LIFT, NOT VOLUME
A lifted, firmer backside — by removing skin, not adding volume. Where the buttocks have sagged after significant weight loss or with age, we lift and tighten the skin to restore a higher, rounder, more youthful shape.
THE PROMISE
A buttock lift firms and raises the buttocks by removing excess loose, sagging skin — focusing on skin removal rather than added volume. It is most often performed after significant weight loss, when the skin has lost its elasticity and the buttocks have dropped and flattened, leaving folds that diet and exercise cannot lift. It is different from a buttock augmentation (a Brazilian Butt Lift or gel implant), which ADDS volume and projection; a buttock lift instead lifts and tightens what is already there.
Focusing on skin removal rather than volume, this lifts and firms a sagging backside. It is commonly performed after significant weight loss to restore a perky, rounded shape, and is often carried out as part of a wider lower-body lift when loose skin extends to the outer thighs and hips.
Excess skin is removed through an incision placed high across the upper buttocks or lower back, where it can sit within the waistband or bikini line. The tissue below is then lifted and the remaining skin re-draped upward and tightened, raising the buttocks to a higher, firmer position. When loose skin continues around the hips and outer thighs, the lift is often combined into a lower-body (belt) lift through one continuous incision, and liposuction may be added to refine the surrounding contour. The aim is a lifted, rounded shape using your own tissue, without an implant.
Whether a buttock lift alone or a combined lower-body lift suits you, and the type of anaesthesia, are planned with Dr. Karatzias at your consultation.
A compression garment is worn for several weeks to support the new contour and control swelling, and direct, prolonged pressure on the buttocks is limited in the early days while the incision settles. Most patients return to desk work within about two weeks, with sport and strenuous activity resumed gradually over four to six weeks. Swelling settles over the following weeks, and the scar — kept within the waistline — continues to soften and fade over the following months.
Good candidates are people with sagging, deflated buttocks and loose skin — most often after major weight loss — who want to lift and firm the area rather than add volume, and who are at a stable weight. If the goal is more fullness or projection, a buttock augmentation (Brazilian Butt Lift or gel implant) is the better choice; if the goal is to lift and tighten loose skin, a buttock lift is what does it. A stable weight and not smoking help healing and the quality of the scar.
To see if you are a candidate for this procedure or if you wish to learn more details about it, please complete our online consultation form or call at +357 22 275522.
+357 22 275522
Will the result look natural?
That is the aim. A buttock lift works with your own tissue to restore a higher, rounder, firmer shape rather than create an artificial-looking one — the change usually reads as a more lifted version of your own figure. Because no implant or added volume is involved, the result tends to look and feel like you, just tightened.
Where will the scar be, and will it show?
The incision is placed high across the upper buttocks or lower back, where it can usually be kept within your waistband or bikini line and stays hidden in most underwear and swimwear. A lift does leave a scar — that is the trade for removing the loose skin — but it is positioned discreetly and typically softens and fades over the months that follow.
Does it hurt, and what is the swelling like?
Most people describe tightness and soreness in the first days rather than sharp pain, eased with prescribed pain relief. Swelling is normal and settles gradually over the following weeks, supported by a compression garment, while you avoid prolonged direct pressure on the buttocks early on as the incision settles.
How much time off will I need?
Most patients return to desk work within about two weeks. Sport and strenuous activity are reintroduced gradually over roughly four to six weeks, and the compression garment is worn for several weeks to support the new contour. Your own timeline depends on whether the lift is done alone or as part of a wider lower-body lift.
How long do the results last, and could I need a second operation?
The lift is lasting — the skin that is removed does not come back, though staying at a stable weight protects the result, as further weight changes or ageing can affect any area over time. Most people need only one operation; occasionally a minor refinement is discussed, which Dr. Karatzias will be honest with you about beforehand.
What anaesthetic is used, and can it be combined with other procedures?
A buttock lift is performed under general anaesthetic. Because loose skin after major weight loss rarely affects only the buttocks, it is often combined into a lower-body (belt) lift addressing the outer thighs and hips, and liposuction may be added to refine the surrounding contour. The right plan is decided with Dr. Karatzias at your consultation.
RELATED PROCEDURES
The volume option — adding fullness and projection with your own fat or gel.
Refining the hips and flanks — often combined to complement the lift.
Ultrasound-assisted sculpting of the surrounding contour with a faster recovery.
Book a consultation with Dr. Karatzias to discuss whether a buttock lift is right for you. In-person in Cyprus.
CALL +357 22 275522
Staying at the forefront of medical advancement. Dr. Karatzias is proudly accredited by leading global organizations in both Plastic Surgery and Wound Management.
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