Clinical use of magnetic resonance imaging in buttock augmentation with silicone implants: a retrospective analysis

Background: The objective of the current study was to retrospectively examine the morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of the gluteus maximus of buttock augmentation at levels of predetermined anatomic points. Methods: The present study was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Adult women who underwent high-quality MRI scanning at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2018 to January 2021 were included in this work. The transverse MRI data measured at the inferior point of the sacroiliac joint, just above the femoral head, and at the ischial tuberosity were collected and statistically analyzed. Results: Fifty-two cases (104 sides of female gluteus maximus) were included in the final analysis. The A point (surgery starting point) were 54.4 +/- 6.34 mm, 54.91 +/- 5.57 mm, and 73.91 +/- 5.57 mm away from the posterior midline at the level of inferior point of the sacroiliac joint, just above the femoral head, and at the ischial tuberosity, respectively. Accordingly, the thickness of the muscle at these locations was 16.0 +/- 4.17 mm, 23.4 +/- 4.40 mm, and 24.6 +/- 7.58 mm, respectively. The diameter of the implant did not exceed 14.18 +/- 1.22 cm. In addition, the gluteus maximus at the lowest point of the sacroiliac joint and above the femoral head exhibited an arc structure, which needs to be tilted to the deep plane during separation. Conclusions: Dissimilar from previous experience of blind dissection, the gluteus maximus muscle can be more scientifically and reasonably dissected using the indexes for gluteus augmentation supplied in this study.