Classification system for gluteal evaluation.

The buttock area has received much media attention in recent years, which has produced increased patient demand for buttock reshaping and augmentation. This phenomenon is reflected in statistics collected by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery,which demonstrate a 533% increase in gluteal augmentation between 2002 and 2003. Increasing patient demand has necessitated a more structured approach to evaluation of gluteal anatomy and the development of surgical procedures to enhance its beauty. The proposed classification system for gluteal contouring focuses on evaluating and identifying the different frame types, the different gluteal muscle types, and the relationship between the muscle and the frame. Finally, a ptosis classification system is presented.