.--Buttock Lift

Dr. Capella is the Chief of the Division of Post Bariatric Surgery in the department of plastic surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center and has one of the largest experiences in plastic surgery after weight loss in the world. He has personally performed over 4000 body contouring procedures on weight loss patients. Specifically, Dr. Capella has performed over 400 buttock lifts. The majority of Dr. Capella's practice is dedicated to this area of plastic surgery. Dr. Capella lectures regularly at national and international plastic surgery conferences on his techniques and has coauthored three books on body contouring after weight loss.


Consultation  Pre-Operative Visit  Day Of Surgery  Recovery Period  Risks


Background On Buttock Lifts
A buttock lift is a procedure designed to tighten the skin of the buttock area. The procedure can be performed alone or in combination with other operations such as a thigh lift and abdominoplasty. The combination of these three operations is often called a body lift. Like the face, the remainder of the body suffers the consequences of time, gravity and in some cases significant weight loss. While some areas are affected more than others, skin wrinkling and loss of tone occur throughout the body.

To achieve a balanced and pleasing aesthetic result, many patients seeking a tummy tuck may also need both a thigh and buttock lift. A buttock lift is a very powerful body rejuvenating procedure that perhaps is underutilized in the United States. Dr. Capella has a very large experience with this procedure. The ideal candidate for this operation is an individual with excess skin along the buttocks with associated cellulite. The procedure may incorporate liposuction to achieve balance between the torso, thighs and buttocks. The incision required for the procedure is placed very low on the back, just above the buttocks. The scar, which usually heals very well, is hidden by most contemporary underwear and bikini swimwear.

Dr. Capella's patients find the buttock lift procedure to be very gratifying because of its ability to improve both buttock contour and skin tone. Most individuals are not aware of the operation and only first recognize its potential when during consultation. Dr. Capella provides upward traction over the buttocks with the patient standing in front of a mirror.

Buttock Lift Consultation
At the first office visit, Dr. Capella will take a medical history and perform a focused physical examination. Medical conditions such as bleeding disorders, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, hernias, or a history of smoking will be of particular concern to Dr. Capella. Information regarding medications you are currently taking or have taken in the past, including all kinds of pain medications, will be requested by the doctor. Your height and weight will be recorded. You should know that this is not an operation for obesity. Thus, any patients more than 50% over their ideal body weight should consult with our Surgical Weight Reduction department. Dr. Capella also delineates the site of the planned incision for the buttock lift with you standing in front of a mirror.

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Buttock Lift Pre-Operative Visit
You will meet again with Dr. Capella approximately two weeks prior to surgery, at which time any remaining questions you may have regarding the operation will be answered. You will be asked to discontinue medications that could lead to bleeding during the surgery. The specific medications will be reviewed with you at the visit. You will then be asked to sign a consent form for the surgical procedure as well a consent form for our board certified anesthesiologist to provide anesthesia. Dr. Capella performs buttock lifts with general anesthesia.

Photographs will be taken of your abdomen thighs and buttocks and any other areas upon which Dr. Capella will be operating. Specific instructions regarding the date and time of your procedure will be given to you.
You are not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Exceptions may be made for certain individuals. You will need to arrange for an adult to drive you to and from our office on the day of the operation and for the first visit after the surgery. You should wear loose fitting clothing that will wash easily in the event they are soiled. Do not wear jewelry, contact lenses, or bring valuables to the operating room. Remove all body jewelry from pierced body parts; this can interfere with the procedure and may represent a safety threat to you because of the use of electrocautery during the procedure. Do not shave or wax prior to surgery, as this may increase your risk of infection. Any shaving that is necessary will be done the day of surgery by our staff.

The balance of your surgical fee is due at this pre-operative visit.

Finally, Dr. Capella will write prescriptions for preventative antibiotics to decrease your risk of infection and a narcotic analgesic for post-operative pain relief. The antibiotics should be started the day before surgery.

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Day Of Buttock Lift Surgery
On the day of your procedure, you will meet with Dr. Capella's nurse and your vital signs checked. The doctor will place skin markings on your buttocks to direct him during the procedure. The anesthesiologist will review your medical history and will then administer an anesthetic.

A buttock lift alone takes 2 hours. When the procedure is combined with an abdominoplasty and thigh lift it takes from 3-4 hours. The procedure involves removal of excess skin from the buttock area. Liposuction may sometimes be incorporated to further improve body contour. Drain tubes are placed under the skin to evacuate any fluid, which may ooze after the operation. The drains are removed approximately one week after surgery. The closure of the skin is done with dissolving-type suture material, which does not require removal.

Dressings are placed on the incisions. Patients are usually ready to be discharged from the recovery room from 6-8 hours after the conclusion of the procedure. This varies from patient to patient, depending on the extent of the procedure. It is necessary to have an adult drive you home and be with you during the first 24 hours after the surgery. Patients cannot be discharged to the company of a minor or to a car service. Patients from out of the tri-state area should plan to stay locally for approximately 7-10 days.

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Buttock Lift Recovery Period
For the first few days, you are likely to feel discomfort, which can be controlled with medication. Your buttock area will be swollen. The swelling will resolve over a period of several weeks depending on the extent of your surgery. We will provide you with instructions for personal hygiene and activity. We suggest you begin walking as soon as possible, although rest is very important as well.

You will be seen back in the office in 2-3 days, at which time the wounds are checked and dressings removed. Showering is permitted 48 hours after surgery. Individuals with deskwork type employment may resume work in one week. Lifting should be limited to 25 lbs. for four weeks. Others with work involving prolonged periods of standing or walking or heavy lifting may need to wait from 3 to 6 weeks. Vigorous activities or aerobic exercises should not be resumed for 6 weeks.

The buttocks will feel very tight for several days. In the first few days after surgery you will feel most comfortable lying flat. Over the next several days you will gradually be able to sit upright. You will likely experience occasional twinges of pain during the first several months after surgery. It takes several months for the buttocks to regain a normal feel. Temporary numbness, particularly just below the incision is common. The scar often becomes redder several weeks after surgery and begins to fade 2-3 months later. While the scar will never disappear completely, its appearance is usually very satisfactory. It may take the scar as long as 18 months to reach its final appearance.

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Risks Associated With Buttock Lift Surgery
A buttock lift is a common aesthetic procedure in Dr. Capella's practice with generally very good results. Nevertheless, there are always risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. Post-operative complications such as infection and blood clots are rare, but can occur. Infections can be treated with drainage and antibiotics, but will prolong your recovery. You can minimize the risk of blood clots by moving around as soon after surgery as possible.

Poor healing, which results in conspicuous scars, may necessitate a second operation. Smokers are advised to discontinue smoking six weeks prior to surgery and two weeks after surgery. Smoking, among other harmful side effects, decreases blood flow to the skin, increases the risk of complications and delays healing. You can reduce your risk of complications by closely following our instructions before and after the operation, especially with regard to when and how to resume physical activity. If you have any questions regarding your postoperative instructions, do not hesitate to contact the office.

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Next: Thigh Lift