Thanks to Kim Kardashian and her famous butt selfies (a.k.a belfies), women have become obsessed with their butts. Round and toned booties are more popular than ever, with 2014 even being dubbed "the year of the butt." So when I heard everyone was flocking to a med spa in Manhattan called Smooth Synergy for their famous butt facial, I knew I had to test it out for myself. How weird can it be, right?
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It’s WAY more popular than you’d think.
Not only is everyone doing it these days, but it’s actually been around for a while. “I first began offering the "Fanny Facial” back in 2005,” Smooth Synergy founder and owner Nicole Contos tells MamásLatinas. "It’s always been requested but it’s become especially popular the past two years due to the belfie and Kim Kardashian. We have clients come all year long and some that come as often as twice a week.”
It begins with a scrub.
After changing into a disposable thong and lying stomach down on a massage bed with my booty all out and about, Smooth Synergy’s esthetician began by exfoliating my butt with a papaya extract body scrub. As someone who exfoliates her rear every single day in the shower, I can assure you that this is actually a very important step in achieving a smooth and soft butt.
Try exfoliating your butt at home.
A quick tip: If you don’t already exfoliate your butt every day, try a gentle body polish, like Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Sugar Scrub ($50). For a cheaper fix: Mix brown sugar with coconut oil. The key to seeing smoother results is staying consistent.
No extractions were necessary.
I have really sensitive skin, so I was relieved when I heard the butt facial doesn't consist of extractions. Instead, Michele (the esthetician) used a hot wet towel to remove the scrub and open up my pores. It felt SO good!
Now for the butt toning.
The butt toning and lifting is why women get this facial done in the first place, but trust me, it’s not as scary as it sounds. Michele began by placing small sticky pads all over my butt cheeks and upper thighs, which were hooked to a micro-current machine that looked like something out of a sci-fi film. “It causes contractions that help build muscles similar to when you do squats or lunges,” Michele explained. I was initially really intimidated by the machine but the microcurrents weren’t painful at all and I actually felt my muscles working.
It was relaxing.
The micro-currents went on for about 45 minutes. I felt so comfortable, I wound up taking selfies (to send my friends) and then a nap.
It ends with a mask.
Michele ended my butt facial by applying a mask suitable for my specific skin type. Mines was an ultra hydrating and soothing oxygen mask that left my booty feeling as soft as a baby–literally!
My butt looked great.
Before changing back into my clothes, I looked into the mirror and inspected my butt. It was smoother and more radiant than ever. I could even peep a glow. But it didn’t look anymore lifted or perkier than usual. Michele explained it takes a few sessions before you see noticeable results. “If you decide to do this treatment, you need to do a series of sessions to really see a difference because it’s a build-up,” she says. “You wouldn’t go to the gym and expect drastic results after just one workout.” As for why I didn't post a belfie of my actual post-facial butt? I'm just not about that life.
