Post-Bariatric Buttock Contouring with Autogenous Tissue Augmentation

Abstract

There are many established plastic surgical techniques to address effectively the lax, redundant tissue of the post-weight loss patient. Surgeons who are beginning their involvement in treating these patients are discovering that standard techniques are not always applicable to this rapidly growing group of patients and their extraordinary surgical challenges. Unique to the buttocks and the post-bariatric female breast is a tendency for these areas not only to become loose and ptotic but also to lose their natural fullness after weight loss. This type of contour deformity is not adequately treated with excisional procedures alone. To improve the buttock shape in these patients, the author has developed a soft tissue augmentation of the buttocks using a large random flap of subcutaneous tissue. The flap is transposed as a supramuscular “implant” as part of a belt lipectomy-lower body lift type of procedure. This accomplishes an augmentation buttock-pexy, creating a more full and supple contour to the buttock than can be achieved with skin excision alone. This procedure has been performed in more than 60 patients with consistent, durable results and is a reliable method to improve the cosmetic results of post-bariatric buttock contouring surgery.