5.0(14)
Op. Dr. Murat Yaman
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 11+years exp.
- 5,000+surgeries
- 6Treatments
Turkish · English
From€2,890
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Body Contouring
Buttock lift
What a buttock lift is, how excess skin is removed and the buttocks repositioned, how it differs from a Brazilian butt lift and implants, where the scars lie, approximate costs in Turkey, the UK, US and Germany, the recovery timeline, risks and questions to ask a clinic.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
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Verified surgeons for Buttock Lift
4 doctors Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Numanoğlu
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 56+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
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Dr. Erdem Tezel
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 37+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
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60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Prof. Dr. Özhan Çelebiler
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 44+years exp.
FromPrice on request
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What is a buttock lift and what does it change?
A buttock lift (gluteal lift) is a surgical operation that removes loose, sagging skin and fat from the buttocks and upper thighs and tightens the remaining tissue so the buttocks sit higher and look firmer. It is often performed after major weight loss or pregnancy, or with age, when the skin has lost its elasticity and the buttock droops. Unlike a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), which adds volume with your own fat, or implants, which add volume with a device, a buttock lift mainly removes skin and repositions tissue. It lifts and tightens; it does not make the buttocks much larger.
This guide explains how the operation works, how it compares with fat transfer and implants, who it suits, where the scar lies, what it costs in Turkey against other countries and how recovery progresses. For related operations see body lift and thigh lift.
How is the skin removed: which incision and which scar?
The incision pattern depends on how much skin is loose and where. The surgeon will mark you while you stand, and the options are typically:
- Belt-line (lower body) lift: a scar runs around the lower back and hips and treats the buttocks together with the flanks and sometimes the abdomen. It is common after large weight loss.
- Lower back or upper buttock excision: a horizontal ellipse of skin is removed just above the buttock crease, with the scar placed in a line that swimwear and underwear can cover.
- Crease or inferior buttock lift: skin is taken from the fold under the buttock when sagging mainly affects the lower part and upper thigh; the scar hides in the crease.
Every pattern leaves a permanent scar. Placing it low and flat is possible but not always, which is why the first question to ask is where your scar would sit and whether it would show in your usual clothing.
Does a buttock lift work, and what are its limits?
For loose, sagging skin, yes: removing and tightening tissue reliably raises the buttock and smooths the line from waist to thigh. The evidence for body contouring after weight loss shows improved contour and satisfaction, but also higher wound complication rates than many cosmetic operations. It does not create projection, so people who want rounder, fuller buttocks usually need volume as well: fat transfer, implants or a combination.
The result lasts as long as your weight stays stable. Ageing and weight change continue to affect the skin, so a stable weight for several months before surgery matters.
Buttock lift, BBL or implants: what is the difference?
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Buttock lift | Loose, sagging skin and flat or droopy buttocks, often after weight loss | Visible scar; adds little volume |
| Fat transfer (BBL) | People with enough fat to harvest who want more volume and a smoother shape | Does not remove loose skin; part of the fat is lost; deep injection carries a recognised risk |
| Buttock implants | Slim people wanting a fixed volume increase | Does not lift skin; implant-related risks and sitting limits |
Many people with sagging and low volume combine a lift with fat transfer or an implant, which lengthens surgery and recovery and should be discussed explicitly with the surgeon.
Buttock lift cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The buttock lift cost depends on the amount of skin removed, the incision pattern, whether it is combined with liposuction or a body lift and the hospital stay. The ranges are approximate and are not hospital quotes.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €3,000 – €7,500 |
| United Kingdom | €6,000 – €12,000 |
| United States | €7,500 – €16,000 |
| Germany | €5,500 – €11,000 |
A package usually includes pre-operative tests, surgeon and anaesthetist, one to three nights in hospital, compression garment, medication and follow-up; transfers and accommodation may be separate. Ask for a line-by-line quote and whether combining procedures changes the price.
Who is a good candidate for a buttock lift, and who is not?
Good candidates are healthy adults at a stable weight, often three to six months after major weight loss, with sagging buttock skin and who accept a scar. They are non-smokers or can stop well before and after surgery.
It is less suitable if you plan more weight loss or pregnancy soon, if you smoke, have poorly controlled diabetes, a bleeding disorder, heart or lung disease, or a history of poor wound healing, or if you mainly want more volume rather than a lift. In that case a different operation, or a combination, may suit you better.
What happens during buttock lift surgery?
