Buttock Lifting Using Elastic Thread (Elasticum^®) with a New Classification of Gluteal Ptosis

Conventional buttock lifting is invasive, so it is difficult to recommend it to patients especially to those who do not have severe gluteal ptosis. In addition, the gluteal area is a large area change among the joints. Therefore, this surgery can cause pain during hip flexion after lifting using a conventional thread. The authors report on buttock lifting using an elastic thread with high satisfaction from patients.

From July 2016 to June 2017, 60 patients were enrolled in this study. The degree of gluteal ptosis was graded from Grade 0 to Grade 6. All patients underwent lifting of both buttocks using Elasticum^®. We drew a circle along the outer edge of the buttock and another small circle inside the first circle. A stab incision was done at 5 points (A, B, C, C', and D), and then according to the circle, lifting was done. Postoperative grade changes and complications were evaluated.

Grades 2-5 were lifted to at least Grade 2 after surgery, but Grade 6 was at most Grade 3 (14.2%), with 85.8% of these to either Grade 5 or Grade 6. Seven patients (11.67%) complained of postoperative pain, and 6 patients (10.00%) showed skin dimpling or creases 10 days after surgery, all of which disappeared at 1 month after surgery.

Buttock lifting with elastic thread is effective in pre-ptosis to moderate gluteal ptosis. Because of the elasticity of the thread, postoperative pain is low on hip flexion, so the lifting is done naturally.

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