Safety Comparison of Abdominoplasty and Brazilian Butt Lift: What the Literature Tells Us.

Background: Although abdominoplasty is a mainstay of the plastic surgeon, the safety of the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) has been questioned, effectively being prohibited in some countries. The central rationale for the safety concern over the BBL stems from a publication stating a mortality rate of one in 3000. The question remains: What is the real safety of these procedures?

Methods: Focusing on mortality, literature searches were performed for BBL and for abdominoplasty.

Classification System for Gluteal Evaluation: Revisited.

The buttock area has received much media attention in recent years, which has produced increased patient demand for buttock reshaping or contouring and augmentation. Increasing patient demand has necessitated a more structured approach to evaluation of gluteal anatomy and the development of surgical procedures to enhance its beauty.

Gluteal Augmentation and Enhancement of the Female Silhouette: Analysis and Technique.

Dr. Constantino Mendieta demonstrates and details his personal technique for gluteal augmentation. The video demonstration is divided into three parts: Part I, Aesthetic Analysis and Preoperative Marking; Part II, Creating the Female Silhouette with Circumferential Lipoplasty; and Part III, Autogenous Gluteal Augmentation.

Report on Mortality from Gluteal Fat Grafting: Recommendations from the ASERF Task Force.

Background: Gluteal fat grafting is among the fastest growing aesthetic procedures in the United States and around the world. Given numerous anecdotal and published reports of fatal and nonfatal pulmonary fat embolism resulting from this procedure, the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) formed a Task Force to study this complication.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of fatal and nonfatal pulmonary fat embolism associated with gluteal fat grafting and provide recommendations to decrease the risks of the procedure.

Buttock augmentation with silicone implants: a multicenter survey review of 2226 patients.

Background: Enhancement of buttock volume with gluteal silicone implants has been performed by surgeons for over 30 years, but no studies have examined complication rates or outcomes of more than single-surgeon experiences. Numerous technical differences in how gluteal augmentation surgery with implants is performed also exist, and to date, surgeon preferences for implant plane, incisional access, implant type, and drain use have not been quantified.

Methods: A 10-question survey was sent to 83 targeted members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons requesting information about number of cases performed, duration of surgeon experience, implant placement plane and incisional access, implant type, length of typical surgery, use of drains and antibiotic irrigation solution, surgeon satisfaction and surgeon assessment of patient satisfaction, and number of complications experienced.

Gluteal contouring surgery in the massive weight loss patient.

This article describes some of the salient anatomic issues, a classification system, surgical techniques, and a decision-making algorithm available for contouring the gluteal region in the patient who has sustained massive weight loss (MWL). The gluteal deformities encountered in patients who have lost a massive amount of weight are unprecedented in body-contouring surgery, and plastic surgeons need uncommon techniques when contouring and augmenting the gluteal region in these patients. A better understanding of the anatomy and a new surgical armamentarium can improve the cosmetic results of gluteal contouring, and, thereby, enhance patient satisfaction in this challenging population.

Gluteal reshaping.

The author performs gluteal contouring by removing fat from areas of excess and injecting into areas that will benefit aesthetically. Assuming the patient has adequate fat for harvest, the author contends that fat grafting yields more precise augmentation, quicker recovery, and tremendous patient satisfaction compared with gluteal implants. He believes that about 80% to 85% of injected fat survives at 2 years and, even if fat is lost, there remains a lifelong change in gluteal shape.

Intramuscular gluteal augmentation technique.

Gluteal augmentation with the intramuscular approach produces very good aesthetic results and, when properly performed, has a low incidence of complications. Using the intramuscular tissue plane ensures that implants are naturally positioned. In addition, larger implants may be used than with the submuscular technique, which many patients request.

Classification system for gluteal evaluation.

The buttock area has received much media attention in recent years, which has produced increased patient demand for buttock reshaping and augmentation. This phenomenon is reflected in statistics collected by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery,which demonstrate a 533% increase in gluteal augmentation between 2002 and 2003. Increasing patient demand has necessitated a more structured approach to evaluation of gluteal anatomy and the development of surgical procedures to enhance its beauty.

Gluteoplasty.

Background: The buttocks region has been associated with allure and sex appeal for centuries. Although gluteoplasty employing silicone implants has been practiced for more than 30 years, little has been written on how to evaluate and reshape the area or how to select and place the various implants that are available.

Objectives: In this article, the clinical anatomy of the buttocks area is reviewed, the properties of silicone elastomer gluteal implants are summarized, and an approach to evaluation and augmentation of the gluteal area involving solid silicone elastomer implants is presented.