Dermal Filler
Whether you've seen people posting before and after booty pics on Instagram and TikTok or someone told you that they got a non-surgical butt lift, there's a good chance they received injections of dermal filler (aka a gel-like substance that can add volume to an area). Sculptra is the most commonly used filler for the butt, says Bruce Katz, M.D., dermatologist and director of JUVA Skin and Laser Center. "The active component in Sculptra is poly-l-lactic acid, and it's basically a collagen stimulator," he explains. (Reminder: Collagen is a naturally-occurring protein in your muscles, skin, and bones that helps provide structure to your skin and keep joints strong.) "So by injecting it into the buttock area, not only are you creating more volume, but you're also stimulating the patient's own collagen to create more volume as well." Icing on the cake.
Similarly, Radiesse — another oft-used filler — stimulates the body's natural collagen production. But, unlike Sculptra, it features calcium hydroxyapatite filler (which, BTW, is made of a material found in bones) and is more expensive. "Sculptra is a lot more cost-effective than Radiesse," says Dr. Katz. "It's also a liquid, whereas Radiesse is a paste. With a liquid, it's easier to sculpt in the right portion or area, whereas a paste is a little harder to manipulate and adjust." And while both filler options require two to three injection sessions initially, Sculptra's effects last two to three years while those from Radiesse remain for one to two years. (See also: A Complete Guide to Filler Injections)
Regardless of which dermal filler you choose, your provider can inject the substance strategically based on what you're hoping to achieve. "When someone wants more fullness or roundness, we'll inject more in the middle area," says Dr. Katz. "If they want more lift, we'll inject more on the upper area to get more lift there. If they have some asymmetry, we'll correct it and inject more on one side than the other to correct the asymmetry."
Dr. Katz has been offering what he's termed a "NEO butt lift" to patients, a combination of Emsculpt NEO alongside the cellulite-reducing injectable QWO. "Emsculpt is creating 20,000 contractions of the buttock muscles in half an hour period, going beyond what you can achieve by exercise alone," he says. With Emsculpt, effects typically last a year and most people opt for four initial treatments with yearly maintenance treatments thereafter to achieve optimal results, says Dr. Katz.
