Over the past few years, interest among women in body-enhancement surgeries has increased—especially buttock silicone implants—because they provide an immediate, noticeable increase in size and shape from day one. Before you make the decision, you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure: is the result really worth it, or are there risks and side effects you should account for? In this Dalili Medical article we will explain everything in detail: from the benefits of buttock silicone implants and the potential risks, to the recovery period and the most important before-and-after tips to help you achieve the best outcome and avoid problems as much as possible.
Butt silicone is a surgical procedure used to enlarge and lift the buttocks by placing silicone implants inside the gluteal area. The main idea is that the surgeon increases the volume and gives a fuller, lifted appearance — especially for women who do not have enough fat for Brazilian Butt Lift (fat transfer).
Yes, like any cosmetic surgery, small scars may remain.
The surgeon usually makes the incisions in hidden areas such as:
the natural buttock crease
lower back fold
With time, the scars fade and their color lightens if you follow proper post-operative scar care. Every body heals differently — so aftercare is very important to minimize the scar appearance.
In general, the procedure is considered relatively safe — especially when done by a qualified plastic surgeon.
But like any surgery, there are risks. These risks increase when extremely large implant sizes are used, because they may cause:
tension on the incision
wound opening
implant shifting
Choosing the right size is very important to reduce complications.
Implants usually last for many years, but they may need replacement in the following situations:
Capsular contracture
Sometimes the body forms hard tissue around the implant, which can cause:
pain
firmness
slight change in shape
This may need medical intervention or implant replacement.
Implant shifting
If you do not follow the correct sitting and sleeping instructions after surgery, the implant may move — causing asymmetry.
After 10–15 years
Check-ups and imaging are required to make sure everything is fine.
Not all implants need replacement — but adjustments may be needed sometimes.
Implant rupture (rare)
A small tear in the implant is rare but possible — and in this case, replacement is required.
Cosmetic resizing
Some women later decide to:
increase size
decrease size
change shape
This is usually a cosmetic decision — not a medical problem.
Patients do feel pain after surgery — but it is usually tolerable and manageable with the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
Pain is stronger during the first few days, especially with movement or sitting — and then decreases day by day.
Take pain medications exactly as prescribed
Use a special sitting cushion to reduce pressure on the implants
Avoid sudden movements or heavy activity
Rest completely for the first week
Pain noticeably improves after the first week.
Most patients feel a large improvement after 3 to 6 weeks — and the body gradually adjusts during recovery.
It is not recommended to sit or sleep on your back for at least 3 weeks after the surgery because direct pressure can cause:
implant shifting
increased swelling
This protection period is crucial to maintain the final shape.
The improvement is visible from day one — but the final result usually appears after 6–9 months, because the body needs time to heal and adapt to the implants.
Yes — revision surgery is possible if the result is not satisfactory or if complications occur — but usually you must wait about one year before repeating the operation.
First 4 weeks: walking only
After 6 weeks: gradual return to training
Heavy glute pressure exercises like heavy squats should be avoided at first.
Silicone butt augmentation is one of the most popular and effective plastic procedures to increase the buttock size significantly.
In this procedure, the surgeon places soft, medical-grade silicone implants with a gel-like texture similar to natural fat — so the final look feels soft and natural.
The implant size and shape are selected with the surgeon before the operation.
Most silicone butt implant surgeries are performed under general anesthesia because:
the operation lasts about 2–3 hours
the surgeon must work precisely inside the muscle
Some centers add local anesthesia in the same area to reduce pain after surgery and make the first two days more comfortable.
1 — Initial consultation
assessing body shape
choosing desired final appearance
reviewing medical history
ordering preoperative tests
2 — Choosing implant type and placement site
Most implants are soft medical silicone.
The preferred placement is usually:
intramuscular (inside the gluteus muscle) → gives a softer, more natural result
submuscular placement is used in special cases
3 — Pre-operation preparation
The day before surgery:
fasting 6–8 hours
stop smoking and blood-thinning medications
prepare post-surgery compression garment
4 — Anesthesia
Mostly general anesthesia.
5 — Incision + implant placement
small incision between the buttocks (hidden area)
creating the pocket inside the gluteus muscle
placing the implants
repeating on the other side
6 — Closing the incision + bandaging
dissolvable sutures
drainage tube
wearing compression shorts
7 — Recovery and follow-up
a few hours or one night at the hospital
painkillers + antibiotics
follow-up after one week for drain removal
After general anesthesia, the surgeon follows this sequence:
Marking incision site
Usually the incision is made in the crease between the buttocks to keep the scar hidden.
Making a small incision
A 5–7 cm incision depending on implant size.
Creating the implant pocket inside the muscle
The surgeon creates a space inside the Gluteus Maximus muscle.
Most surgeons prefer the intramuscular placement because it gives:
a more natural appearance
stronger stability
lower risk of implant shifting
Submuscular placement is used only in selected cases based on evaluation.
