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 April 2023, 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?

A buttock lift is a surgical procedure which serves to lift and reshape the buttocks, reducing volume, improving contours and giving the buttocks a more shapely appearance. During a buttock lift, excess skin and fat are removed from the area. This skin is then repositioned to create a more toned and contoured look as part of buttock surgery.

As we age, our skin loses elasticity, causing it to wrinkle and sag. This means we lose the natural ‘roundness’ in our buttocks as the volume in the top moves to the bottom of the buttocks. This loss of elasticity, combined with the loss of volume, leads to a saggy, squarer-looking bottom. This is a common side effect of dramatic weight loss and pregnancy. Genetics can also play a part in whether a person has a sagging bottom.

A buttock lift should not be viewed as a substitute for weight loss. You will see the best results of the butt lift if you are not overweight or obese.

There are four different buttock lift techniques which we use here at the Cadogan Clinic, depending on the amount of excess sagging skin present. Each technique results in different scarring, with some more discreet than others.

The buttock lift is often carried out alongside a tummy tuck and a thigh lift. A buttock lift with liposuction is also a popular option. Liposuction is used to remove excess fat, freeing up the skin that needs to be lifted to perform a buttock lift.

By combining these procedures, a patient will enjoy an enhanced result, contouring the buttocks, groin, abdomen area and the thighs.

Depending on the number of different procedures you opt for, the surgery can take a number of hours.

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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 it?

As we age the elasticity of our skin changes and becomes looser. This speed of this process can be increased if our weight fluctuates dramatically or we possess genetic factors that predispose us toward poor skin elasticity. This process impacts many areas of the body, including the buttock area, and causes the skin tissue to stretch and sag.

Stretched skin is unlikely to shrink back naturally and typically cannot be tightened with diet and exercise. This is a common misconception, and surgical intervention may be the only way to deliver your desired results.

This sagging of the skin can cause people to become self-conscious of their body, preventing them from feeling comfortable in many clothes, particularly swimwear and sportswear.

To achieve a tighter, leaner look to your legs, a Buttock lift can be a highly effective solution, so you can feel confident in your body once more.

You might consider a buttock lift if you want:

  • A more shapely, contoured buttock and upper thigh area
  • A firmer, toned buttock and upper thigh area
  • To remove excess, loose ‘sagging’ skin
  • Target stubborn areas of unwanted buttock fat
  • To improve the overall appearance of the lower body

A buttock lift is typically done in combination with other body contouring procedures.

The overall effect is to deliver a more sculpted, aesthetically pleasing buttock, firmer to the touch and with tightened, smooth overlying skin.

Who is suitable?

Cadogan Clinic considers individuals fit for the procedure, if all of the following are true of them:

  • You are in good psychological and physical medical health
  • You are at your ideal body weight
  • You have a positive outlook and realistic expectations of what can be achieved via surgery
  • You are seeking to remove excess skin in your buttocks and thighs
  • You are seeking to remove excess fat deposits and cellulite in your buttocks and thighs
  • You are seeking to improve the shape and contours of your buttocks and thighs
  • You are looking for long lasting results 

Words from our clients:


The cost of a Buttock Lift

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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 are the options?

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

It takes between one and two hours in total, sometimes longer if you are combining buttock surgery with other procedures, such as a tummy tuck. A buttock lift is performed under general anaesthetic.  Buttock surgery can target one single area or the whole of the buttocks or thighs. Liposuction can also be carried out to remove excess fat. This enables the surgeon to lift the skin which has been freed up by liposuction.

During an average buttock lift procedure, the surgeon will remove tissue from the area where the lower back meets the buttock. This removal allows for the tissue to be elevated and the buttocks, hips and the lower back to be reshaped as desired. When buttock surgery is performed in conjunction with liposuction of the hips, the removed fat is transferred back into the buttock area. This is a great way of restoring youthful curves in patients with flatter buttocks.

There are four different buttock lift techniques which we use at the Cadogan Clinic:

This is the most invasive method of surgery, where an incision is made at the top of the buttocks. Then the excess underlying tissue is removed before the surgeon repositions the buttock in order to improve its appearance and contour. Although this procedure is very effective in lifting the buttocks, it can leave a long scar at the top of the patient’s bottom.

This is the best option if you are experiencing only a moderate sagging of the skin. In this particular type of buttock surgery, the surgeon will make an incision in the lower buttocks where there is a natural crease in the fold of the bottom. Excess tissue is then removed from the lower side of the buttock. This technique results in a less visible scar, as it is hidden in the natural buttock crease.

