Intramuscular gluteal implants: 15 years' experience.

[BACKGROUND] The history of gluteoplasty augmentation includes only a few reported clinical series.

[OBJECTIVE] We report our experience in performing gluteal augmentation using an intramuscular technique in 160 cases over 15 years. We also establish guidelines for performing this procedure.

[METHODS] All patients were women, ranging in age from 18 to 65 years, who underwent intramuscular gluteoplasty between June 1986 and September 2000. Of these patients, 104 (65%) received textured silicone gel implants and 56 (35%) received textured silicone elastomer implants. Thirty patients (18.7%) received 250-cc implants, 100 (62.5%) received 300-cc implants, and 30 (18.5%) received 350-cc implants.

[RESULTS] Satisfactory aesthetic results were obtained in 144 of 160 patients (90%). Complications presented in 16 patients (10%), including seroma in 7 patients (4%), asymmetry in 4 patients (2.66%), capsular contracture in 3 patients (2% ), overcorrection in 1 patient (0.66%), and rupture of the implant in 1 patient (0.66% ).

[CONCLUSIONS] Intramuscular gluteal augmentation offers long-term, predictable, and pleasing aesthetic results with a low incidence of major complications. (Aesthetic Surg J 2003;23:86-91.).