Flat buttocks

    Flat buttocks describe limited projection relative to a person’s frame and preferences. This may be normal anatomy or follow weight loss, ageing or reduced muscle volume. Shape depends on bone, muscle, fat and skin.

    Last reviewed: November 20263 sources

    What you may notice

    • Limited backward projection
    • Less upper or outer fullness
    • A straighter back-to-thigh transition
    • Asymmetry between sides

    Why it can happen

    Pelvic anatomy, gluteal muscle size, genetics and fat distribution establish shape. Ageing, weight loss, muscle loss and tissue descent can reduce projection. Exercise can enlarge muscle but cannot control fat placement.

    What may help

    Progressive resistance training can improve muscle size and function. Surgical options include fat grafting, implants or lifting, depending on volume and skin. Gluteal fat grafting has a specific fatal fat-embolism risk and requires strict technique and qualified surgical care.

    When to consult

    Consult a clinician for new one-sided wasting, weakness, pain or a mass. Cosmetic assessment should review anatomy, donor fat, laxity and procedure-specific safety.

    Related options

    3 options

    Surgical procedures

    Evidence and sources

    1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Buttock enhancement [Internet]. Arlington Heights (IL): American Society of Plastic Surgeons; [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/buttock-enhancement
    2. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Body lift [Internet]. Arlington Heights (IL): American Society of Plastic Surgeons; [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/body-lift
    3. National Health Service. Liposuction [Internet]. London: National Health Service; 2023 [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/liposuction/