The surgeon carefully inserts the silicone implant into the prepared pocket inside the muscle and adjusts it to make sure both sides are symmetrical and equal in size and shape.
suturing the muscle layers using dissolvable internal stitches
stitching the outer skin layer
applying special medical tapes to minimize the scar appearance
Immediately after the procedure, the patient wears a special compression garment to:
stabilize the implants
reduce swelling
support the muscles during healing
| Feature | Silicone Butt Implants | Fat Transfer (Brazilian Butt Lift) | Hyaluronic Filler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Ready silicone implants | Fat taken from your own body | Injectable fillers |
| Best for | Slim girls with insufficient fat | Girls with excess fat | Small enhancement only |
| Operation time | 2–3 hours | 3–4 hours | 40–60 minutes |
| Anesthesia | General | Mostly general | Mostly local |
| Result appearance | Immediate | Gradual after swelling | Immediate |
| Stability | Very stable | Some of the fat gets absorbed | Temporary |
| Duration | 10–15 years | Good but affected by weight changes | 8–18 months |
| Downtime | 6–8 weeks | 4–6 weeks | 3–7 days |
| Cost | High | Usually higher | Lower |
| Fullness degree | Strong + noticeable | Natural + soft | Mild |
| Risks | Implant shifting – infection – capsular contracture | Rare: fat embolism if surgeon is not experienced | Mild swelling or asymmetry |
Most butt implants are made from medical-grade silicone consisting of:
outer shell: silicone elastomer
inner content: cohesive silicone gel
This allows a shape and feel similar to natural fat.
| Type | Features |
|---|---|
| Medium cohesiveness | Softer feel, more natural movement, slightly less stability |
| High cohesiveness “Gummy Bear / Form-stable” | Holds shape better, lower risk of deformity or leakage — requires more surgical expertise but gives a very stable, smooth result |
| Shape | Ideal for |
|---|---|
| Round / oval | Most common — provides noticeable, balanced fullness |
| Anatomical | Less common — used in specific body designs |
Smooth surface → easier movement inside the pocket, but slightly higher risk of shifting
Textured / micro-textured → more grip inside the tissues, helps reduce implant shifting
Macro-textured implants are rarely used today due to certain rare risks.
Most surgeons now prefer micro-textured — the best balance between stability and safety.
Volume is measured in cc.
Most common sizes: 200–400 cc per side depending on:
body size
tissue thickness
desired result
Bigger implants do not always mean better results — proportionality is key.
Intramuscular placement → most common and safest
Subfascial / subgluteal → used only for specific cases
Popular and trusted brands include:
Silimed
Polytech
Mentor
The most important factor is choosing a certified, approved implant.
Your surgeon will request lab tests to confirm safety:
liver & kidney function tests
CBC – complete blood count
blood sugar
ECG if needed
Then the suitable size + shape of the implant is chosen based on body proportion and desired look.
Important pre-op instructions:
stop smoking 2–3 weeks before surgery
stop blood-thinning medications like aspirin
6–8 hours fasting before surgery
duration: 2–3 hours
anesthesia: general
small incision between the buttocks
implant inserted inside the muscle
wound closed with dissolvable stitches
dressing + compression garment applied
mild to moderate pain (especially first 3 days)
noticeable swelling
no sitting directly on the buttocks for 10–14 days
sleeping on stomach or side only
swelling gradually decreases
normal walking allowed — no heavy activity
compression garment worn at least 3 weeks
shape becomes more natural
implants settle into place
you can return to exercise gradually around week 10 (based on surgeon opinion)
| Stage | Butt appearance | Sensation |
|---|---|---|
| Before | flat or not full | normal |
| After 1 month | fuller shape + swelling | mild pain / tightness |
| After 3 months | stable, sculpted & natural | almost normal |
| After 6 months | final stable result | fully normal |
Initial consultation
To determine goals, evaluate body shape and confirm that silicone implants are the right choice (instead of fat transfer if needed).
Choosing implant shape and volume
Round or anatomical
Chosen according to pelvic width, muscle thickness, and desired contour.
Medical tests (10–14 days before surgery)
CBC, liver/kidney function, PT/PTT, fasting blood sugar, ECG if needed.
Stopping certain medications
Aspirin, Plavix, Vitamin E, and some herbs (ginger – turmeric – ginkgo) for 10–14 days before surgery.
Stop smoking completely
At least 3 weeks before surgery.
Prepare for surgery day
donut pillow
medical compression shorts
loose clothing
someone to drive you home
Fasting 6–8 hours before procedure
Week 1
moderate pain (especially first 3 days)
swelling
no sitting
sleeping on stomach or side
wear compression garment continuously
Week 1–3
pain decreases
walking allowed
sitting only on donut cushion and only when necessary
no long sitting times
Week 4–8
swelling decreases further
can return to office work (from week 3 if light duties)
limited pressure while sitting
After 6–8 weeks
light exercise allowed
more normal sitting gradually
noticeable result immediately
major improvement after 3 months
final stable results at ~6 months
| Stage | Butt shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | large + swollen | unstable shape |
| After 1 month | clearer shape, less swelling | beginning to settle |
| After 3 months | very natural shape | near final |
| After 6 months | final stable result | no major changes |
Final result:
more fullness from behind
more curve at the side
improved hourglass look
clothes fit better (especially jeans & bodycon dresses)
Depends on implant volume — average increase is +1 to +2 clothing sizes.
Some choose larger implants depending on pelvic width and body structure.
Advantage of silicone: visible enlargement from day one — unlike fat transfer which needs time for fat survival.
Implants last for many years, but:
long-term follow-up is required
after 10–15 years a revision or replacement may be needed
So results are long lasting, but not guaranteed to be lifetime.
immediate volume from day one
suitable for slim women with low body fat
stable size not affected by weight changes like fat is
Pain & swelling
Normal first 2 weeks — especially first 3 days.
Fluid buildup (seroma)
If it happens, fluid can be drained easily by the doctor.
Implant shifting
Happens if sitting too early → reason why sitting is restricted at first.
Infection
Rare when surgery is done in a reputable center — but if severe, implant removal may be needed (rare).
Pain when sitting for long periods
Especially the first few months.
Capsular Contracture
Fibrous tissue tightens around implant causing:
pain
firmness
mild deformation
Sometimes needs surgical correction.
Shape changes with major weight fluctuation
The implant stays the same — but surrounding fat can change.
Possible implant replacement in future
Usually evaluated at 10–15 years.