Non-surgical Butt & Hip: Buttock and hip contouring procedures are among the fastest-growing procedures in plastic surgery. No doubt, you have heard of the popular Brazilian Butt Lift, or BBL, which uses your own fat to enlarge and reshape the butt and hips.
You may have also heard of Dr. Schulman’s exclusive Lift & Fill BBL that combines the traditional BBL with skin removal. These are both excellent surgical procedures designed to improve the backside. However, not everyone is a candidate for these procedures and even those who are a candidate may desire a non-surgical approach instead.
Keep reading to learn more about non-surgical options for your butt and hips.
Most Non-surgical Butt & Hip reshaping procedures involve adding volume. This is typically done using your own fat, through a procedure called a Brazilian Butt Lift, or BBL. This added volume can enlarge the area and give a more roundness, projection and filling of hip dips.
But this requires that you have “donor fat” for the procedure. If you are thin, it is likely that you will not have any fat that can be removed and then re-injected. More commonly, even if you have some donor fat, you may not have enough to get the result you desire from your BBL.
Even if you DO have enough fat to get a good BBL result, you may not want surgery. Perhaps you are fearful of a surgical procedure, or do not have the necessary recovery time for a surgical procedure. Or, maybe you had a successful BBL in the past and want to “fine-tune” your results.
So, you are a candidate for a non-surgical butt and hip augmentation if you
This young woman is very thin and athletic. She wanted more roundness to her hips and was treated with a combination of Sculptra and Radiesse. She had a total of 20 vials of Sculptra and 10 syringes of Radiesse over 3 treatment sessions. She is shown 8 months after her last treatment.
This patient was concerned with her lack of projection. She had Sculptra injections to her buttocks. In total, she had 30 vials of Sculptra over 4 treatment sessions. She is shown 6 months after her final treatment.
This 30 year old woman desired buttock augmentation but did not want to undergo liposuction to harvest her own fat, so a surgical Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) was not an option. Instead, she had 200cc of alloclae human donor fat injected into her buttocks using only local anesthesia. She had an immediate recovery and her results at 6 months look amazing. Since the alloclae becomes her own fat, she can expect her results to last as long as she does.
This 30 year old woman desired buttock augmentation but did not want to undergo liposuction to harvest her own fat, so a surgical Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) was not an option. Instead, she had 200cc of alloclae human donor fat injected into her buttocks using only local anesthesia. She had an immediate recovery and her results at 6 months look amazing. Since the alloclae becomes her own fat, she can expect her results to last as long as she does.
So, how can we achieve similar results without surgery? The answer is by adding volume with something other than fat. There are several synthetic fillers that can do the job. These are injected directly into the area you want to enlarge, fill, or reshape.
All these fillers work differently. Some simply “fill”, similar to how you would fill your lips or cheeks of your face. Others stimulate your collagen so that your body will fill the area on its own. Some are completely synthetic, meaning they are made from artificial materials, while others are derived from human tissue.
Currently, the two most common synthetic fillers are:
There is also another option for non-surgical buttock and hip augmentation called alloClae™.
alloClae™ is a non-surgical injectable fat transfer filler consisting of sterilized human donor fat. alloClae™ is uniquely processed to remove all DNA and its reactive components, leaving de-identified fat cells that will not trigger any rejection by your body. Most importantly, the process preserves the naturally-occurring growth factors, proteins and collagen matrix. This allows the injected fat cells to mature, integrate, and give the shape and volume you desire. Simply put, this is not a traditional filler. It is human fat, injected into your body, that becomes your own natural fat. This option is a way to use donor human fat that becomes your own fat, and may be the most natural and long-lasting way to obtain a non-surgical butt and hip augmentation.
“This procedure is a great way for me to combine my skills with injectable fillers and my skills as a Brazilian Butt Lift surgeon. I have performed many thousands of surgical Brazilian Butt Lifts, but have still had to turn many people away because they are not surgical candidates.
This non-surgical approach gives options to people that would otherwise have none. It is also a great way of improving the results of a surgical procedure.”
These fillers need to be injected directly into the areas that need to be filled or reshaped. During your consultation, Dr. Schulman will discuss which material is best for you, and how much of it you will require to get your desired results. When you arrive for your procedure, Dr. Schulman will examine you and mark the areas that are to be injected. The marking is done when you are standing since things change when you lay down. After marking you, you will lay on the bed and the product will be injected into the areas.
