Correction of deep gluteal depression by autologous fat grafting

In the past, the traditional method of contouring the iliac crest and lateral femoral areas has been liposuction or the surgical removal of the bulges. Unfortunately, this method fails to correct the deep gluteal depression juxtaposed at these two sites. Since we use autologous fat grafts to correct contouring deficiencies elsewhere, it seems logical to investigate whether this technique is applicable to correcting this deformity. We have performed autologous fat grafting to the gluteal depression on 12 patients who underwent lipoplasty of the iliac crest and lateral femoral sites. The longest followup was one year. We have found that this method corrects the deep gluteal depression and yields an improved aesthetic contour. This article describes the technique, addresses the problems encountered, and shows postoperative results.