What’s the perfect male buttocks look like? Yes, there’s a study for that

DURHAM, N.C. — Does Captain America no longer have the best butt in the United States? The quest for the “ideal backside” has gained attention in a recent internet survey, shedding light on preferences for male body contouring and gluteal enhancement. Researchers surprisingly found more men are interested in getting butt implants.

“Our results demonstrate that there is a preferred male gluteal aesthetic,” says Dr. Ashit Patel, a member surgeon of ASPS from Duke University, in a media release. “The findings suggest that a moderately enhanced, well-proportioned appearance is most desirable.”

The study aimed to define the aesthetics of the ideal male buttocks. While cosmetic procedures like gluteal augmentation and lifting have been predominantly associated with women, there’s a rising interest among men as well.

“But while previous studies have evaluated the features of attractive female buttocks, no one has really studied the aesthetic of the ideal male buttocks,” according to Dr. Patel.

Using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform, researchers presented participants with images of a man’s buttocks from various angles, digitally altering proportions. Over 2,000 self-selected individuals, primarily men between 25 and 34 years-old, participated in the survey, rating the attractiveness of the altered buttock images.

“In our survey, raters thought the ideal male buttocks shouldn’t be flat, but also shouldn’t stick out too far,” explains Dr. Patel. “The buttocks shouldn’t be too wide, and should retain the characteristic dimple on the sides.”

These preferences differ from previous studies on the “ideal” female buttocks, which favored a rounder and fuller appearance. The authors emphasize the significance of these differences in transgender patients undergoing gender-affirming surgery.

The survey uncovered variations in preferences based on respondent characteristics like race, region of residence, and sexual orientation. However, preferred proportions were relatively similar between male and female raters.

“Our study is one of the first to really focus on what makes the male buttocks most attractive,” notes Dr. Patel. “We believe the findings will be helpful in discussions with patients considering gluteal enhancement, and provide guidance in achieving optimal results and patient satisfaction.”

The study is published in the journal Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

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