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.).