Many people want a larger, shapelier rear due to the influence of Kim Kardashian and other celebrities. That’s why the number of Houston Brazilian butt lifts (BBL) done in the past five years has doubled.
However, a Brazilian butt lift surgery has a higher complication rate than other plastic surgeries. Some surveys suggest the chances of death from the procedure is 1 in 3,000. Serious complications are usually because the surgeon was inexperienced and unqualified.
If you are thinking about a BBL (by itself or as part of a mommy makeover), you probably won’t have complications. But it’s important to perform due diligence, understanding are BBLs dangerous, such as knowing the top five BBL risks.
Brazilian Butt Lift Overview
Many patients have a BBL to make their rears look more appealing; there’s only so much squats and other leg exercises can do to increase the size of the buttocks. Others choose a BBL because they lost a lot of weight or had an accident that affects the rear.
A BBL uses liposuction to remove fat from one part of the body and inject it into the buttocks. For example, if you have fat on the abdomen, you might have liposuction followed by a BBL.
A significant advantage of this procedure is you can have fat removed from a problem area and injected into the rear. This is a ‘two-for-one’ procedure that many patients love.
For the plastic surgery to be successful, the injected fat needs a blood supply. That’s why it’s necessary to inject the fat into tissue that has a blood supply. If it’s injected into fat that is already in the buttocks, most of it will be absorbed by the body.
How much fat can be safely injected depends on the case, but most surgeons stop at about 300ml, which is equal to a soda can. A few experienced surgeons may inject more, but you should check their qualifications and experience carefully.
What Are The Risks Of A Brazilian Butt Lift Procedure?
The BBL is safe when done by skilled and experienced board certified plastic surgeons, but the surgical procedure has a higher-than-average complication rate. The most significant risks are:
Fat Injected Too Far Into Muscle
The biggest health risk for brazilian butt lift patients is if the grafted fat is injected too far into the buttock muscles. As noted earlier, the transferred fat needs a blood supply, so most of it needs to be injected into live tissue.
However, an unskilled surgeon may inject the fat into the muscle, where it can enter a blood vessel. If this happens, the result could be a fat embolism that travels to the lung, heart, or brain.
Autopsies of some patients show the fat was injected into or under the muscle and caused a fatal embolism.
That’s the reason it’s so critical to select an experienced plastic surgeon who has performed several Brazilian butt lift surgeries. Before undergoing a BBL, you should ask your surgeon how experienced they are with the procedure.
You also should ask the plastic surgeons if their surgical techniques involve only injecting fat into subcutaneous space and not the muscle itself.
Using Dermal Fillers Or Silicone Instead of Fat
Silicone and dermal fillers work well for their FDA-approved uses, including breast enhancement and facial procedures to fill in fine lines and wrinkles. But they shouldn’t usually be used for a BBL.
Some plastic surgeons may offer to use fillers or silicone for the procedure to lower the cost and attract more patients but this increases the risk factors. But this isn’t recommended because neither substance is made for a Brazilian butt lift.
You could have unappealing results that require revision surgery, or there could be a serious complication.
Fat Necrosis
If the fat is improperly injected or there’s too much, you could experience fat necrosis, also called fat death.
If enough fat dies because of an inadequate blood supply, you could have subpar results that are difficult to correct.
Fat Reabsorption
It’s known that the body will reabsorb some of the transferred fat, which is why the surgeon will slightly overfill the buttocks. The buttocks will look too large at first, but as some of the fat is reabsorbed, you should see pleasing results.
However, if the surgeon is unskilled and inexperienced, too much fat may be absorbed. When that happens, patients usually need a repeat BBL to top things off.
Nerve Damage
If the fat is injected too deep or in the wrong location, it could press on a major nerve that affects sensation and even the ability to move. Again, make sure you choose a skilled plastic surgeon who does many BBLs each year.
Also, check your surgeon’s previous BBL clients to find out if they are satisfied with their results.
How To Reduce BBL Risks
This cosmetic surgery is safe and effective when a skilled surgeon does the work, and you can speed up your BBL recovery if you follow these tips:
- Stop smoking: Most surgeons won’t do a BBL if you don’t stop smoking at least two weeks before the procedure. You also shouldn’t smoke for at least two weeks after, too. Smoking reduces blood circulation and delays the healing process.
- Don’t take blood thinners: Don’t take aspirin, Ibuprofen, or other blood thinning drugs for two weeks before plastic surgery. They affect the body’s blood-clotting mechanisms.
- Don’t drink alcohol: You shouldn’t drink much alcohol for two weeks before and after plastic surgery.
- Drink water: Drink at least eight glasses of water each day to flush toxins out of your body.
The BBL is usually a safe procedure, but you should discuss the risks with your surgeon first.
Questions and Answers
What are the long term risks of a BBL?
Although uncommon, potential long-term risks can encompass asymmetry, alterations in skin sensation, dissatisfaction with the cosmetic outcome, and fat necrosis, which is the death of fat cells that have been relocated. Regular follow-up appointments are essential for detecting and addressing any such issues in a timely manner.
What are the chances of mortality associated with BBLs?
The Brazilian Butt Lift procedure does carry notable risks. As per a recent report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, BBL surgery is associated with a mortality rate of approximately 1 in 3,000 cases, making it the most lethal among all cosmetic surgery.
How long will my BBL last?
The outcomes of a Brazilian butt lift are considered semi-permanent, typically lasting several years and potentially extending beyond a decade without the need for additional treatments. Nevertheless, the natural aging process can lead to changes in your body that may influence the longevity of your results over time.
What is a fat embolism and what are the chances of a fat embolism associated with BBL procedures?
A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a high-risk cosmetic procedure, primarily due to the potential for fat embolisms, where fat enters the bloodstream and obstructs circulation. In a BBL, a physician extracts fat from other body areas and transfers it to the buttocks, enhancing their appearance by making them appear larger.
Is it safe to have a fat transfer into the buttocks?
Fat transfer is a secure and minimally invasive method that yields natural and youthful outcomes. In these surgical procedures, a plastic surgeon harvests excess fat from one part of your body and then injects it into the targeted area, effectively enhancing volume in areas like the face, buttocks, breasts, or other desired body parts.
What is fat grafting and how does it compare with liposuction?
In the course of a natural fat transfer procedure, fat cells are harvested from a donor site and subsequently reinjected into the buttocks region. The process typically involves the use of liposuction to gently collect your own fat cells from the donor area, which is commonly the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, where there is usually an adequate supply of fat.
How long does fat grafting last?
The outcomes of a fat transfer procedure are permanent, yet not all fat cells endure the process, which may impact the volume achieved. Gluteal fat grafting typically requires approximately six months for the injected fat cells to establish a new blood supply, resulting in the final and visible results
Request a Houston Brazilian Butt Lift Consultation
Interested in a BBL in Houston? Please set up a consultation with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ashley Steinberg today. She’ll talk to you about the benefits and risks of a Brazilian butt lift and determine if this procedure is a fit for you.
References
Brazilian Butt Lifts Are The Deadliest Of All Aesthetic Procedures. (2020). Accessed at https://theconversation.com/brazilian-butt-lifts-are-the-deadliest-of-all-aesthetic-procedures-the-risks-explained-101559#
Plastic Surgery Societies Issue Urgent Warning About The Risks Associated With Brazilian Butt Lifts. (2019). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/press-releases/plastic-surgery-societies-issue-urgent-warning-about-the-risks-associated-with-brazilian-butt-lifts
BBL Safety. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/buttock-enhancement/safety
