Venus Clinic is a hospital where only liposuction and fat transplant surgery is performed, minimizing the incidence of complications and always ready for the best results.

# Fat Grafting - Buttock Fat Grafting

Reducing where needed and filling where needed for a better hip line

Illustration of buttock fat grafting marking the upper buttock curve

This illustration was created with AI to aid understanding and does not show an actual surgical result.

Buttock fat grafting contours the waist, flanks, back and thighs with liposuction, then purifies that fat and transfers it to hollow parts of the buttocks to create volume and curves. Because the surrounding areas are reduced while the buttocks are filled, the line from the waist to the buttocks changes as well.

Venus Clinic has long planned both reduction and filling of the buttocks in its buttock volume-up liposuction. Buttock fat grafting extends that approach, and above all we prioritize following the safety guidelines.

Who May Consider It

Those whose upper buttocks look flat or lack volume
Those whose buttocks appear to sag
Those whose waist and buttocks are poorly defined because of fat on the waist and flanks
Those whose side line looks interrupted by a hollow on the side of the buttocks
Those who want volume with their own fat rather than implants

How the Procedure Is Performed

STEP 1. Consultation and design

We assess the proportions of the waist, buttocks and thighs in standing and side views and mark the areas to reduce and to fill. The amount of fat available for harvest is also estimated.

STEP 2. Contouring with liposuction

Under tumescent local anesthesia, liposuction is performed on the waist, flanks, back and thighs as needed. This step is itself a contouring procedure that makes the buttocks stand out.

STEP 3. Purification

The harvested fat is purified so that only fat suitable for grafting remains.

STEP 4. Subcutaneous injection

Using a large-bore blunt cannula, fat is placed only in the subcutaneous fat layer above the gluteal muscles, distributed in multiple directions.

The Most Important Principle — Subcutaneous Layer Only, Never the Muscle

Although rare, buttock fat grafting is a procedure in which pulmonary fat embolism — fat entering large blood vessels — has been reported. The Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) Task Force reported that this risk rises greatly when fat is injected deep into the muscle and recommended the following:

Inject only into the subcutaneous layer above the muscle, not into the muscle
Use a large-bore blunt cannula rather than a fine one
Do not angle the cannula tip downward (toward the deep layers)

Venus Clinic follows these principles and places fat only in the subcutaneous layer. Even so, the risk does not disappear completely, so we explain it before surgery and monitor carefully during and after the procedure.

What to Know Before Surgery

A study using ultrasound measurements reported that on average about 60% of the fat transferred to the buttocks remained, but this varies between individuals. Rather than forcing a large volume at once, we place the amount needed in the subcutaneous layer and consider additional grafting if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much can be added in one session?

It depends on the amount of fat that can be harvested and how much the skin and subcutaneous layer of the buttocks can accept. We plan within the safety guidelines, using the proportion of waist to buttocks rather than size as the goal.

Q. Can I sit after surgery?

While the grafted fat settles, it is best not to put prolonged weight on the buttocks. Sitting posture and duration are explained individually depending on the extent of surgery.

Q. I have heard buttock fat grafting is dangerous.

Research has shown that the risk of pulmonary fat embolism rises greatly when fat is injected deep into the muscle, so current guidelines recommend injecting only into the subcutaneous layer. Venus Clinic follows these guidelines and also explains before surgery that the risk cannot be eliminated completely.

Recovery

For the first few weeks, adjust your sitting posture so that your weight does not rest on the buttocks for long periods, and wear a compression garment over the liposuction areas. Swelling and bruising subside over several weeks, and the contour settles over several months.

※ Possible side effects include bleeding, infection, hematoma, variable fat graft survival, asymmetry, calcification and swelling. Results may vary from person to person.