Cosmetic or plastic surgery procedures are far more common – and often much less invasive – than they once were. However, many still involve complicated procedures that can have serious and even fatal consequences if they’re not performed properly or something goes wrong.
Since all surgery involves some risk, it’s crucial to trust yours to a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience performing your particular type of surgery and a track record of successful outcomes.
Plastic surgeons typically agree that the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) or “gluteal fat grafting” is the most dangerous of all cosmetic surgery procedures. In fact, in one survey, 3% reported having at least one BBL fatality.
What is involved in a BBL, and what can go wrong?
In this procedure, a surgeon takes fat from one part of the body and puts in in or near the posterior muscles to give the butt more shape. Kim Kardashian is among the celebrities who has made this a sought-after look.
The serious risks of a BBL involve the injection of fat into the body. There are two primary dangers. First, it could potentially enter the bloodstream, which could cause an embolism to develop in a lung or somewhere else and block circulation. The fat could also enter a crucial coronary artery that’s near the usual injection site for a BBL and obstruct blood flow. This can result in a heart attack or stroke.
These things can go wrong without the surgeon or sometimes even the patient realizing it until it’s too late. That’s why it’s crucial for doctors to inform patients and families about concerning signs to watch for after surgery.
If you or a loved one has been harmed or worse by a BBL, it’s important to find out what happened and to consider possible legal options for seeking justice and compensation.