Just like breasts or other features, no two butts are identical.
There isn’t a strict “average” butt shape, although cosmetic surgeons often sort buttocks into several broad shape groups for clinical purposes.
“The primary buttock silhouettes I observe are square, round, heart, and inverted V,” says Dr. Olga Bachilo, a Houston-based plastic surgeon who performs butt lifts, implants, and augmentations.
So, what type of butt do I have?
Like body-type labels, butt-type classifications aren’t an exact science.
These groupings are based on general proportions between your waist, hips, and thighs.
Still, recognizing your butt type can help when choosing jeans or underwear.
Here are the main butt types, as defined by cosmetic and plastic surgeons.
Square or H-shaped
If the contour from your hip bone to the outer thigh appears fairly straight, you likely have a square or H-shaped butt.
People with this shape may have prominent hip bones, noticeable “hip dips,” or a layer of fat on the flanks (sometimes called “love handles”).
If this sounds like you, avoid underwear that rides up high and consider boy shorts, bikinis, or thongs instead.
Also, you might find low-rise jeans uncomfortable; mid- or high-waisted pants are often a better fit.
Inverted or V-shaped
This shape shows more fullness near the waist and less in the lower cheeks, creating a line between pelvis and hips that angles inward like a V.
Underwear without high-cut leg openings — such as hipsters, briefs, and boy shorts — tends to feel more comfortable because they provide greater coverage of the butt cheeks.
Your rear will flatter jeans that have fuller pockets positioned lower on the back or styles with subtle fading near the bottom.
Stretchy denim is a good pick so your butt won’t be flattened by stiff, thick jeans.
Heart or A-shaped
If you have a narrow waist and fat concentrated in the lower buttocks or upper thighs, you probably have an A-shaped or heart-shaped butt.
From behind, the hips and butt cheeks create an inverted heart silhouette.
This shape is common among those with a “pear-shaped” body.
You’ll likely prefer underwear with higher-cut leg openings or larger leg holes, like high-cut panties, tangas, or bikinis.
Look for mid-rise, curvy-cut jeans in stretch fabrics to reduce waist gaping.
Round, bubble, or O-shaped
This form results from full hips and fat distributed across the butt cheeks, including the upper areas, producing a rounded, curvy look from behind.
When selecting underwear, choose options with more rear fabric for full coverage and to lessen wedgies. Tangas and thongs often work well.
High-rise, bootcut jeans in non-distressed denim can complement this shape beautifully.
What factors affect butt shape?
Several elements influence the shape of your butt.
Your bone and muscle structure are major contributors, including:
- the orientation of your hip bones and pelvis
- the size of your gluteal muscles
- how your glute muscles attach to your femur
Your genetics dictate skeletal layout and how your body stores fat.
“People distribute fat differently based on genetics,” Bachilo says. “Some accumulate fat in hips and glutes, others in thighs, and some around the midsection.”
She adds that hormones, body weight, and age also influence butt shape.
“With aging and hormonal shifts, particularly after menopause, fat distribution changes,” she explains. “More fat is deposited around the midsection rather than the hips and buttocks.”
Can your shape change over time?
Yes. Most people’s buttocks alter as they age and experience hormonal fluctuations.
“Nothing is entirely permanent about our body shapes,” Bachilo says.
For example, fat distribution, including your butt, will change once you start puberty.
Estrogen directs fat toward the hips and butt during puberty, which is why curves begin to form.
“During pregnancy and lactation, people often store more fat in the hips because of temporary hormonal shifts,” Bachilo notes. This can change the butt’s appearance for a period.
Then, as you age, skin cell turnover and collagen production slow down. This can lead to reduced firmness or bounce in your butt.
After menopause, when estrogen declines, fat tends to redistribute again, causing further differences.
“Typically, I see postmenopausal patients lose their hourglass contours,” Bachilo says.
This partly explains why V-shaped butts can be more common in older women: lower estrogen levels lead to fat shifting from the butt toward the abdomen.
Certain health conditions can also influence butt shape.
“Insulin resistance and prediabetes can change body shape,” Bachilo explains. “People with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome often become more apple-shaped and store fat in the midsection. Their buttocks and thighs can appear thin and depleted of fat.”
What if you want to change your shape?
First, remember there’s nothing wrong with your butt — if you’re happy with it, you don’t need to change it.
If you do want to alter it for yourself, diet, exercise, or cosmetic surgery can produce changes.
There are exercises that target the glute muscles and can create a rounder, perkier look.
Examples are squats, lunges, and leg lifts. As a bonus, some of these moves may also reduce back pain.
Cosmetic surgeons like Bachilo can also perform augmentations to modify shape. Procedures may include:
- Brazilian butt lifts
- implants
- CoolSculpting
- Emsculpt muscle treatments
- Sculptra filler injections
Keep in mind that exercise, weight shifts, and surgery have limits. You can’t change your bone structure or the fundamental pattern of how your body deposits fat.
“What a patient starts with will influence achievable results,” Bachilo says. “Not every patient can reach the same outcome or appearance.”
The bottom line
No matter what type of butt you have, remember: it’s beautiful and part of what makes you unique. And like the rest of your body, it will continue to change over the years.
If you’re dealing with a flat butt or just curious about options, knowing your shape can help you pick flattering clothing or decide whether you want to pursue changes.
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