Fat grafting is a key procedure in Brazilian butt surgery in NYC, a popular cosmetic surgical procedure for women who wish to enhance the appearance of the posterior without implants. However, serious complications associated with fat grafting technique have led to increasing concern about the procedure. In 2018, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) joined other plastic surgery specialty societies in issuing an urgent warning regarding the “alarming” number of deaths related to gluteal fat augmentation. Plastic surgeons were advised to inject fat only under the skin- never into the muscle.
To provide evidence for this recommendation, two plastic surgeons performed a cadaver study to evaluate patterns of fat spread in the gluteal area after injection. The results were published in the May issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The study highlighted the important technical issues to ensure safe performance of the Brazilian butt lift. The authors noted that their study confirms that gluteal fat grafting is safe only if the injections remain in the subcutaneous tissue.
The Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is described as one of the most rapidly evolving and increasingly popular cosmetic surgical procedures. The latest annual statistics report of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reveals that a total of 24,099 fat transfer buttock enhancement procedures were performed in 2018, an increase of 19 percent over 2017. BBL is a “dual-benefit” procedure as it enhances the posterior while slimming down the areas from where fat is extracted.
The authors of the recent study noted that a series of 22 deaths were reported in patients having the gluteal fat injection in Colombia and Mexico. The deaths were caused by pulmonary embolisms: collections of fat blocking the arteries in the lungs.
The researchers assessed four injection techniques that plastic surgeons might use for BBL. Their findings are as follows:
- In 3 of the 4 injection techniques, the spread of the simulated fat was mainly limited to the subcutaneous area, immediately beneath the skin.
- There was little or no spread of the simulated fat into the muscle itself even when small perforations were made in the fascia – the connective tissue layer separating the muscle from the subcutaneous space.
- Even with multiple perforations and high injection pressures, the muscle fascia prevented the simulated fat from crossing into the muscle.
- In the fourth technique, multiple punctures made in the gluteal muscle. In this situation, large amounts of proxy fat were found under the muscle, showing that “deep intramuscular migration” had occurred. When the fat entered the submuscular space, the veins in that area were damaged, allowing fat cells to enter the circulation, posing a potential risk of pulmonary embolism.
Te researchers concluded that BBL or gluteal fat grafting is safe as long as injections are done exclusively into the “subcutaneous tissue”, the tissue just beneath the skin. They warn against performing subfascial or intramuscular injection.
Along with safe fat grafting techniques, anesthesia also plays a major role in the safety of Brazilian butt lift surgery. Two plastic surgeons of bodySCULPT in NYC, Drs. Spero Theodorou and Christopher T. Chia invented Brazilian butt lift under local anesthesia (BBLULA), which is a safer option because it presents minimal complications or risks for the patient. Extremely successful as a safer alternative to the traditional technique, 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.
When it comes to fat grafting in NYC, choosing the right plastic surgeon is crucial. BBL requires comprehensive training and experience in fat transfer techniques as well as a professionally trained eye for aesthetic detail. Having your Brazilian butt augmentation in NYC performed by a plastic surgeon with education, expertise and experience in liposuction and fat grafting is important for your safety and for optimal results.