Miami Thong Lift Trend Explained: Hype vs Results

The “Miami Thong Lift” is a cosmetic surgery trend gaining widespread attention on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Snapchat. The name refers to a lifting and contouring procedure designed to enhance the upper buttock and “thong line” area. In most viral clips, creators show a sculpted lower back and subtly lifted buttocks that mimic the appearance of wearing a thong, a contour that is athletic, perky, and natural-looking.

The trend originated with a handful of Miami-based surgeons whose social content went viral, often highlighting same-day transformations with dramatic waist definition. While the technique can be effective when performed by a qualified surgeon, results vary significantly depending on the provider and the methods used.

The term Miami Thong Lift is often used loosely, which has led to confusion and unrealistic expectations. Traditionally, the concept traces back to techniques popularized by surgeons such as Dr. Constantino Mendieta (who practices in Miami), where the goal was refining the lower buttock shape, not creating dramatic volume.

What Is the Miami Thong Lift?

The Miami Thong Lift is a skin and soft tissue removal procedure that targets the gluteal sulcus, which is the natural crease where the lower buttocks meet the upper thigh. In select patients, excess skin and fat can collect in this area, creating a heavy or sagging appearance at the bottom of the buttocks.

By carefully removing this excess tissue, the surgeon can recontour the lower buttock, smoothing the transition between the buttocks and thighs and creating a subtle lifting effect. Rather than just adding volume, this approach refines the shape and improves definition to create a more rounded appearance.

This is fundamentally different from a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), which focuses on adding volume and reshaping the buttocks using fat transfer. While a BBL enhances fullness and projection, the Miami Thong Lift addresses excess skin and fat, helping the area look smoother, flatter, and more streamlined.

In many cases, a Miami Thong Lift can be performed in conjunction with a BBL, allowing the buttocks to both fill out and sit higher. This combined approach enhances overall contour by adding volume where needed while refining areas of excess tissue for a balanced, natural-looking result.

In fact, performing a Miami Thong Lift by itself is typically uncommon, because excision alone rarely produces a balanced or natural-looking result.

What Benefits Does the Miami Thong Lift Promise?

According to social media, the Miami Thong Lift offers a sculpted, lifted look with minimal downtime and less risk than a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). Common claims include:

• A lifted, perkier buttocks shape
• A more defined lower back and waistline
• Skin tightening in the upper glute and flanks
• Improved contour along the “thong line”
• A more athletic silhouette rather than the fuller “BBL look”
• Shorter recovery compared to a BBL or implants
• More natural results
• Fewer restrictions on sitting and sleeping
• No foreign material (compared to implants)

Influencers often frame it as a “light BBL,” saying things like:

• “It’s a BBL without the risk,”
• “Perfect for girls who want shape, not size,”
• “Instant snatched waist without the overdone look.”

Does It Work?

Whether the Miami Thong Lift “works” depends heavily on expectations and the techniques used. There is no single standardized surgical method behind the trend, so outcomes can vary widely.

Reality Check

The typical results shown on social media often include:

• Photographs taken immediately after surgery (before swelling settles)
• Strategic posing
• Filters or lighting that accentuate the waist curve
• Very lean patients with naturally favorable anatomy

The Miami Thong Lift is best understood as a refinement technique, not a dramatic lifting procedure. When used appropriately and combined with BBL and liposuction, it can create smoother, rounder contours and improve the lower buttock shape, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and it is not typically performed alone.

Risks or Downsides of the Miami Thong Lift

Despite the online hype, the Miami Thong Lift carries real risks that are often not shown in viral videos including:

Medical Risks

• Bruising, swelling, and pain
• Skin irregularities or asymmetry from micro-liposuction
• Thread complications, including rippling, visibility, or migration
• Burn risk from energy-based devices if performed by inexperienced providers
• Unpredictable longevity of results, especially when using threads
• Infection at suture or cannula sites

Aesthetic Risks

• Results may be too subtle for some patients
• Uneven contour if fat is grafted inconsistently
• Over-sculpted lower back (“shelfing”) if liposuction is too aggressive

Provider Variability

Because “Miami Thong Lift” is not a formal surgical term, the technique can be misrepresented by non-surgeons or medspas trying to capitalize on the trend. During pre-procedure consultations, prospective patients should do their research and due diligence to clarify which specific technique(s) will be performed and weather course of treatment will really provide the results they are really looking for.

Are There Better Alternatives?

Because the Miami Thong Lift is often misunderstood, it is important to clarify what it can, and cannot, achieve. This procedure is designed to refine and optimize the buttock silhouette, not to significantly increase size or projection. Patients who are seeking noticeable volume enhancement will typically require either a Brazilian Butt Lift or Butt Implants:

Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)

For patients who want more fullness, projection, and roundness, a full Brazilian Butt Lift is usually the best option. A BBL uses a patient’s own fat, harvested through liposuction from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, and strategically transfers it to the buttocks.

A BBL can:

• Increase overall buttock size and projection
• Improve shape and symmetry
• Enhance curves while also slimming surrounding areas

Unlike the Miami Thong Lift, which focuses on contour refinement, a BBL is specifically designed to add volume and create a more dramatic change in buttock shape.

Butt Implants

For patients who do not have enough natural fat for a BBL, or who want a more predictable volume increase, buttock implants may be an appropriate alternative. Implants can provide:

• Consistent, long-lasting volume
• A more structured increase in projection
• Results that are not dependent on fat availability

This option is typically reserved for carefully selected patients and requires an experienced surgeon due to the technical complexity of the procedure.

Who Is a Good Candidate for A Miami Thong Lift?

This trend may be suitable for:

• Patients with mild to moderate laxity at the bottom of the buttocks
• Lean or athletic body types wanting more curve along the lower back
• Patients who want subtle shaping, not dramatic volume

It may not be ideal for:

• Patients wanting significant buttock enlargement or enhancement
• Anyone with major skin laxity or post-weight-loss sagging
• Those needing long-lasting or dramatic results
• Patients with limited fat reserves for optional grafting
• Anyone seeking predictable, standardized outcomes

Final Verdict

The Miami Thong Lift is a visually appealing trend, but prospective patients should know that it is not a single defined procedure, rather it’s an umbrella term for numerous separate treatments. Results vary widely depending on the specific techniques used and the provider’s skill and experience. For the right patient, it can deliver subtle improvement in contour and lift, but it is not a replacement for established buttock-enhancing surgeries. Anyone considering it should consult a board-certified plastic surgeon to understand their options, risks, and whether this trend aligns with their aesthetic goals.

my Sanders Bekanich, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Bekanich her medical degree at Oregon Health and Sciences University. She then completed residencies in both General Surgery as well as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency at University of Utah Health Sciences Center. Dr. Bekanich has a passion for assisting patients in their journey to help transform their lives and feel like themselves again.

Disclaimer: The contents of the Westlake Dermatology website, including text, graphics, and images, are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for direct medical advice from your physician or other qualified professional.