If you’re unhappy with your bottom line but a Brazilian butt lift is not for you, Sculptra may be the answer. Unlike implants or other surgical solutions, this treatment has no downtime and far less risks. However it isn’t permanent, and it isn’t cheap. So is a Sculptra butt lift worth the money?
Bringing Up Butts
Our bodies are changing. Weight loss might make your cheekbones higher even as your butt cheeks shrink. Perhaps you’re more worried about sagging. Time and gravity play a role. Exercise and diet can only do so much. Even if our parents don’t leave us anything else, eventually most of us inherit their backsides. So if you’re looking in the mirror and dreaming of a neat seat, there are ways to restore your behind to its former glory.
The country that gave us the “bare-down-there” trend is credited with developing the Brazilian butt lift. But it isn’t for everyone. For this surgical procedure, you’ll “donate” some fat from places like your thighs or tummy. After it is liposuctioned from fatty areas, it will be injected into your derrière. If you don’t have enough fat in other places, this option isn’t for you.
You may also choose to get an implant. This is a fairly lengthy surgery. After an incision is made along the vertical butt crease, silicone implants are inserted. This is major surgery and leaves a scar on your behind. Good luck if you’re used to sleeping on your back! Spending a few days recovering from what feels like particularly brutal spanking is no fun.
Sculptra is different. Fillers for your face are designed to add volume and rely on hyaluronic acid to do so. Sculptra instead uses poly-L-lactic acid. Injected into your skin, it speeds the production of collagen –– that miracle protein which helps your dermis maintain its shape. Injecting your gluteus with the maximus amount of poly-L-lactic acid will leave you with a rounder, higher bottom.
The Bottom Line
Prior to the treatment, you’ll want to refrain from drinking alcohol for at least two days. For at least two weeks, avoid anything that thins your blood –– this includes both medications and herbal supplements. Everything from Vitamin E to cinnamon has anticoagulant properties; make sure to check with your healthcare provider. If you are a smoker, you’ll need to quit.
The procedure is straightforward. You’ll trade your clothing for a paper gown and lie on your belly. Your provider will swab the injection site with alcohol and sometimes a topical anesthetic. A few minutes later, it will be over. Not only will you be ready to go, you can even drive back to work. Lots of people even do it during their lunch break.
Some have combined the treatment with lifting sutures which can improve the appearance of your buttocks. Dermal fillers generally are considered safe, but Sculptra is not FDA-approved for butt lifts. This off-label use means it’s okay for your health provider to use it if they feel it is medically appropriate since the drug itself has already been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. To date, there have been few reports of serious side effects from the treatment while one study suggested that they can safely improve your bottom’s “firmness, shape, proportion, and projection.” The results will take a few months to show up, as the production of collagen takes time. Treatment costs around $1,000 a vial. Since most patients will require several vials, the entire procedure can cost $4,000 to $7,000. The biggest downside is impermanence. In two years, the collagen will be reabsorbed into your body, and your bottom will return to its former form. Still, if you are looking for a better butt without surgery, Sculptra might be the solution for you.
Written by John Bankston
References
- Minimally-invasive gluteal augmentation with poly-L-lactic acid, platelet rich plasma, and lifting sutures
- BAAPS Announces formal review of buttock fat grafting
- Transcutaneous scarless buttock lift via the Serdev Suture Technique
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration: Understanding unapproved use of approved drugs “off label”
- Poly-L-Lactic Acid for minimally invasive gluteal augmentation
