Butt (Gluteal) Implants Cost, Financing and Procedure Guide

If you're considering ditching your gym glute circuit for butt implants in hopes of achieving a fuller derrière, you're not alone. Research shows that interest in butt implants has skyrocketed in recent years thanks to popular influencers and musicians.

Read on to learn about butt implants, what you should expect to pay and other types of butt enhancements.

What Are Butt Implants?

Butt implants, or butt augmentation, is a type of plastic surgery procedure to improve the shape, contour and/or size of the buttocks.

When people refer to butt implants, they're usually referring to the use of implants made of silicone. Butt implants are made of solid silicone elastomer as opposed to breast implants, which are made of a silicone elastomer shell filled with cohesive silicone gel.

Butt augmentation can also be achieved with injectable fat transfer, which involves using liposuction to remove fat from another area of the body and injecting it into the buttocks. This procedure is commonly known as a Brazilian butt lift — or BBL, for short.

There are also non-surgical butt augmentation procedures that use dermal filler injections, such as Sculptra® and hyaluronic acid fillers, to add volume to the buttocks.

BBL vs. Butt Implants: What's the Difference?

Like butt implants, BBL is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia used to change the shape and/or size of the buttocks. The key differences are in how the procedure is performed and the expected results. Here's more information about each.

Butt implants procedure and results

During butt implant surgery, silicone implants are inserted through skin incisions into pockets created beneath the gluteal muscle or fascia on each side. The results are visible immediately and are permanent.

Butt implants feel slightly more firm or similar to other toned parts of your body. You may be aware of them, especially when sitting, but will gradually get used to them. People with more fat over the area tend to feel butt implants less.

BBL procedure and results

BBL surgery is a two-part procedure. It begins with using liposuction to remove fat through tiny incisions at one or more other areas of the body, such as the tummy or thighs. The fat, tissue and blood removed during liposuction are then processed. The purified and concentrated fat is then reinjected into the fatty layers throughout your buttocks through small incisions. While you can expect to see immediate results, it can take up to one year to see the final effect.

Like with butt implants — and unlike with filler injections — BBL results are permanent. That said, some loss of volume after the procedure is to be expected, according to Dr. Feras Yamin, a licensed plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills.

“You get some swelling from the procedure, and you lose a portion of the fat that's not going to survive — but whatever survives, it stays there," says Dr. Yamin.

Following your surgeon's recovery instructions can help you achieve the best results. According to Dr. Yamin, this means avoiding any pressure or extreme movement that might compromise the survival of the fat.

Are Butt Implants Safe?

Butt augmentation, like all surgeries, carries some potential side effects. Your surgeon will explain these in detail so you can decide if butt implants or another type of butt augmentation procedure is right for you.

You can reduce the likelihood of side effects by choosing a properly trained board-certified surgeon and having surgery in an accredited facility. Following your surgeon's care instructions is also important. This includes not smoking or vaping, which can increase the chance of complications and affect healing.

Potential side effects of butt augmentation surgery include:

• Anesthesia complications
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Fluid accumulation, known as seroma
• Blood clots
• Scarring
• Pain
• Fat necrosis, which is the death of the fatty tissue under the skin
• Unfavorable results, such as asymmetry
• Numbness and other changes in sensation
• Skin discoloration
• Issues with the sutures, such as irritation or the sutures becoming visible
• The possibility of needing revision surgery

Butt injections, whether fat or dermal fillers, also carry some potential complications, including damage to the large blood vessels located deep in the buttocks; fat embolization to the lungs, heart or brain; and infection. Again, it's important to have butt injections or any other cosmetic procedure performed only by an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon.

How Much Do Butt Implants Cost?

The cost of butt implants depends on the type of implant and the anesthetic used. The average cost* of butt implants is $7,992.¹

This figure doesn't include related expenses, such as:¹

• Anesthesia fee
• Facility fee
• Prescriptions
• Insurance coverage

Surgeon's fees vary, and surgical supplies may or may not be included in the cost.¹ You may also need to pay for special garments or pillows to use during recovery.

Butt Implants cost by state/district

The final cost* of butt implant surgery can run from as little as $3,500 to as high as $22,000, depending on where you live:¹

Are Butt Implants Covered by Insurance?

Butt implants and other butt enhancement procedures (or potential complications) are not usually covered by insurance, as they are considered cosmetic procedures.

Butt implant surgery is expensive. If you don't have the savings to pay for the procedure up front, you may have other options. Plastic surgeons may offer financing plans so you can pay for your procedure in installments.

Financing Butt Implants With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for butt implants and related expenses not covered by health insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Expert Reviewer

Dr. Max Polo is a board-certified plastic surgeon affiliated with the Miami Plastic Surgery group in Miami, Florida, who focuses on both non-surgical and surgical aesthetic procedures for the face, breasts and body. Castle Connolly has recognized him as among America's Top Plastic Surgeons for several consecutive years.

Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today and more.