What is a butt facial? Why this spa treatment is popular among gay men

What is a butt facial?

A butt facial is just like a regular facial except it’s “done on the buttocks,” Basil Russo, founder of Bar Beauty Medical in Toronto, tells Out.

It may sound like a gimmick meant to strip people desperate to live up to impossible beauty standards of their hard-earned cash, but Russo says butt facials solve a real problem.

“People come in because the skin back there acts up in ways the face doesn't, and most of what I see isn't even real acne,” he says. “It’s usually folliculitis, which is inflamed hair follicles, or keratosis pilaris, those little rough bumps, plus ingrown hairs, congestion, and the dark marks all of that leaves behind. We clear the congestion, calm things down, and the marks fade over a few visits.”

At Bespoke Surgical, an elite New York-based anal health practice, Registered Aesthetic Nurse Michael Aronwits says with their butt facial, you’ll be getting “facial-grade skincare for the butt.”

Some people come to him for cosmetic reasons, but his main focus is improving the health of your skin. “I’m less interested in throwing more products at skin and more interested in understanding what the skin actually needs,” Aronwits says. “Healthier skin naturally tends to look better, so the treatment focuses on cleansing, exfoliation, hydration, and supporting the skin barrier while addressing each patient’s specific concerns."

What should you expect when you get a butt facial?

If you’re going to a reputable med spa or aesthetician’s office, a butt facial should start with a consultation where they get a good look at your behind to decide what treatments you need.

“Every treatment starts with a consultation because I need to understand a patient’s baseline before deciding how to treat them,” Aronwits says. “I’m assessing their skincare routine, hair removal habits, previous treatments, and the overall health of their skin so I can create a plan that’s both clinically appropriate and cosmetically effective.”

This will likely include a double cleanse of the skin on your butt, before they use a chemical exfoliate with with enzymes or acids, steam your tush just like they do to your face during a facial, extract any black heads or clogged pores, give you a peel of some kind depending on your skin type (usually salicylic, mandelic or glycolic), use an LED or high frequency device to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation if there’s an active breakout, and follow it all up with a calming mask and moisturizer. You’ll also probably be sent home with a new skin care regimen specifically for your booty.

“It's a treatment, not a fluffy spa buff, so what you're paying for is the result over a short run of visits, not one relaxing hour,” Russo says.

Are they getting more popular among gay men?

Aronwits, who works at Bespoke Surgical, which specializes in treating anal health issues that can crop up from bottoming, says that gay men and bottoms are coming in for butt facials more and more every day — though the popularity is also increasing regardless of sexuality.

“People are becoming more attuned to caring for every part of their body, not just their face. As skincare and intimate wellness become more normalized, treatments like butt facials have become much more mainstream,” he says. “Within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly gay men, we’ve often seen earlier adoption of skincare and aesthetic treatments. That said, we treat patients of all genders and backgrounds because healthy skin isn’t exclusive to gay men.”

Russo backs this up, saying that “bookings have jumped, and a lot of it is guys who want the skin below the belt looking as good as their face.” But he doesn’t think it’s any one group that’s driving the popularity of the procedure. “Anyone who's on camera, dating, living in the gym, or just sick of bumps and marks is asking about it now,” he says.

How much does a butt facial cost?

Russo charges $200 at his Toronto-based med spa for a 60-minute butt facial, but says that “a stubborn case usually wants a few sessions rather than a single one.” This is one of those instances where you get what you pay for because Russo says that places that charge less than that are probably only doing a scrub and skin mask, not extractions and chemical peels. “If it's dirt cheap, it's the scrub and the mask,” he says. You’re also putting yourself at greater risk of infection by picking a place that isn’t reputable.

In the U.S. you can expect to pay $250 for a classic butt facial at Bespoke Surgical, although that price can go up with customized treatments. “Like facial skincare, butt facials aren't one-size-fits-all,” Aronwits says. “The treatment plan is tailored to the individual's skin type, concerns, and goals rather than following the same protocol for every patient.”

What are the risks?

Like with any medical or cosmetic treatment, picking a reputable provider is the key to reducing your risk that anything goes wrong. When performed by a licensed medical provider, butt facials are very safe and your only real risks are “temporary redness, mild sensitivity, or slight irritation,” Aronwits says.

“The consultation is one of the most important parts of the appointment because active infections, recent waxing or laser treatments, certain medications, and other skin conditions may require modifying or postponing treatment,” he continues. “Sometimes the best treatment is actually treating the skin less aggressively. Supporting the skin barrier and reducing inflammation often produces better long-term results than trying to do too much all at once.”

Russo also says you can reduce the risks involved by following the old adage that “less is more.”

“The trouble usually comes from overdoing it, peeling skin that was already inflamed or infected, or going at it with a scrub at home between visits,” he says. “On deeper skin tones, over exfoliating can leave dark marks, so I match the peel strength to the person. That's the whole reason a consult and going in the right order matters.”

Should you get a butt facial if you’re gay?

Aronwits says that he doesn’t think you have to run to the nearest med spa to get a butt facial just because you’re a queer man or a bottom, but he says, “If you're investing in the skin on your face, though, why wouldn't you invest in the skin everywhere else?”

If you’re struggling with acne, ingrown hairs, folliculitis, rough texture, and discoloration then a butt facial may be the answer to your booty woes. “For many people, especially those who want to feel their most confident naked or in intimate settings, it's no different than investing in a good facial or body treatment,” he says. “Ultimately, I see it as caring about skincare and confidence, rather than only about identity or sexual roles.”

Can you have sex after a butt facial?

There isn’t much downtime after a butt facial since you’re only really dealing with redness and a little sensitivity for about 24 hours after the treatment. Especially if you got a chemical peel you’ll want to hold off on exfoliating, removing hair, or using irritating skin care products until your skin has recovered, which usually takes about a week. But what about sex?

Excessive sweating within the first 24 hours — either from sex or working out — could cause additional irritation or even the introduction of bacteria, so you’ll want to be careful not to you jump back in the sack too soon, and that goes double if you’re a bottom. “As for sex, I typically recommend waiting 24 to 48 hours before receptive anal intercourse to give the skin barrier time to recover and minimize irritation and what irritation can cause in the area,” Aronwits says. “The exact timeline may be longer after more intensive treatments, so it is always tailored per specific butt that I am treating.”

Sources cited

Basil Russo is the founder of Bar Beauty Medical in Toronto.

Michael Aronwits is a registered nurse and an aesthetic specialist at Bespoke Surgical in New York.