Buttock augmentation injections are filled with volumizing substances, such as silicone. They’re injected directly into the buttocks and are intended to be cheaper alternatives to surgical procedures.

However, the lower fees come at a much higher cost. Buttock injections are not only unsafe, they’re technically illegal in the United States. The fillers used in the shots can travel to other parts of the body, with potentially fatal side effects.

Unfortunately, disreputable providers may still offer these injections to make a profit, albeit illegally. There have been news reports of these illegal injections causing death.

If you’re looking for buttock augmentation, it’s important to work with a reputable surgeon to go over your options without resorting to dangerous injections. Read on to learn more about dangerous buttock augmentation injections and what you can do instead.

Augmentation injections aren’t approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency has deemed these types of injections to be unsafe.

Commonly used materials in buttock injections — including hydrogel and silicone — can travel to other parts of the body, leading to granuloma lumps. Other complications include infections, disfigurement, and scarring. In some cases, stroke can occur.

There have also been reports of death from these illegal injections. Inexperienced providers may accidentally inject the materials into your blood vessels, which can then travel to your heart. Such effects may be fatal.

Unlicensed providers may also operate in unsterile environments. This could increase the risk for infections and death. Furthermore, illegal operatives may use nonmedical-grade silicone, and instead inject silicone sealants used in household construction.

Warning

Silicone and other various materials are often injected illegally by unlicensed providers in nonmedical locations. Often, they inject silicone sealant and other materials commonly used for sealing bathroom tiles or tile floors. This is dangerous for many reasons:

  • The product isn’t sterile and both the product and the unsterile injection can cause life-threatening or fatal infections.
  • The materials are soft and don’t stay in a single location, leading to hard lumps called granulomas.
  • If this product is injected into blood vessels, it can travel to the heart and lungs, causing death.

If you’ve already undergone buttock injections that contain silicone or hydrogel, you may be wondering if you can remove these substances. Unfortunately, removing them may do more harm than good, leading to scars and inadvertent spreading of the materials. This could increase your risk for side effects.

It’s best you see a doctor to determine the results of the injections and what you can do going forward.

Safer alternatives for buttock augmentation include surgical processes. Not only will you get more permanent results, but you can also avoid the dangers that illegal buttock injections pose to your health and safety. The most common procedures include fat transfers, silicone implants, and liposuction.

Fat transfer (Brazilian buttock lift)

Brazilian buttock lifts are better known as “fat transfer” with grafting. With a fat transfer procedure, your provider takes fat from your stomach area and then surgically adds it to your buttocks to create the “lifting” effect you’re looking for. In some cases, your surgeon may recommend a Brazilian buttock lift in conjunction with silicone implants.

Silicone implants

Silicone implants are commonly used in breast augmentation procedures, but they can be used for buttock augmentation, too. These are different than silicone injectables, which are (dangerously) shot into your skin. Silicone implants are inserted into each buttock through incisions that your surgeon makes. You’ll experience significant volume that should last for years to come.

Liposuction

While silicone implants and fat grafting aim to add volume to the buttocks, sometimes a surgeon will recommend taking away volume around the buttocks. This is done via liposuction. It works by removing excessive amounts of fat to rework your buttock’s shape. You might consider liposuction for your buttocks if you don’t necessarily need more volume, but want contouring.

While most buttock injections aren’t safe, there may be a small exception to the rule when it comes to dermal fillers. These shots are delivered by cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists. The exact ingredients vary by brand, but they all work to help create volume in your skin.

The downside is that dermal fillers wear off after several months. You’ll likely have to get new injections at least once a year to help maintain the results. The results themselves also won’t be as voluminous compared with buttock implant surgery.

There are many types of dermal fillers, including Juvéderm and Sculptra. However, Sculptra is the only filler that has been shown, anecdotally, to be effective on the buttocks.

Sculptra buttock fat injections

Sculptra is a type of dermal filler that helps your body create more collagen. This protein is often lost with age and can lead to wrinkles and saggy skin due to loss of volume in the face. The idea behind these injectables is that the increased collagen will lead to smoother, tighter skin by increasing the volume and giving more fullness.

While Sculptra itself is FDA-approved, it’s only approved for the face. However, anecdotal discussions by medical providers deem Sculptra buttock fat injections safe when used by reputable providers.

Buttock augmentations and dermal filler injections are done by licensed cosmetic surgeons. You may ask a doctor for a recommendation. Or, you can look up reputable providers through the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Once you’ve found a possible provider, they’ll ask you to come in for a consultation first. During this consultation, they’ll ask you what kind of results you’re looking for, and then give you their recommendations. Be sure to ask them about their certifications and experience. They should also have a portfolio of work they can show you.

Buttock augmentation injections with silicone should be avoided. Not only are they unsafe, they’re illegal. The dangers far outweigh any potential benefits.

The only injectables that are considered safe are dermal fillers. However, these don’t deliver as dramatic of results as surgery does, and they aren’t permanent.

If you’re looking for buttock augmentation, speak to a cosmetic surgeon about implants, fat grafting, or liposuction.