Is Buttock Reduction Safe?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m interested in a buttock reduction. I’ve always had large buttocks growing up and during bodybuilding squatting has attributed to that. I don’t work out anymore. If possible I’d like to have a much smaller and flat buttocks. I’ve read Vaser and skin removal is the process. However are there any dangers around the gluteus that would occur during this surgery as I know BBL surgeries have risk of fat embolism and if there’s muscle around my gluteus I assume this can not be removed?

Thank you 

A: Thank you for your inquiry and detailing your buttock reductions goals. You are correct in that reduction of buttock subcutaneous fat and a lower buttock skin tuck are the only surgical techniques that can be of benefit. Buttock or gluteus muscle is never removed. Buttock liposuction has no medical concerns unlike BBL surgery in which fat is injected under high pressure into the muscle. (which is not done anymore) Liposuction is the reverse, it is removing fat. Its only concern is of an aesthetic nature which applies to liposuction anywhere…the risk of contour irregularities which may be more prone on the buttocks with aggressive fat reduction. The skin removal/tuck certainly helps mitigate to some degree that aesthetic concern.

Whether buttock reduction may be effective for you depends on what your buttocks looks like and how much fat there is at the subcutaneous level.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana