Buttock filler is the injection of a filler material under the skin of the buttocks to add volume and adjust shape. It is also known as non-surgical buttock augmentation or a non-surgical butt lift. It is done through small entry points without a surgical incision, but it is still an injection procedure with its own risks.

Surgical options also exist, including silicone implants and transfer of a person’s own fat; for people who also need liposuction, moving the removed fat to the buttocks may be assessed separately.

Two types of body filler may be used on the buttocks at the clinic:

• Hyaluronic acid-based body fillers: They contain a substance found naturally in the body, are gradually broken down and can be dissolved with an enzyme if needed.
• Polyamide hydrogel (Los Deline): A hydrogel containing physiological saline and synthetic polyamide. It creates volume by taking up space in the tissue and cannot be dissolved with an enzyme.

The product is chosen at examination, based on the area and your health. For filler types in general, see dermal fillers.

Buttock filler may be considered for a limited change in buttock volume or shape. Suitability is decided at a face-to-face examination, which usually looks at:

• The area: Skin thickness, fat tissue and any hollows at the sides of the hips.
• Expectations: Whether the desired change can realistically be achieved with filler.
• General health: Chronic conditions, medications and any history of allergies.
• Previous treatments: Whether filler or any other substance has been injected into the area before.

With marked skin laxity or a wish for a large change in volume, filler is usually not appropriate; despite the name, a non-surgical butt lift does not correct marked sagging. A plastic surgeon’s assessment is then more suitable.

If the area has had filler before, give the product name and date. Adding filler where substances of unknown content are present may increase the risk of complications, and an ultrasound may be requested first. If the main concern is a difference between the two sides, see body asymmetry correction.

The area is assessed while you stand and the filler points are marked. Tell your doctor in advance about blood thinners and supplements that may increase bruising.

1. The area is cleaned with an antiseptic solution and sterile conditions are set up.
2. Local anesthetic is applied to the entry points.
3. The filler is placed in controlled amounts in the layer under the skin with a fine cannula.
4. Even distribution is checked and the entry points are closed.

A doctor performs the procedure under sterile conditions at the clinic in Nişantaşı, Istanbul; the amount is planned at examination. Mild discomfort, usually easing within a few days to a week, may be felt, and most people go home the same day.

Early swelling can change how the area looks, so the result is reviewed at a follow-up visit once it settles. Any touch-up is planned only after the tissue has fully settled.

A few rules help the filler settle and reduce the risk of shifting; your doctor will also give you written instructions:

• Sitting and sleeping: Do not lie on the treated area in the first days, and avoid sitting for long periods for about a month.
• Pressure and activity: Avoid constant pressure on the area and intense exercise for the first 2–3 weeks.
• Heat: Stay away from Turkish baths, saunas and steam rooms for about 10 days.
• Massage: If your doctor advises it, massage the area with the cream provided for a set period.

Possible side effects and risks include:

• Common: Swelling, pain, bruising and tenderness.
• Irregularity: A lump that can be felt, asymmetry or a wavy surface.
• Migration: Filler shifting away from the planned area over time.
• Infection: Rare; it can appear early or months later and requires treatment.
• Blocked blood vessel: Very rare and needs urgent treatment.

If you notice increasing pain, redness, warmth, discharge or fever, contact your doctor without delay.

This depends on the product. Hyaluronic acid-based body fillers are broken down over time, and the effect usually fades within 1–2 years. Polyamide hydrogel is designed to stay in the tissue for longer.

The main factors that affect duration are:

• Product type and amount: Products stay in the tissue for different lengths of time.
• Movement and pressure: Long periods of sitting and intense exercise may affect it.
• Personal factors: Metabolism and weight changes can affect the result.

With longer-lasting products, removal after a later problem may need a separate procedure, so product choice is discussed in detail at examination. Before any later ultrasound, MRI or procedure in the area, tell the doctor involved about the filler.