Body Surgery

Buttock Lift

at Cadogan Clinic, London’s Leading Cosmetic Surgery Specialists. Buttock Lifts normally start at around £8800.

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Award Winning Specialist Clinic

We've won 12 top industry awards since 2010 and regularly feature in the national and international press.

Industry Leading Consultants

We've won 12 top industry awards since 2010 and regularly feature in the national and international press.

Care Quality Commission

We've won 12 top industry awards since 2010 and regularly feature in the national and international press.

GMC Registered Surgeons

We've won 12 top industry awards since 2010 and regularly feature in the national and international press.

Medically Reviewed 14 February 2024, by Mr. Bryan Mayou (GMC: 1414396) - founder of the Cadogan Clinic and one of the world's leading plastic surgeons

What is a Buttock Lift?

The buttock lift, also known as a butt lift or a bum lift, is a surgical procedure which lifts and reshapes the buttocks, reducing volume, and improves tone. Excess skin and fat are removed from the area before the skin is repositioned resulting in toned and lifted buttocks.

Ageing causes the breakdown of elastin and collagen in your skin, leading to loss of tone. This results in the buttocks losing the volume in the top portion, creating an unbalanced and saggy appearance. Some people find their bottom appears quite ‘square’ in shape. The most common causes for this are ageing, dramatic weight loss, pregnancy, or genetics. 

The buttock lift can be combined with other procedures such as an abdominoplasty or a thigh lift, to enhance the overall results by contouring the entire mid-section of the body. Your surgeon may also suggest using liposuction as part of your procedure to remove any excess fat, to loosen the skin that needs to be lifted.

If your concerns are about having small buttocks, or lack of contouring around your waist and thighs, you may want to consider a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure, instead of the Buttock Lift. This is a because a BBL concerns itself with volume and shape, whereas a lift for tone and reduction.

At Cadogan Clinic, we are not only a leading London bum lift provider; our team are known the world over. 

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Buttock Lift
At a glance

Surgery Time

2 hours

Time off work

1 - 2 weeks

Hospital Stay

Day Case

Shower

After 1 week

Reasonable Mobility

After 1 day

Exercise

After 6 weeks

Bras & Garments

2 weeks

Sexual Activity

4 - 6 weeks

Sleeping on front

1 - 2 weeks

Full Recovery

6 - 8 weeks

Driving

2 weeks


Why do people have a bum lift?

Ageing naturally causes our skin to lose the tone that we experience when we are younger. Weight loss, pregnancy and genetics can all cause this process to occur faster. This process affects the buttocks, by causing the volume to move from the upper portion of the buttocks to lower down, making your buttocks or your 'cheeks' pull or fall downwards.

Skin that has been stretched too far cannot shrink back naturally and usually cannot be tightened with diet and exercise. This often occurs with hormonal changes like pregnancy or with weight gain and loss. Surgical intervention may be the only way produce your desired results.

The loss of tone can cause patients to feel self-conscious, feeling uncomfortable in certain clothing such as swimwear and sportswear. A butt lift will correct the sagging in the skin and tissue, leading to you feeling more confident, with a higher quality of life.

The result is contoured, lifted buttocks, which feel firmer and with smooth overlying skin.

Who is suitable?

At Cadogan Clinic, our consultant surgeons will assess whether you are suitable for a Buttock Lift in a bespoke one to one consultation. 

During your consultation, your surgeon will examine your buttocks and discuss your concerns around sagging and loss of tone in your buttocks. They will assess your expectations of surgery and ensure you understand the individual results that are possible for you. They will also evaluate your general physical and mental health to ensure you are suitable for a general anaesthetic procedure, this may include your weight, and any medical and mental conditions you have.

You must be over 18 to have this procedure.

Words from our clients:


The cost of a Buttock Lift

Cadogan Clinic has collaborated with Chrysalis Finance to offer a variety of payment choices for our patients including:
12 months 0% Interest-free - APR
24 - 60 months at 12.9% APR
Flexible Finance

Get in touch now to get a bum lift price

Get in touch 0207 901 8500

Included in this treatment

Up to two 60 minute consultations with a leading specialist plastic surgeon at our award-winning premises in Chelsea

Your procedure carried out at London’s leading specialist cosmetic surgery centre of excellence

24/7 on call nurse assistance 

Dedicated Patient Co-ordinator, as a personal point of contact through your journey with Cadogan 

A pre-operative medical assessment to ensure you are fit for surgery 

Comprehensive post-operative aftercare courtesy of our specialist cosmetic nurses


What is involved in a butt lift?

A buttock lift, which is also known as a bum lift or butt lift, is an invasive surgical procedure. 

Our experienced consultant surgeons are esteemed butt lift London providers because of the wide array of surgery techniques we can employ to achieve your desired results.

Buttock lift is a surgical procedure which takes between one and two hours, however this may be longer if your surgeon is performing other surgical procedures during the same surgery. The buttock lift is performed under general anaesthetic, meaning you are completely asleep and will have no awareness of your surgery.

There are four different techniques the surgeon will choose from to perform your buttock lift, however generally, the surgeon will remove tissue from the area where the lower back meets the buttocks. They will then lift and reshape the buttocks, leaving them in an elevated position, which is in proportion with your body’s shape and size. 

The techniques that your surgeon will choose from to perform your surgery are: 

This is the most invasive method of London Buttock Lift surgery. A horizontal incision is made at the top of the buttocks before any underlying excess tissue is removed. Your surgeon will then reposition your buttocks, so they are lifted, and the skin is tightened. This procedure is highly effective in lifting the buttocks however it can result in a long scare at the top of the patient’s bottom. 

This option is used to treat moderate loss of tone and elasticity in the skin. The surgeon will make an incision in the lower buttocks where the natural crease in the fold of the bottom occurs. Excess tissue is then removed from the lower side of the buttock, reducing any appearance of sagging or imbalance in the buttocks. This method is popular among patients who want their scarring to be as concealed as possible.

This technique is named due to the shape of the incision your surgeon makes. The incision starts from the central crease of the bottom and continues upwards and outwards, resembling the wings of a butterfly. This is highly effective for patients whose main concern is tightening the skin. However, it is somewhat less effective in lifting and toning the entire shape of the buttock.

Patients who are concerned about moderate buttock sagging and do not have large amounts of excess fat and skin may benefit from a lateral Buttock Lift. The surgeon makes an incision into the outer side of each buttock, before manipulating the tissue into an elevated position leaving minimal scarring behind.


Buttock Lift Surgeons

We have invited a selection of the country's very best consultants to join us at the Cadogan Clinic so that you can be sure that whatever the nature of your treatment, you will be seeing one of the top practitioners in the country.


What to expect

Below you will find some key information to help you prepare for surgery and make necessary arrangements to ensure you have the support you need and that everything runs smoothly on the day.

You will meet your surgeon for up to two consultations at our award-winning Chelsea based clinic to discuss buttock lift surgery and your desired results. Surgical consultations are usually between 30-60 minutes and your surgeon will explain the best method for you and the results you can expect.

We recommend writing down any questions you have for your surgeon before your consultation. This will ensure you feel fully prepared and are able to get the most from the time with your surgeon.

Your surgeon will also conduct a general health and wellness check, take your measurements, and take photos to be added to your medical records.

Your surgeon will send your surgical plan through to your patient advisor. If the surgeon has decided you are suitable for a buttock lift, your advisor will explain the plan, pricing and offer available dates to you. You will then have a two-week cooling off period to allow you to consider whether you wish to proceed with your surgery.

