Buttock augmentation: how it is done, what recovery is like and what to expect

When people talk about buttock augmentation, they think of an operation that gives more fullness, shape and projection to this part of the figure. Here we explain how it differs from a lift and from liposuction, who can consider the version using fat from their own body, how the post-operative period goes and what the quote depends on, so that you come to your first visit with a clear idea.

Two points before going on: the result is not what you see on the first day, because part of the fat is reabsorbed, and the post-operative period revolves around not sitting down. If you are interested in your city, there are local guides: buttock augmentation in Madrid, buttock augmentation in Barcelona and also buttock augmentation in Zaragoza.

What is buttock augmentation?

It is also called augmentation gluteoplasty and is a plastic surgery operation on the size, shape and projection of the buttocks. According to the website of the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons), consulted in October 2026, it is done with silicone implants, with your own fat or with a combination of both.

Here we deal with augmentation using your own fat, gluteal fat transfer: the fat is taken from other parts of the body with liposuction and then placed in the buttocks. Implants are a different technique that we leave out of this page. If you want to know how fat is used in other areas of the body, see the page on fat transfer (lipotransfer).

Fillers that do not involve the operating theatre are another technique, which we do not cover here either.

Augmentation, lift or liposuction: what each one addresses

Augmentation adds volume; it does not correct laxity or take the place of liposuction.

That is why, before talking about sizes, the surgeon asks what bothers you about your silhouette. If what you see is a lack of volume, augmentation is considered; if it is laxity, something else; and if fat on the hips or thighs throws the figure out of balance, perhaps liposuction. If what concerns you is the dip at the side of the hip, see the page on hip dips; and if it is the fat just below the buttock, the article on the banana roll.

Who is buttock augmentation suggested for?

For the ASPS, it suits people who are healthy, have realistic expectations and feel uncomfortable with buttocks that are small, not very rounded or asymmetrical. Candidates for a lift, by contrast, are those with loose skin and tissue, and in both cases you are asked not to smoke.

With your own fat there is one more practical condition: there has to be somewhere to take it from. If what you feel is missing is hip, read how to make your hips wider. And it is best to arrive with a stable weight.

What the surgeon looks at before proposing a plan

The ASPS lists four factors that tip the balance: what your buttocks are like today, how much fat is available to obtain with liposuction, what you are looking for and how active you are, and your skin type, with its elasticity and any excess there may be. The first visit is used to go over all four. Then comes what you want: more projection, more width or balancing hip and waist. With all of that, the surgeon proposes a plan to you.

The operation with your own fat, step by step

At EGOS the operation is done under general anaesthesia, it takes around three hours and we advise spending at least one night in hospital. First the fat is removed from the donor areas with liposuction; then it is prepared and, finally, placed in the buttocks with a fine cannula, in many spread-out passes. Part of that fat is reabsorbed in the first months, and the surgeon takes this into account when planning.

Recovery after the operation: Clínica EGOS timescales

Afterwards you spend at least one night in hospital and wear a compression garment continuously for as long as we tell you. For the first 72 hours sitting is avoided and, when you do have to sit, the weight rests on the back of the thighs. Your surgeon gives you the posture and the care instructions in writing. Normal life returns between two and four weeks, and strenuous exertion waits at least six.

Results: when they show and how long they last

Once the swelling has gone down, at around three to six months, the shape can be clearly seen. The grafted fat follows changes in weight like the rest of the body's fat, so the result lasts as long as weight and lifestyle are maintained.

Combining augmentation with other operations

It is common to add liposuction, because that is where the fat comes from and it also defines the silhouette. It can also be considered together with an abdominoplasty or a thigh lift when a more complete contour is wanted. The surgeon will tell you which combinations make sense in your case.

Is it covered by Spanish social security?

Not for cosmetic purposes. Royal Decree 1030/2006, which sets out what the public system pays for, excludes cosmetic surgery that is not due to an accident, an illness or a malformation present from birth.

Quote: what it includes and what the price depends on

The price for your case is set after the assessment, because it changes with the number of areas suctioned, the volume of fat to be treated, the anaesthesia, the night in hospital and any surgeries added. Once we have seen you, the quote is given in writing.

Among the items the ASPS mentions for this type of surgery are the surgeon's fee, the use of the operating theatre, anaesthesia, medication, medical tests, post-operative garments and special cushions for sitting.

Who will operate on you?

The EGOS plastic surgery team is made up of registered surgeons. They include Dr Santiago Elvira i Barberà (registration no. 49756) and Dr Tiago Gomes Rodrígues (registration no. 44844); one of them examines you at the first consultation and proposes the technique. Before you book a date, ask to be told in writing who will operate on you, with their medical registration number, and at which centre.