The operation is done under general anaesthesia and takes about two to four hours, longer if combined. After marking, you lie on your front or side. The surgeon removes the marked ellipse of skin and fat, lifts and anchors the deeper tissue, closes the wound in layers and may place small drains. A compression garment is fitted. Most patients stay one to two nights in hospital. Liposuction of the hips or flanks is commonly added to refine the shape.
Buttock lift recovery: how long until I can sit?
Buttock lift recovery is gradual because the wound lies where you sit and move. You wear a garment for several weeks, sleep on your front or side and avoid sitting directly on the wound at first.
| Time after surgery | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Day 1–3 | Hospital stay; standing and short walks; drains and garment in place |
| Week 1–2 | Wound care; drains removed; no sitting directly on the wound; no heavy lifting |
| Week 3–6 | Sitting with a cushion; desk work from about two to three weeks; garment continues |
| Month 2–3 | Gradual return to exercise if the surgeon agrees; swelling settles |
| Month 6–12 | Scars mature and fade; final shape judged |
Most patients stay seven to ten days in Turkey so the wound can be checked and drains removed before they fly. Ask the clinic how to manage the journey, as a long flight means sitting.
Buttock lift before and after: what do results and scars look like?
Photographs normally show a higher, tighter buttock and a smoother line down to the thigh, together with a visible scar, often red and raised at first. Scars fade over 6 to 18 months but are permanent, and some people develop wide or thick scars. Swelling hides the final shape for several weeks, and the full result is clear after about three to six months. Ask for photographs taken at least a year after surgery of patients with a build similar to yours, and treat galleries that hide the scars with caution.
What are the risks and possible complications?
All surgery carries risk. Common effects are swelling, bruising, numbness and tightness. A buttock lift has a higher chance than many cosmetic operations of wound-healing problems, because of tension and pressure on the scar, as well as seroma, infection, wide scars, asymmetry and contour irregularity. Less often there are blood clots in the legs or lungs, bleeding or anaesthetic complications. Professional bodies such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) advise body-contouring surgery to be done by a qualified plastic surgeon in a regulated hospital. Ask what happens if the wound opens and who treats you after you return 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 hospital is licensed with an anaesthetist and intensive-care facilities, and that you receive a written plan and price before paying a deposit. Red flags include no named surgeon, a quote without a breakdown, pressure to book quickly and promises of no scarring. Read how our process works, browse our plastic surgery treatments in Turkey and request a plan through the free quote page.
- Where will the scar sit, and will it show in swimwear?
- Do you advise a lift alone, or with fat transfer, an implant or a body lift?
- How many nights will I stay, and when will drains be removed before I fly?
- What is included in the price, and what happens if the wound opens?
- Who reviews me after I return home?
Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
A buttock lift is surgery that removes loose skin and fat from the buttocks and upper thighs and tightens the remaining tissue so the buttocks sit higher. It lifts and firms but adds little volume.
As a rough guide, about €3,000 to €7,500 in Turkey, against around €6,000 to €12,000 in the UK. The price depends on the incision pattern, any combined procedures and the hospital stay, so ask for a written breakdown.
Yes. A buttock lift removes skin and tightens tissue, while a Brazilian butt lift adds volume with your own fat. People with sagging and low volume sometimes combine both, which lengthens surgery and recovery.
Usually along the lower back and above or in the buttock crease, positioned so underwear or swimwear can cover them where possible. They start red and raised, fade over 6 to 18 months and are permanent.
Photos show a higher, tighter buttock and smoother thigh line with a visible scar. Ask for pictures taken at least a year after surgery of patients with a similar build to see how scars mature.
Expect swelling and tightness for several weeks, desk work after about two to three weeks with a cushion, and a return to exercise after two to three months if the surgeon agrees. Scars settle over a year.
Surgery is under general anaesthesia. Afterwards the area is sore and tight, particularly when sitting or bending, and prescribed painkillers usually control it. Discomfort eases over the first two to three weeks.
Removed skin does not return, but results depend on a stable weight. Ageing, pregnancy and large weight change can loosen the remaining skin over time.
It is a major operation with risks such as wound-healing problems, seroma, infection, wide scars and blood clots. A qualified plastic surgeon, a licensed hospital and following aftercare reduce, but do not remove, the risks.
Usually seven to ten days, so the surgeon can check the wound and remove drains before you fly. Because flying means sitting, ask the clinic how to manage the journey.
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