The Most Frequently Injected Area
For years, the buttocks were the most common target for injections of unapproved substances. The promise was simple: immediate volume, without surgery, at a low cost. The result, in many cases, was extensive infiltration of material that now requires major surgery to resolve.
Why the Material Moves
Gravity and anatomy work against it. Biopolymers injected into the gluteal region descend over the years and spread along muscle planes. This is why it's so common to find material in:
- Posterior thighs
- Lumbar region
- Lateral hip area
- Popliteal region, behind the knee
This explains a situation that confuses many patients: the lump bothering them today is not where they were injected. And it also explains why an MRI is essential before surgery.
What the Surgery Involves
The procedure is performed in an operating room under anesthesia and consists of the en bloc resection of the affected tissue: the material is removed along with the fibrosis that encapsulates it. It is not liposuction; encapsulated biopolymer cannot be aspirated.
Depending on the extent, it may require:
- A single surgical stage, for localized infiltrations
- Multiple stages, when the involvement is extensive, to preserve skin irrigation and allow healing between stages
The decision is not commercial. Attempting to resolve everything at once in an extensive case compromises the vascularization of the skin flap and increases the risk of necrosis.
Contour Reconstruction
Removing the material leaves a volume defect. Reconstruction can be performed during the same procedure or at a later stage, using techniques such as the use of the patient's own tissue or local flaps.
It's important to have realistic expectations here: the goal is to restore a harmonious and functional shape, not to reproduce the volume sought with the original injection.
Recovery
- Relative rest for the first few weeks, with specific instructions on how to sit and sleep
- Compression garment for the duration indicated by the surgeon
- Drains in many cases, removed during follow-up
- Frequent check-ups during the first few months
- Improvement of contour and inflammatory symptoms is progressive
What We Don't Promise
We do not promise 100% removal. Infiltrated material between tissues cannot be entirely recovered, and anyone who claims otherwise is not being honest with you. We do aim to remove as much as possible, stop chronic inflammation, and restore your quality of life.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not substitute a medical consultation.