BBL - Does It Need to be a Risky Procedure?

There was a story about a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure that was recently reported online. The story focused on a woman from Palmdale, California, named Loren Smith. She looked through online photos and also sought some advice from a friend before she decided to have a BBL surgery. Smith made plans to visit a clinic in Mexico that had multiple positive reviews from clients and that would also allow her to save $15,000 in surgical costs by having the procedure outside of the United States. She went to Tijuana in 2018 and started to develop issues such as excruciating pain and a swollen stomach two weeks after having the procedure. Once she returned to the United States, she had to undergo emergency surgery after developing serious infections. She is still experiencing issues and her story highlights some of the dangers that can happen if a person has a Brazilian butt lift. In this article, Cosmetic Town News will take a look at the dangers associated with a Brazilian butt lift and try to determine if a BBL has to be a risky procedure.

Brazilian Butt Lift – Is it a Deadly Procedure?

The rise in popularity of BBL surgery has been driven by online influencers and celebrities who have showcased their results to the public. In general, the surgery involves the removal of fat from one area of the body (such as the thighs and abdomen) through the use of liposuction. The removed fat is then processed and purified so it can be transferred into the buttocks of the patient to provide an enhanced size, shape, and contour to the buttocks.

In addition, the popularity of the procedure has resulted in some patents like Loren Smith seeking out less expensive services in other countries (a practice known as “medical tourism”). It needs to be noted that other countries might not have health and safety standards that are as high as those followed in the United States. These lower standards can often result in medical complications or fatalities after the surgery.

In an interview with NBC News, Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio, a plastic surgeon with offices in New York City and Boston, remarked that the actual procedure should not be considered to be inherently deadly. Instead, the lack of education on the part of some BBL medical providers, as well as greed on the part of some people who perform the treatment, can contribute to complications and deaths after a Brazilian butt lift. He added that deaths from a BBL can be greatly reduced through the use of better techniques and surgical instrumentation.

Dr. Del Vecchio told the interviewer that he performs a maximum of three BBL procedures per day. However, not all surgeons exercise the same amount of restraint. “Now, a typical BBL takes two or three hours to do. If a surgeon is doing seven cases a day, that means he’s awake 21 hours, or somebody else is doing part of the surgery for that person.”

Brazilian Butt Lift – Improvements in Safety?

NBC News revealed that a report published in 2021 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons said safety improvements for the procedure were beginning to take hold. In addition, the BBL mortality rate was expected to decrease as time passes. Plus, Dr. Del Vecchio proposed new guidelines for BBL safety in the United States at a cosmetic surgery symposium this year, His proposed new guidelines include a limit on the number of procedures that can be performed by surgeons on a daily basis.

Even though many cosmetic procedures have some potential risks, there are some steps patients can take to avoid potentially dangerous situations during a BBL. For example, they should make sure the surgery is being performed by an experienced and board-certified surgeon who knows the proper safety protocols to follow including only injecting the transferred fat directly under the skin. The placement of the fat in this area keeps it away from the muscle and decreases the chance of a fat embolism, which results in the death of a person, from occurring.

It is also important for the patient to understand the possible risks and complications in advance so the person can make an educated and informed decision about having the surgery. Some of the risks and complications include not achieving the desired amount of augmentation from the procedure and also experiencing results that are uneven or not natural or aesthetically pleasing in appearance.

The reduction in possible complications and side effects can also be achieved if the patient follows the post-op instructions provided by the doctor. The post-op instructions need to be followed because they give the patient the necessary guidelines to help reduce swelling and bruising and also share when it will be okay to sit on the buttocks following the procedure. These instructions can also help a person avoid the chances of the previously discussed fat embolism occurring that can lead to a fatal outcome after the surgery.

- MA