Buttock Implant Removal and Fat Grafting

Introduction to Buttock Implant Removal and Buttock Fat Grafting

Buttock implant removal and buttock fat grafting is a highly desired cosmetic procedure. Patients with buttock implant augmentation may experience two common side effects that result in their desire to remove their implants. Unfortunately, implant removal will result in not only deflation of the buttock mound but also the sagging of redundant buttock skin. As a result, patients require an alternative filling procedure. Due to the busy schedule and obvious concerns of buttocks aesthetics, patients may desire a simultaneous butt implant removal and butt fat grafting procedure.

Buttock implant removal

Buttock implant malposition and/or sciatica requires butt implant removal. Implant malposition can occur following physical stress resulting from improper, prolonged sitting positions or more physically active athletes. Such activities will place stress on the implant which will gradually stretch out the implant pocket. Moreover, once the implant pocket has stretched, the buttock implant can have more wiggle room resulting in implant malposition.

In some cases, the buttock implant may actually flip! The second side effect of buttock implant augmentation is sciatica. Sciatica refers to pain that radiates down the leg due to pressure on the sciatic nerve. This can result from the direct pressure of the buttock implant on the nerve. Two common causes of sciatica are choosing an implant that is too large and placing the implant too deep in the gluteus maximus muscle. This is because the sciatic nerve travels just underneath the gluteus muscle and thus prone to compression.

Simultaneous Buttock Fat grafting

Following butt implant removal, the buttock mound will appear deflated. As a result, patients demand immediate buttock volume replacement in order to avoid a deformed appearance.  Simultaneous fat grafting for volume replacement is the only alternative. Brazilian buttock lift requires harvest and transfer of fat in small volumes into the buttocks proper. This maneuver maximizes surface exposure of fat cells to their surroundings and ensures revascularization. Revascularization refers to the re-establishment of blood flow to fat cells which are necessary for fat survival. Therein lies the technical difficulty of undergoing simultaneous butt implant removal and fat graft transfer. The large pocket created by the removal of the buttock implant creates a large dead zone into which fat cannot be transferred. If fat is inadvertently placed into this pocket it will not get revascularized and die.

Technical challenges of buttock implant removal and simultaneous fat grafting

As discussed above, the removal of a buttock implant requires simultaneous fat grafting transfer in order to avoid buttock deformity. However, this presents technical challenges resulting from the inability to graft into the implant pocket. This constraint is resolved with a series of surgical maneuvers developed by Dr. Laguna.

First, we use a modified limited incision to arrive at the buttocks implant. Next, we cut the buttock implant pocket to remove the buttock implant. Dr. Laguna then uses an antibiotic solution to wash the implant pocket. Quilting and sealing stitches then seal the implant pocket. This minimizes the potential for fat cells from inadvertently entering the implant pocket. Next, we use a superficial feathering technique of fat cell transplantation to avoid transfer into the implant pocket. Superficial grafting technique requires the placement of the patient into an anti-flexed position. In addition, maximizing fat transfer to this region while avoiding the compromise of skin blood flow requires our expertise.

If you are desiring implant removal and simultaneous buttock fat grafting, contact our office for a FREE complimentary consultation.