The synthetic products, such as Sculptra and Radiesse, are mixed with numbing medicine, so there is minimal discomfort and people tolerate it very well. After the injections, you will see improvement but it will take some time to see the final results, as your body builds collagen.
When using alloClae™, Dr. Schulman will inject numbing medicine directly into the areas where the volume is being added.
You can resume normal activities immediately, but can expect some temporary bruising, swelling, and tenderness. When using Sculptra or Radiess, you will require multiple treatment sessions, so you should anticipate doing this about 3 times, with a month in between each treatment session. Because alloClae™ is actual fat that is injected, the improvement is more immediate and you will not require additional treatments to see your results, but you may desire more injections down the road if you desire more augmentation.
Results after the procedure
When using Sculptra or Radiesse, you will see filling right away, but this will not be your final result. The areas will be swollen. This is because the product is mixed with fluid and numbing medicine so the fill you see over the first few days will decrease. Also, it can take 4-6 weeks for your body to increase collagen and fill the areas. This is why multiple treatments are needed to get to your final result. With alloClae™, your results will be more immediate.
I am very skinny but hated my hip dips. I wanted a BBL but had no fat to use and I couldn’t gain weight. I had Sculptra injected and it did exactly what I needed
Adding volume with Sculptra, Radiesse, or alloClae™ is a good option for the right person. It is an alternative for people who don’t want surgery and is also an option for people who are not a candidate for a traditional Brazilian Butt Lift because they lack their own donor fat. But, there are some things to keep in mind. The more volume you want, the more products and more treatments you will require, resulting in added cost. Dr. Schulman believes that the non-surgical BBL is best for targeted improvements in people who have no fat for a surgical BBL, or are strongly opposed to a surgical approach. Also, remember that a surgical BBL gives you the additional improvement from liposuction.
Treating Cellulite
Cellulite is visible dimples that commonly occur in the buttocks and thighs. Sometimes these dimples can be improved by filling them with Sculptra, Radiesse, or alloClae™.
However, they usually will require a treatment directed toward the deep collagen bands that are creating the dimple. In this case, Dr. Schulman would use a device called Aveli that directly targets and cuts the bands causing the dimple. After dividing these bands, you may then benefit from the addition of some material such as Scultpra, Radiesse, or alloClae™.
Why choose Dr. Schulman
Dr. Schulman is regarded as a world expert in buttock contouring. He has performed many thousands of surgical Brazilian Butt Lifts and has been invited multiple times to speak about his techniques to other plastic surgeons from around the world.
Dr. Schulman is also an expert at using fillers and has been using Sculptra, Radiesse, and alloClae™ since they were first introduced to this country. In fact, Dr. Schulman authored the paper that details the proper techniques for these injections.
When you combine his skill and experience related to BBLs and fat transfers with his skill and experience related to injectables, there should be no question that Dr. Schulman is the right person for your non-surgical BBL. It is a perfect fit.
Most importantly, Dr. Schulman will be 100% honest with you. Because he is an expert in the surgical AND non-surgical options, he will give you an honest assessment about which approach is best. Since he does both procedures, you do not have to worry that his recommendations are not completely genuine.
How many treatments do I need?
This will vary depending on how much fill you want. Most people will require 3 treatment sessions, with about a month in between.
Will I see the results right away?
You will see some temporary filling right away, but the swelling will go down and then you will slowly see increasing volume over the next several weeks.
How long does it last?
The results tend to last 2-3 years but may require some intermittent treatments to maintain the results.
Does it hurt?
Not really. There is numbing medicine mixed into the filler, so the treatments are very well tolerated.
Can I sit on my butt afterwards?
Unlike a surgical BBL, you will have ZERO sitting restrictions after your non-surgical BBL.
Is there downtime?
No. There may be some temporary bruising and swelling, but you can resume all activities as soon as you want to.
How much does it cost?
The prices will vary region to region and surgeon to surgeon, but will depend on how much filler you are getting. In some cases, non-surgical BBLs can ultimately cost more than surgical BBLs.
Can I get this even if I already had a surgical BBL?
Absolutely. In fact, Dr. Schulman thinks some of the best candidates are people who have had a successful BBL and want to “fine tune” certain areas.
Is this silicone injections?
No! None of the fillers used are liquid silicone. Liquid silicone is potentially dangerous and should never be injected.
How to choose your injector?
You want to choose an experienced injector, but it is even better to choose someone who is experienced in surgical AND non-surgical treatments for the butt and hips.