Gluteal Augmentation with Silicone Implants: A New Proposal for Intramuscular Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Gluteoplasty has gained notoriety over the last decades, which has motivated the development of various surgical techniques. Nevertheless, the fear of dissection of the intramuscular plane without direct visualization may inhibit learning and development of gluteal augmentation with implants. Moreover, literature detailing the technical steps of intramuscular dissection for the construction of the implant pocket is scarce. This study presents a new approach to intramuscular dissection for gluteal augmentation with silicone implants, a variation of the conventional surgical technique. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of a series of 12 female patients submitted to a variation of the intramuscular dissection technique for gluteal augmentation with silicone implants. Data from patients, implants, follow-up time, postoperative complications, and the degree of patient satisfaction were obtained. This technique follows the principle of alternating spatulas to perform the blunt dissection of the implant pocket. RESULTS: In this series, the proposed technique is controlled and safe for intramuscular dissection, which can be used for both experienced and training surgeons. This technique is based on well-known anatomical points and references. We observed that the implant was well positioned and covered, the patients were satisfied with the result, and the number of complications was low. CONCLUSIONS: This variation of the intramuscular dissection technique for gluteal augmentation with silicone implants provides an easily reproducible and safe procedure that involves well-controlled technical steps, especially during dissection of the intramuscular pocket. In this series of patients, training surgeons learned faster, results were satisfactory, and the number of complications was low. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .