Standing or lying prone
If you wish to palpate on the skin, provide private room and/or a sheet or towel for cover. If you think this is necessary, ask the patient if he/she is willing to uncover the posterior buttock area. While the skin can not be viewed with clothes covering the area, the subjective assessment of the thickness of the gluteal fat layer can be made over clothing. The measurement of the thickness for body fat assessment with skin calipers can not be done over clothing.
Posterior or posterolateral to the patient.
(For a situation in which you need to have the clothing removedÖ)
Please stand (or lie on your stomach). In order to (explain the reason, e.g. take accurate measurement of your body fat), it is necessary to measure the thickness of the fat layer on your buttocks. May I place my fingers (or this instrument or caliper or other) on your buttocks? (or point to the demonstrated area, which is much better). There will be a slight squeeze but it will not be painful.
Guide the patient to either stand (or lie prone). Explain the procedures. Gently squeeze the fat layer of the buttocks for subjective assessment or use the instrument needed for your test to measure the layer of fat.
VH - Gluteal fat thickness