What Causes a Sagging Butt?
A sagging butt, or buttocks that lose their firmness and shape, can be caused by several factors.
Your Age
As we age, our skin loses elasticity, and our muscles tend to lose mass and strength. This natural process can lead to sagging skin and less toned muscles, and the process doesn’t spare the buttocks, which can be affected along with the rest of the body.
Rapid Weight Loss
Significant weight gain or loss can stretch the skin and cause it to lose its elasticity. As the increase in bariatric surgeries has made clear, if weight is lost rapidly, the skin may not shrink back, leading to a sagging appearance.
Imbalanced Diet
Poor nutrition can also cause a drooping butt. A diet lacking in essential nutrients, like protein, vitamins, and minerals, can affect muscle and skin health, potentially leading to a loss of muscle mass and skin elasticity.
Lack of Consistent Exercise
A lack of physical activity can lead to weak gluteal muscles (the muscles that make up the buttocks). Without regular exercise to maintain muscle tone, these muscles can atrophy and contribute to a sagging appearance. Frequently sitting for extended periods of time can contribute to the issue.
Your Genetics
As hard as we often try to avoid becoming our parents, sometimes there is just no outrunning genetics. Genetic factors can determine the distribution of fat and muscle in your body, as well as how your skin holds up against aging. Some people might be genetically predisposed to having droopy buttocks.
Pregnancy
The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can change the shape and feel of your buttocks. Many women complain of “mom butt” after pregnancy, which is a condition in which the buttocks lose volume and start to sag.
Hormonal Changes
Pregnancy isn’t the only event that can cause hormonal changes that lead to a flabby rear end. Hormonal changes also occur during menopause and as a result of certain health conditions. Many of these changes can affect the firmness and shape of the buttocks.
Do Non-Surgical Treatments Work?
We never say never, but most non-surgical treatment options fail to reverse sagging buttocks. Exercises that tighten the gluteal muscles may help, but they likely won’t bring the skin back into shape along with the muscle.
Surgical Treatment Options for a Sagging Butt
The two most common surgical procedures for lifting drooping buttocks are the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) and the lower body lift. You’ll need to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon to determine which is right for you. There are variations and outcomes between the two that determine which option your surgeon recommends.
Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)
Increasingly popular, BBLs are often a great way to give sagging buttocks a lift.
Purpose/Goal of a BBL
The primary goal of a BBL is to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks. It aims to create a more rounded and aesthetically pleasing contour. A BBL can also add projection.
How a BBL Surgery Works
During a BBL procedure, your surgeon will remove unwanted fat from various areas of your body via liposuction. They will then process that fat and inject it into your buttocks to create your desired shape and contour. The results look and feel natural because they’re all your own body fat and nothing synthetic is used.
Desired Outcome
BBL results offer a more shapely, voluptuous posterior. Thanks to the need for donor fat, many patients also enjoy a slimmer waist and are also happier with other areas of their body from which the fat was harvested. The result is an enhanced body profile overall.
Lower Body Lift
For some patients, a lower body lift is a better choice than a BBL.
Purpose/Goal of a Lower Body Lift
More extensive than a BBL, a lower body lift is typically recommended after a significant weight loss. This procedure is designed to remove excess skin and fat, targeting sagging tissue to improve the overall shape and tone of the buttocks, hips, waist, and thighs.
How a Lower Body Lift Works
During a lower body lift, an incision is made low on the abdomen that extends around the entire torso. Excess skin and fat are then removed and, if necessary, your muscles are tightened. The remaining skin is pulled taut over your buttocks and hips and the incision is closed, creating a smoother, more toned appearance.
Desired Outcome
A lower body lift provides a smoother, tighter lower body contour with significantly less sagging skin. Not only does it fix drooping buttocks; it also greatly improves the fit and comfort of clothing, which can be problematic after significant weight loss. This is often accompanied by a boost in the patient’s self-esteem as they get the body they were working towards when they lost weight.
Key Differences Between a BBL and Lower Body Lift
Although BBLs and lower body lifts do share some goals, the procedures are quite different and strive for different outcomes. It’s important to understand the difference between them when choosing between the two.
Surgical Technique
A BBL is primarily a volume-enhancing procedure using fat transfer, whereas a lower body lift is a reductive procedure focused on removing excess skin and fat. A lower body lift involves a much larger incision.
Aesthetic Goals
The goal of a BBL is to enhance the appearance of the buttocks. Other improvements that result from liposuction and fat harvesting are secondary to the goal of reshaping the buttocks. A lower body lift, however, addresses excess skin and sagging across multiple areas for a more functional improvement. Whereas a BBL is more about tweaking appearance, a lower body lift is a more intense overhaul of the lower body.
Outcomes/Results
A BBL will provide a lifted, shapelier buttocks and a more youthful look. Unless liposuction is performed in these areas, the waist, hips, and thighs will remain primarily the same. In contrast, a lower body lift is about creating a firmer, more natural body contour between the waist and the lower thighs, particularly after significant body changes such as massive weight loss.
Can Men Get BBLs?
Men can and do routinely get BBLs. The procedure is the same, but the results are usually somewhat different as men tend to prefer a more square, masculine buttock shape. Your surgeon will discuss the options with you prior to your surgery so they understand the specific outcome you’re looking for. Men can also get lower body lifts.