A buttock lift can be performed under general or spinal anesthesia and takes approximately one to two hours to complete. The surgical butt lift procedure is performed in three steps: Skin removal: Surgeons use liposuction to remove excess skin, fat, and underlying tissue from the buttocks area. Skin tightening: Surgeons use grafts to tighten the remaining skin around the buttocks. The grafted skin is usually taken from another part of your body (such as your stomach), but it could also be synthetic material. Recovery: After the procedure, you may notice slight discomfort, bruising, swelling, and soreness in the surgical area. Pain medication can help relieve pain and discomfort during the postoperative recovery period. It may take up to three months for your scars to heal completely. You can expect to wear a compression garment for several weeks after surgery to help reduce swelling. You’ll need to limit strenuous activity for 6 to 12 weeks, but you might be able to return to work within 2 or 3 weeks after surgery if you do not work in a physically demanding job.