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What Is Buttock Augmentation?

Buttock augmentation, or gluteal augmentation, is a surgical procedure designed to improve the contour, size, and shape of the buttocks. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), buttock augmentation can be achieved through fat grafting, silicone implants, or a combination of both, depending on the patient's body type and desired outcome.

Some patients want added shape, lift, and definition. Others want a noticeably fuller, more voluminous result. The right approach depends entirely on your anatomy, the amount of available donor fat, and the look you're hoping to achieve. Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery & Medspa offers both fat transfer and implant-based buttock augmentation in Charlotte to ensure every patient has access to the technique best suited to their goals.

Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL): Fat Transfer Buttock Augmentation

The Brazilian Butt Lift is the most popular form of buttock augmentation performed today. This technique uses your body's own fat, harvested through liposuction, to enhance the size, shape, and projection of the buttocks without implants.

The procedure works in two stages. First, your surgeon removes excess fat from donor areas such as the abdomen, flanks, or thighs using liposuction. The harvested fat is then purified and carefully injected into the buttocks to add volume and improve contour. The ASPS notes that patients can typically expect to retain 60–80% of the transferred fat long-term, with final results visible at approximately six to twelve months.

A BBL offers the added benefit of slimming the areas where fat is harvested, creating a more sculpted overall silhouette. Because the procedure uses your own tissue, the results look and feel natural.

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Brazilian Butt Lift Before & After

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Buttock Augmentation With Implants

For patients who don't have enough available body fat for a Brazilian Butt Lift, or who want a more dramatic increase in projection and volume, silicone buttock implants offer a reliable alternative. The Cleveland Clinic explains that buttock implants are a long-term option for creating a shapelier, fuller result.

During the procedure, solid silicone implants are surgically placed within or beneath the gluteal muscle through an incision hidden in the natural crease between the buttocks. Implants come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and your surgeon will select the option that best complements your body frame and proportional goals.

In some cases, Drs. Kara and Bryan Criswell may recommend combining implants with fat grafting in a single operation to achieve the most balanced, natural-looking outcome

Benefits of Buttock Augmentation and BBL Surgery

Buttock augmentation, whether performed with fat transfer, implants, or a combination, can create meaningful improvements in body proportion and confidence. Benefits include:

  • Enhanced volume and projection: Both fat transfer and implants can add fullness to flat or deflated buttocks, creating a rounder and more youthful contour.
  • Improved body proportions: Augmenting the buttocks helps balance the figure, particularly for patients with a narrower lower body relative to their waist and hips.
  • Dual contouring with BBL: The liposuction component of a Brazilian Butt Lift sculpts the donor areas, abdomen, flanks, back, or thighs, while enhancing the buttocks, delivering two improvements in one procedure.
  • Natural-looking results: Fat transfer produces results that look and feel like your own tissue, while properly sized implants create a proportional, authentic shape.
  • Long-lasting outcomes: The ASPS confirms that the results of buttock augmentation are permanent, with fat grafting results stabilizing within six to twelve months and implants maintaining their shape for years.

What to Expect Before, During, and After Buttock Augmentation

Consultation and Surgical Planning

Your buttock augmentation journey begins with a one-on-one consultation at Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery & Medspa. During this appointment, your surgeon will evaluate your anatomy, discuss whether a BBL, implants, or a combination approach is best for your goals, and explain what to expect throughout the process. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions, review before-and-after photos, and receive a personalized surgical plan.

The BBL Procedure

A Brazilian Butt Lift is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes two to four hours, depending on the extent of liposuction and fat grafting involved. Your surgeon will begin by performing liposuction on the designated donor areas — commonly the abdomen, flanks, lower back, or thighs. The harvested fat is then purified using a closed processing system and carefully injected into the subcutaneous layer of the buttocks in small, precise amounts to build volume and shape the desired contour.

The Buttock Implant Procedure

Buttock augmentation with implants is also performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will make an incision in the natural crease between the buttocks, then create a pocket within or beneath the gluteal muscle. The silicone implant is placed, positioned for symmetry, and the incision is closed with dissolvable sutures. The incision location is designed to be hidden by underwear and swimwear.

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Recovery and Results Timeline

Recovery from buttock augmentation requires patience and careful adherence to your surgeon's post-operative instructions. Here's a general timeline:

  • First two weeks: Expect swelling, bruising, and discomfort. You'll wear a compression garment and avoid sitting directly on your buttocks. A special pillow or cushion is used when sitting is necessary.
  • Weeks two through six: Swelling gradually decreases. Light walking and gentle daily activities can resume, but strenuous exercise and prolonged sitting remain restricted. Most patients return to desk work within two to three weeks with a cushion for seated tasks.
  • Six to eight weeks: Most activity restrictions are lifted. Your surgeon will clear you to gradually return to exercise and normal sitting.
  • Three to twelve months: Final results take shape. For BBL patients, the transferred fat settles into its permanent position as the body reabsorbs a portion of the grafted volume. For implant patients, swelling resolves and the tissues fully adjust around the implant.

The team at Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery & Medspa provides detailed pre- and post-operative instructions and schedules regular follow-up appointments to monitor healing and ensure the best possible outcome.

The Surgical Butt Lift: Reshaping Without Adding Volume

Not every patient needs more volume. Some patients have adequate fullness in the buttocks but are concerned about sagging, flatness in the upper buttocks, or loss of shape due to aging, weight fluctuations, or genetics. A traditional buttock lift (gluteal lift) addresses these concerns by surgically removing excess skin and tightening the underlying tissue to create a firmer, more lifted contour.

