BBL (Fat Grafting to the
Buttocks – Brazilian Butt Lift)

Who doesn’t want a big booty?

Buttock fat grafting, otherwise known as the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is one of the fastest growing surgeries according to the Aesthetic Society.  It’s also a favorite amongst young women who are addicted to watching these operations on Instagram and Snapchat and dream about getting a derriere to match Kim Kardashian’s.

Well, the BBL is the cosmetic surgery with the highest mortality rate.  Yes, you read that right.  The death rate from BBL is higher than any other cosmetic surgery, with a recent study revealing it to be 1/3000 amongst board-certified plastic surgeons who responded to the survey.

I believe that this number isn’t completely accurate, as it only includes those plastic surgeons who responded to the survey and admitted having a death from the surgery.  As you probably know, surgeons are a quite arrogant group in general, and I bet that there are a number of plastic surgeons who wouldn’t admit that they’ve had a patient (or more than one) die from this dangerous operation.

These numbers also don’t reflect cosmetic doctors who are performing this procedure who aren’t real, board-certified plastic surgeons.  I suspect that, due to their lack of training and experience, that their mortality rate for BBL surgery is much higher than that of real plastic surgeons.

The deaths appear to be caused by a relatively high rate of fat embolism that can occur with this operation,  mainly when the fat is injected into or below the gluteal muscles, where the large and porous gluteal veins reside.

When fat is injected accidentally into these veins, it can act like a missile from an X-Wing on the Death Star – the patient can die within minutes if the fat travels to the lungs.

One study presented at the ASAPS annual meeting by Dr. Dan DeVecchio has shown that fat injected next to the veins (not even inside them) can enter the veins throw tiny micro-tears and create deadly emboli.

So what if the surgeon injects fat into the subcutaneous space, above  the muscle?  That would be safe, right?

Unfortunately, no.  Even when a surgeon believes he or she is injecting fat into the safer plane above the muscle, the doctor may, in fact,  be wrong.  He or she may accidentally be injecting it into the muscle and even below it.

Who doesn’t want a big booty?  Even if it means putting your life at risk?

It’s just not worth it.

For these reasons, Buttock Fat Grafting in on my Holistic Beauty Blacklist.

And don’t even think about buttock implants.  Those are on my list, too.  Check out why by clicking HERE.

Note: This is based solely on the opinions of Dr. Youn, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of all doctors or the standard of care in your area. Before you undergo any invasive cosmetic treatment, make sure you consult with a real board-certified plastic surgeon.

References:

https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/37/7/807/3806602

Accessibility Toolbar