BOTTOMS UP

Exercise, exercise, exercise.“The buttocks have two of the largest muscles in the body, the gluteus maximus and gluteus minimus,” says Dr. Ourian. “The more you work them out, the larger and firmer they’re going to get.” The results give the butt a little lift and volume. “But it’s not enough to make it look voluptuous,” he adds.

Get a dry brush and apply body creams.“There are creams that people have used over the years, and some of them, believe it or not, do work,” Dr. Ourian notes. Using creams that contain caffeine or retinol and dry brushing can make the skin smoother and firmer looking, but they don’t do much for the buttock’s size or shape. Additionally, products with phytoestrogens may impact the buttock’s size by stimulating the fat cells in the area where the cream is applied; however, “it’s kind of a pseudoscience—there has not been enough research.”

If homework isn't enough.“Invariably everyone says they've tried exercises, and they tried to gain weight, but it doesn't go to their butt,” says Dr. Ourian, who goes on to explain that there are temporary options with no downtime and permanent options with anywhere from a few weeks to several months of recovery time depending on the procedure.

Size up on the shape. Ideals in butt shape tend to skew in accordance with generational and cultural tastes. JLo and Beyoncé are some of the most popular celebrity names dropped, alongside a plethora of pictures from Instagram. “Most importantly, it’s based on the person’s natural anatomy. My job is to tell them if they can have that kind of butt or not, and what the likelihood is of being able to have that kind of result. And we go from there.”

Implants are a last resort. If you are not a candidate for a permanent fat transfer, or aren’t interested in temporary dermal fillers, implants are a surgical option. “You are put out completely, and on the table for six or seven hours,” warns Dr. Ourian. Two firm gels are placed underneath the muscle, inside of the body. “They’re similar to the implants used in a breast augmentation, but they’re firmer because you have to sit on them. And when the surgery is over, you have to be really careful with them for a nice three or four months.We have to make sure they’re not moving. It’s very involved. You have to be really committed to getting this done to make sure that you get really good results.” Also note that, like breast implants, these implants will need to be replaced every 10 years in most cases, if not sooner.

DO NOT get any injections or implants that are not FDA-approved, including silicone. In fact, do not get any silicone injected anywhere, ever. “I see smart and otherwise educated women who go to people who are not doctors and get their butts filled with silicone,” Dr. Ourian explains. “For the first year or two it appears to be harmless, but then everything goes south.”Possible side effects include infection, deformity, kidney failure, nerve damage, bleeding, scarring, and in the most extreme cases, even death.