If you decide to go ahead with your surgery, you will next visit the clinic on the day of your Buttock Lift. In the run up to your surgery, you will be asked to prepare in the following way:

 

  • You will need to complete your pre-operative paperwork to allow your surgical team (surgeon, anaesthetist, and nurses) to review all your medical and psychological information and advice on any changes you need to make in the run up to your Buttock Lift.
  • If you smoke or vape, your surgeon will ask you to stop for six weeks before surgery can take place. This is vital to ensure your recovery is smooth and you heal fully and properly.
  • You will also be asked to cut down on drinking alcohol as excessive alcohol consumption can also impact the healing and recovery process.
  • In the week before your procedure, avoid taking any anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin, and any herbal supplements as these can increase the risk of bleeding.
  • You will need to organise a chaperone to come and collect you after the surgery. This should be a family member or friend who can either drive you or accompany you in a taxi and stay with you for the first night.
  • In the 6 hours before you arrive at the clinic, you mustn’t eat any solid food or consume any juice or milk (including tea or coffee). You can have sips of clear liquids (water, or black tea and coffee) up to 2 hours before you arrive at the clinic.

On your surgery day, you will be asked to arrive at the clinic an hour before your buttock lift is scheduled to begin. This will allow you to speak with your surgeon, anaesthetist, and the nurses to ask any final questions, and to be prepared for surgery with any marking the surgeon may need to do.

You will then be taken into theatre, where your anaesthetist will administer your general anaesthetic. All procedures at Cadogan Clinic are done using TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) which minimises post-operative sickness and nausea and allows for a faster initial recovery.

Your surgeon will then carry out your buttock lift. After the procedure is finished, you will be taken to our recovery ward, where you will wake up from the anaesthetic and a nurse will check your vital health signs - your blood pressure, heart rate and temperature. Once you are awake and comfortable, you will be taken into our ambulatory ward where you will have something to eat and drink and a nurse will talk you through any medication you need to take once you leave and how to look after your garment. When you are ready, the nurses will ask your chaperone to come and collect you and you will be discharged.

The first few days following surgery may be slightly uncomfortable and you may experience some pain. Your surgical team will have prescribed any medications you may need to help to control this and keep you comfortable. You will be up and moving within a day and able to bathe normally in three days.

While you are recovering from a Buttock Lift, your surgeon will ask you to wear a garment to reduce swelling, aid healing and support your buttocks to ensure they remain in their intended position. You should also avoid physical activity for up to 8 weeks post-surgery, to prevent any strain being placed on the surgical site. You will also be asked to sleep on your front, and to avoid sitting for prolonged periods for 2 weeks after surgery to avoid putting direct pressure on the buttocks.

One week after your Buttock Lift you will have an in-person appointment with our nurses. They will assess your incisions and make sure you are healing well. They will provide any advice you need on dressings and will be able to answer any questions you may have about your recovery.

Six weeks after your Buttock Lift you will meet with your surgeon so they can check your recovery, discuss your results, and answer any questions about your ongoing recovery from that point. After six weeks, if you have any questions or concerns, you will still be able to contact the team and speak with one of our specialist nurses.

The Patient Journey. A breakdown of what you can expect on your journey with us

We are deeply invested in ensuring that every step of your surgical journey with us is as informative and reassuring to you as it can be. This article outlines what you can expect at each stage of the journey

The Patient Journey

Frequently Asked Question

Loose sagging skin in the buttock area can be caused by a number of common factors:

  • Genetics - occurs naturally
  • Dramatic weight loss
  • Ageing

No special preparation is required although it is generally advisable to do the following before any surgery:

  • Stop smoking. Smoking decreases blood flow in the skin and can slow the healing process. If you smoke, your doctor will recommend that you stop smoking before surgery and during recovery.
  • Avoid certain medications. You'll likely need to avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, which can increase bleeding.
  • Arrange for help during recovery. Make plans for someone to drive you home after you leave the hospital and stay with you for at least the first night of your recovery at home.

Buttock lift surgery should take two hours.

You should start to see results in the days following buttock lift surgery. These will fully start to appear from around the six-week mark and improvements will be ongoing for the first 12 or so months post-procedure.

