Buttock augmentation, a celebrity-inspired procedure is one of the fastest growing aesthetic surgery treatments in the United States. There are two options women can choose from: butt implants and butt augmentation via fat transfer or the Brazilian butt lift (BBL). The Brazilian Butt Lift in New York City has become a favored option as it provides natural enhancement using the patient’s own fat. However, complications associated with the fat injections technique have led to concerns about the procedure. RealSelf and The Aesthetic Society recently published a safety guide and consultation checklist to promote proper BBL education and safety.
The Brazilian butt lift or buttock augmentation with auto logous fat grafting is a dual-benefit body contouring procedure. Fat is harvested from unwanted areas using liposuction, processed, purified and injected into the gluteal region to provide the desired enhancement. Hs. Typical donor sites include the flanks, buttocks, abdomen and thighs. The procedure provides women with a well-shaped, curvy posterior and also contours the donor sites, improving the overall appearance of the body. The popularity of the treatment has soared as it provides beautiful natural-looking outcomes without the hassles associated with implants. According to the latest annual statistics report of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a total of 24,099 BBL procedures were performed in 2018, a 19% increase from 2017.
RealSelf, the world’s leading online website to learn about cosmetic treatments and connect with plastic surgeons and other clinicians, and The Aesthetic Society (The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) published a safety guide and a consultation checklist for patients considering a Brazilian butt lift. The intention is to keep patients informed on the latest safety information and ensure they understand the importance of choosing a plastic surgeon who well trained in BBL and experienced in performing the procedure. The new guide provides prospective patients with clear information about the procedure and specific questions to ask during a consultation with their BBL plastic surgeon.
- BBL Safety Guide: It provides clear information about the associated risks of the procedure, including the latest safety information. It also provides the important rules to follow for a safe BBL surgery and smooth recovery.
- BBL Consultation Checklist: This checklist outlines important questions to ask during a consultation with a BBL plastic surgeon
- Whether they have hospital privileges
- How many BBLs they perform in an average day
- Do they have before and after photos of their previous BBL patients and so on.
It also provides guidance on what patients should listen for in a surgeon’s answer and indications that they may not be qualified to safely perform BBL.
BBL under general anesthesia has been reported to have the highest rate of deaths by far for any elective cosmetic procedure. When fat is injected into and below the muscle either intentionally or unintentionally, it can have devastating consequences and lead to death. This was found to occur in one out of 3,000 cases by the Fat Grafting Task Force, a multi-disciplinary group of plastic surgeons. Though there are several theories as to why this happens, one key reason is that when the gluteal (buttock) muscle is penetrated by the fat grafting cannula, the large veins underneath are somehow damaged and fat inadvertently enters the bloodstream.
To overcome this issue and make BBL safer for patients, an emergency rule was imposed. The advisory by the Multi-Society Task Force for Safety in Gluteal Fat Grafting (ASAPS, ASPS, ISAPS, IFATS, ISPRES), which came into effect on June 17, 2019 prohibited surgeons from injecting fat into or below a patient’s gluteal muscles due to the risk of piercing the gluteal vein.
A new paper published by Aesthetic Surgery Journal reveals that the mortality rate improved significantly-dropping from 1 in 3,448 in a study published in 2017 to 1 in 14,952 in a study published in 2020 (prnewswire.com). These findings seem to suggest that the updated surgical technique of limiting fat injection to the subcutaneous layer just beneath the skin has had a positive impact.
Along with these safety measures, anesthesia also plays a major role in the safety of Brazilian butt lift surgery. The Brazilian butt lift under local anesthesia (BBLULA) is a revolutionary technique invented by plastic surgeons Spero Theodorou and Christopher T. Chia of bodySCULPT in NYC. It is proving extremely successful as a safer alternative to BBL under general anesthesia because it presents minimal complications or risks for the patient. BBLULA is a relatively short procedure that allows patients to remain awake throughout the procedure, heal faster, and get back quickly to their normal routine.
RealSelf founder and CEO Tom Seery say that, “It’s common for people to spend months and even years considering a cosmetic procedure before moving forward. Though elective surgery has been paused in most states, we’ve continued to see a large number of consumers on RealSelf-and we felt it was important to share these resources with those researching Brazilian butt lift. Working with a leading medical organization like The Aesthetic Society, we’ve been able to develop authoritative, medically-reviewed safety resources that will help patients make informed decisions.”
BBL requires comprehensive training and experience in fat transfer techniques as well as a professionally trained eye for aesthetic detail. If you are considering Brazilian butt lift in New York City, do your research well and selecting a plastic surgeon with education, expertise and experience in liposuction and fat grafting is important for your safety and for optimal results.