patients with a build similar to yours, taken at least six months after surgery, and be careful with galleries that show only extreme sizes.

What are the risks and possible complications?

Buttock implant surgery has a higher complication rate than many cosmetic operations. The most common problem is wound opening or delayed healing at the incision, because of pressure and the location. Others include infection, fluid collection (seroma), implant movement or rippling, capsule problems, nerve irritation with numbness or pain, long-lasting soreness and a need for revision. Rare but serious events include deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and anaesthetic complications. Infected implants may need to be removed.

Professional bodies such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) advise choosing a board-certified surgeon with specific experience in gluteal surgery. Ask how many such operations the surgeon performs, what the clinic does if the wound opens, and who will treat you once you are home.

How to choose a surgeon and hospital, and questions to ask

Check that the surgeon is a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, that the operation takes place in a licensed hospital with an anaesthetist and intensive-care back-up, and that you receive a written plan and price before paying a deposit. Red flags include a quote with no breakdown, no named surgeon, pressure to book quickly, promises of a particular size and no aftercare plan. Read how our process works and use our free quote page: the hospital reviews your photos and sends a written plan and price.

• Which plane and which implant brand, size and shape do you recommend, and why?
• How many gluteal implant operations does the surgeon perform each year?
• How long must I avoid sitting, and what do you advise for the flight?
• What happens if the wound opens or an implant has to be removed, and is that covered?
• Who will review me after I return home?

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Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey

Academic Hospital

Üsküdar, Istanbul

MoHHealth Tourism Licence+2

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Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital

Pendik, Istanbul

JCIMoH+2

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