As we age the elasticity of our skin changes and becomes looser. The ageing process will continue from your new post-procedure point, and skin laxity will gradually increase over time. The ageing process will start from a far better point, however, so it should be many years before this becomes noticeable again.

As you get older, however, you should expect to see the buttock skin begin to sag again, particularly if you gain weight.

The results will be long lasting so long as you maintain your body weight following surgery. If you gain weight, this stretches the skin and if you lose a large amount of weight, you are subsequently left with an amount of excess sagging skin, which may require further surgery. We recommend you eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to avoid weight fluctuation. 

We would strongly recommend you quit smoking as this can accelerate the ageing process and impact the longevity of the surgery results.

Your results will be long lasting so long as you maintain your body weight following surgery.

The ageing process will however continue from your new post-procedure point, and skin laxity will gradually increase over time. The ageing process will start from a far better point, however, so it should be many years before this becomes noticeable again.

As you get older, however, you should expect to see the buttock skin begin to sag again, particularly if you gain weight.

You will not feel any pain during the procedure as you will be under the influence of anaesthetic.

Immediately following surgery, you may experience discomfort but any pain should be tolerable. Your surgeon can provide painkillers for this and the majority of patients no longer need them a few days after buttock surgery.

Buttock lift surgery is straightforward, safe surgery although you should be aware of all the risks and complications before going ahead with surgery. Some are listed on this page, but your surgeon at your will go through these at length and in full at your consultation.

Recovery time for this procedure will depend on the individual patient.

We usually advise that you take around two weeks off work following surgery as there will be bruising and swelling which may take around 10 days to subside. We also recommend you do not resume exercise for 4 – 6 weeks.

In the following few weeks, as you heal, smoother skin on the buttock and scars will start to heal.

Our expertise in scarring techniques along with our highly-experienced surgeons ensure a great result, and whilst a Buttock lift surgery is not an especially painful procedure, you may experience discomfort due to the tight sensation of the skin. Effective pain relief can be provided by your aftercare team should you require it.

If you have undergone Liposuction, you will feel a little bruised and stiff for a few days but there is no restriction on movement. Any dressings can be removed in a couple of days or when they come loose, and stitches removed in a week.

Yоu may соntіnuе tо experience ѕоmе mіld, реrіоdіс dіѕсоmfоrt and ѕwеllіng durіng thіѕ tіmе, but ѕuсh fееlіngѕ аrе nоrmаl. Sеvеrе pain, bleeding or swelling should bе reported tо your surgeon.

You will receive more detailed advice from your surgeon ahead of surgery.

You will need to wear a tight-fitting body garment for the first few weeks to support the area. You should not engage in any strenuous activities until your surgeon releases you to do so.

Your scars will be permanent but will eventually fade. You should allow 9 - 12 months for your scars to flatten and lighten in colour.

A buttock lift is typically done in combination with other body contouring procedures, such as a tummy tuck, thigh lift or even a knee lift.

A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure which sees excess skin removed from the waist and the tightening of the muscles and fascia of the abdominal wall to achieve a tighter, flatter-looking stomach. 

A thigh lift aims to lift and tighten the loose, sagging folds of skin in and around the thigh area. It is designed to remove excess tissue to leave a firmer, smoother contour. Like the buttock lift, the thigh lift is suitable for patients who have excess sagging skin caused by dramatic weight loss. 

On the front of the knee, there are generally two bulges, just below the kneecap on the front on either side on which the fat can be removed.

All these procedures can be combined with liposuction to remove excess fat.

Buttock lift surgery is performed as a day case, meaning you will be able to return home after the surgery. You can expect to have reasonable mobility back after a few days, and a return to your full daily activities after 6-8 weeks.