This technique gets its name from the shape of the surgical incision. This incision starts from the central crease of the bottom and carries on upwards and outwards, resembling the wings of a butterfly. The butterfly buttock lift is highly effective in tightening the skin. However there are other buttock surgery methods which are far more effective for repositioning or lifting of the buttocks.

People who are only experiencing moderate sagging and do not have large amounts of excess fat and skin may benefit from a lateral buttock lift. In this method, the surgeon makes an incision into the outer side of each buttock, 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.

The first step for all of our Buttock lift patients is to meet with the surgeon we feel is best placed to perform your procedure for a consultation. At the consultation you will be able to discuss with your surgeon what your hope to achieve from the procedure, as well as discuss in detail what may or may not be possible given your existing anatomy.

Your surgeon will take you through the options available to you, and which is the most preferential for you given your stated ambitions. Having established this, several key measurements will be made and standard clinical photography will be taken.

Some questions you may want to ask your surgeon include:

  • Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
  • Can I achieve the results I am asking for?
  • What will be expected of me to get the best results?
  • Do you have before-and-after photos?
  • How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
  • What scars will I be left with?
  • Will I be in pain after the surgery?
  • How soon after Buttock lift can I return to work?

Finally a comprehensive discussion regarding risks and complications will take place, alongside a discussion regarding what to expect in the post procedure and recovery phase. Your previous medical history will also be recorded (including previous surgery, medications, allergies etc.) and an assessment of your fitness for surgery.

If your surgeon feels you are a good candidate for surgery, you are then invited to consider whether you would like to proceed for surgery or otherwise following a two week 'cooling off' period.

Within this period you are welcome to come in and discuss your potential surgery with your surgeon as many times as you like.

If you choose to proceed with surgery, the next time you come into the Clinic after your final consultation will be the day of your procedure. Before admission the following behavioural changes are recommended / required:

  • In the 6 weeks before your procedure we recommend smoking is discontinued as patients who smoke have a higher risk of healing more slowly and complications (see FAQs)
  • In the week before your procedure you must cease taking Aspirin or any medication that contains Aspirin
  • In the 6 hours prior to surgery you must not consume food or any drink, other than small sips of clear fluid (e.g. still water, black coffee, black tea) which are allowed up to 2 hours before admission

On the day of your procedure we ask that you arrive for your admission an hour before the agreed start time of surgery. At this point a nurse will come and record blood pressure and other relevant vitals, you will meet with your anaesthetist and your surgeon who will make the final mark-ups.

Before surgery, the surgeon will measure up the buttocks and thighs to assess how much fat and/or skin needs to be removed. The buttocks and thighs are then photographed, with the skin markings, in various positions, front and back. The procedure is carried out under our form of general anaesthesia called T.I.V.A. (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) and takes two hours.

The buttocks are bandaged after surgery to reduce bruising and you will feel stiff and mildly uncomfortable as you bend your legs or move your back. Most of the sutures used are dissolving to avoid stitch marks, but there may be a few to remove a week or so after surgery. Bruising lasts about 3 weeks.

You should not feel much pain during the procedure, but you may have some for a few days or weeks afterwards. You'll be given painkillers if you need them.

Following the procedure, you will recover in our ambulatory recovery rooms for between two to three hours, dependent on the scale of the procedure. Once our specialist nursing team are happy that your initial recovery is complete and you are safe to return home, you will be allowed to leave the Clinic accompanied by a friend or member of your family.

Once home you will have access to our dedicated on-call nursing team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This team of specialists are dedicated to your comfort and pain control, and are there to field any questions you may have in the immediate post operative phase.

We ask that you come in and see our nursing team 1 week after surgery to ensure your incision sites have been properly reviewed. At this juncture we also recommend you meet with one of our on site aestheticians to discuss ongoing treatment to support the healing and scarring process.

We ask that you come in to see your surgeon after 6 - 8 weeks for a final check up.

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.

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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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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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What are the risks?

Buttock lift surgery is a safe procedure, but it is common to experience:

  • bruising and swelling
  • temporary numbness
  • a small amount of scarring 

As with all surgical procedures, Buttock lift surgery carries some risk and it is possible that you might experience:

  • Nausea
  • Bleeding or Infection
  • Poor healing of incisions and scarring
  • Seroma
  • a collection of blood underneath the skin (haematoma)
  • death of fat tissue (fat necrosis) or embolism

Your surgeon will discuss these risks comprehensively at your consultation and explain how likely these risks and complications are, and how they would be treated.


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