Drs. Criswell may also perform a butt auto-augmentation technique during a lift, which repositions existing tissue to different areas of the buttocks, adding fullness to the upper pole and creating a rounder, more youthful shape without implants or fat transfer. The incisions are placed where scars will be concealed by underwear or a bathing suit.

For patients who want both a lift and added volume, a buttock lift can be combined with fat grafting in a single operation to address sagging while also enhancing size and projection.

Are You a Good Candidate for Buttock Augmentation in Charlotte?

The best candidates for buttock augmentation are individuals in good overall health who have realistic expectations about their results. The ASPS outlines several factors that help determine candidacy for buttock enhancement procedures.

You may be a good candidate for a Brazilian Butt Lift if you have sufficient fat deposits in donor areas such as the abdomen, flanks, back, or thighs, and you're looking for a natural enhancement with the added benefit of body contouring through liposuction.

Buttock implants may be a better fit if you have a leaner body frame with limited donor fat, or if you want a more significant increase in size and projection than fat transfer alone can provide.

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General candidacy considerations include:

  • Stable body weight and good overall health
  • No chronic conditions that interfere with wound healing
  • Non-smoker or willingness to stop smoking well before and after surgery
  • Realistic expectations about achievable results
  • Commitment to following post-operative care instructions, including sitting and sleeping restrictions during recovery

During your consultation, your surgeon at Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery & Medspa will evaluate your anatomy, discuss your aesthetic goals, and recommend the approach most likely to achieve the outcome you're looking for.

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Understanding the Cost of Buttock Augmentation in Charlotte

The cost of buttock augmentation varies depending on the technique used, the extent of liposuction, and the complexity of each case. A standard Brazilian Butt Lift at Criswell & Criswell typically costs $13,000, with most procedures ranging from $12,800 to $13,500, depending on your unique anatomy and the number of donor sites.

Your comprehensive quote includes the surgeon's fee, operating room and facility fees, general anesthesia, initial compression garments, and all pre- and post-operative care. Criswell & Criswell provides a transparent, single-price package so you can focus on your results and recovery without worrying about unexpected costs.

For a personalized quote, schedule a consultation with Drs. Kara and Bryan Criswell today.

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Why Choose Criswell & Criswell for Buttock Augmentation in Charlotte?

Buttock augmentation is a technically demanding procedure that requires a deep understanding of gluteal anatomy, fat grafting science, and aesthetic proportioning. The ASPS recommends choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to ensure the highest standards of training, safety, and ethics.

Drs. Kara and Bryan Criswell are both certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellows of the American College of Surgeons, and recognized by Charlotte Magazine Top Doctors. Their AAASF-accredited surgical facility in Ballantyne provides the highest level of safety and patient care for every procedure.

Key reasons Charlotte patients trust Criswell & Criswell for buttock augmentation:

  • Husband-and-wife surgical team: Two board-certified plastic surgeons who collaborate on complex cases and bring complementary expertise to every procedure.
  • Safety-first approach: Drs. Criswell follows the Multi-Society Gluteal Fat Grafting Task Force guidelines, including subcutaneous-only fat injection to minimize risk during BBL procedures.
  • Accredited surgical facility: All procedures are performed in their AAASF-accredited surgical center in Charlotte's Ballantyne community.
  • Individualized surgical planning: Every buttock augmentation is customized to the patient's body frame, fat distribution, and aesthetic goals.
  • Bilingual care: Both surgeons speak fluent Spanish, serving the diverse Charlotte community.

The Surgical Butt Lift: Reshaping Without Adding Volume

Not every patient needs more volume. Some patients have adequate fullness in the buttocks but are concerned about sagging, flatness in the upper buttocks, or loss of shape due to aging, weight fluctuations, or genetics. A traditional buttock lift (gluteal lift) addresses these concerns by surgically removing excess skin and tightening the underlying tissue to create a firmer, more lifted contour.

Drs. Criswell may also perform a butt auto-augmentation technique during a lift, which repositions existing tissue to different areas of the buttocks, adding fullness to the upper pole and creating a rounder, more youthful shape without implants or fat transfer. The incisions are placed where scars will be concealed by underwear or a bathing suit.

For patients who want both a lift and added volume, a buttock lift can be combined with fat grafting in a single operation to address sagging while also enhancing size and projection.

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Related and Alternative Procedures

Buttock augmentation is often performed alongside other body contouring procedures for a more comprehensive transformation. Related options include:

  • Body contouring after weight loss: Patients who have experienced significant weight loss — including those using GLP-1 medications, may benefit from combining buttock augmentation with skin removal and body lift procedures.
  • Thigh lift: A thigh lift can complement buttock augmentation by tightening and contouring the upper legs, creating a more balanced lower-body silhouette.
  • Tummy tuck: Combining a BBL with an abdominoplasty addresses the midsection and buttocks simultaneously, and the liposuction performed during the tummy tuck can serve as the fat source for grafting.
  • Mommy makeover: Buttock augmentation can be incorporated into a mommy makeover for patients who want to restore body contour after pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Your surgeon at Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery & Medspa will discuss which combination of procedures, if any, makes sense for your goals and can safely be performed during a single operation.

Schedule Your Buttock Augmentation Consultation in Charlotte

Your body goals are personal, and the right procedure starts with the right conversation. Drs. Kara and Bryan Criswell welcome you to schedule a one-on-one consultation at their accredited Ballantyne surgical center to discuss buttock augmentation, Brazilian Butt Lift, or buttock lift surgery in Charlotte. Contact Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery & Medspa today at (704) 930-0428 or visit criswellandcriswell.com to take the first step.

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