A buttock lift isn't for everyone. Your doctor might caution against a buttock lift if you:

  • Have a severe chronic condition, such as heart disease or diabetes
  • Plan to lose a significant amount of weight
  • Have a body mass index that's greater than 32
  • Are a smoker
  • Have an unstable mental health condition

It is important that for at least two weeks after your surgery you avoid sitting for a prolonged period of time. As a general rule, you should avoid putting direct pressure on the buttocks as much as possible after your surgery.

You can do this by using a pillow to raise your buttocks when you sit down. You should also try to sleep on your front or sides immediately after surgery. We recommend that you try and avoid sleeping on your back for the first three weeks as this also puts pressure on the buttocks.

For the first four weeks after your surgery, you will need to avoid all sports and strenuous exercise. During this time, we recommend going on gentle walks to keep active, which in turn will help with your recovery.

After week four, you will be able to start doing some exercise again. However, you should still avoid strenuous activity and contact sports. After six to eight weeks you should be able to resume all sports and exercise. This includes contact sports and weightlifting.

You should ask your surgeon for specific timeframes of when you will be able to return to sport and exercise.

Once you have recovered enough to start exercising again, there are a number of different exercises which can help to maintain the result of your buttock lift surgery.

You should consider introducing squats, lunges, weighted bridges and donkey kicks to your exercise regimen. Step-ups and deadlifts will also help. You should try using resistance bands to do sidestep squats.

The amount of scarring depends on the type of technique used in your buttock surgery.

If your surgeon performs a lower buttock lift or a lateral buttock lift, the scarring is minimal as the incisions are well hidden. An upper buttock lift is a far more invasive surgery and leaves a long scar at the top of the patient’s bottom.

The fourth technique we use here at the Cadogan Clinic, the butterfly buttock lift, sees the incision starting from the central crease of the bottom, carrying on upwards and outwards, to resemble the wings of a butterfly.

The type of method will depend on how much excess skin you have and what you hope to achieve through surgery.  Your surgeon will advise which type of method will be best suited for you.


A state of the art, award winning clinic.

Founded in 2004 by world renowned plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, we now work with over 100 leading consultants and successfully treat over 20,000 patients each year. We have been winning industry awards since inception.

About Us

Best in Class Facilities

All of our treatments take place at our beautiful boutique premises in Chelsea. We have six consulting rooms and five operating rooms, as well as a dedicated pre and post-operative suite, and a full team of specialist nursing staff.

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A Strong Tradition of Innovation

We were founded in 2004 by world renown plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, best known for his pioneering work in the area of liposuction, lasers and microvascular surgery. We continue to collaborate with pioneers in our field.

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We offer surgical consultations in London, Birmingham, Chelmsford and Bristol, and attract international patients from all corners of the globe such as as the USA, the Middle East and Europe.

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What are the risks?

Before opting for a Buttock Lift or any cosmetic surgery, it is vital to be aware of the potential risks and complications. 

  • Hematoma - This is the build-up of blood beneath the skin in your buttocks and will require treatment from your surgeon.
  • Poor wound healing - Healing complications or infection can affect the incision sites.
  • Asymmetry - Occasionally, one buttock may appear larger or more lifted than the other.
  • Seroma - This is the formation of a lump under the skin caused by buildup of fluid around the incision sites. This will require treatment from your surgeon.

In the event of an unforeseen complication or less than optimal outcome, a secondary revision surgery may be required. The need for a revision procedure can arise due to factors beyond the surgeon’s control. Our skilled consultant surgeons are qualified professionals who have performed Buttock Lift procedures numerous times.

 

It is also important to acknowledge that any surgical procedure carries a slight risk of:

  • Excessive bleeding 
  • Allergic reaction to general anaesthetic
  • Infection at the surgical site
  • Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in a vein)

Your surgeon will assess your personal risk for all these factors alongside your general health and suitability for surgery. They will also explain how these risks would be addressed and treated in the event they occur. They may also ask you to make medical or lifestyle changes as part of your surgery preparation to reduce your personal risk.


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