Buttocks Anatomy: A Review of Its Beauty and Shape as Considered by the Plastic Surgery Literature

In classical gross anatomy instruction, we do not routinely discuss physical beauty and shape in anatomy. However, beauty and shape in anatomy, particularly in certain regions of the body, are of primary interest to aesthetic plastic surgeons. In recent years, a remarkable increase has occurred in patients' requests for gluteal augmentation procedures to reshape their buttocks into what they surmise will result in a more attractive form than what they currently display. Accordingly, there are many articles in the plastic surgery literature that attempt to define the ideal buttocks (mainly for women, but also for men). These articles routinely provide information on how gluteal anatomy defines the appearance of the buttocks and how this anatomy can be modified to produce a more ideal buttocks postoperatively. In some cases, these articles also refer to putative anatomical structures that are not in the normal anatomical lexicon (e.g., fat compartments). Here, we review the pertinent articles in the cosmetic surgery literature that relate buttock beauty to the underlying anatomy with the aim of instructing anatomists how plastic surgeons determine buttock anatomical beauty and some of the uncommon anatomical features that they rely upon.