Brazilian Butt Lift

Gluteal fat grafting is the medical name for a BBL. The surgeon removes fat by liposuction, processes it and injects it through a cannula into the buttocks. ASPS says surgeons may remove up to three times the fat that is injected.

Deaths come from pulmonary fat embolism: fat enters injured gluteal veins under the gluteus maximus muscle and travels to the heart and lungs. In 2017 surgeons reported 32 deaths and 103 nonfatal fat emboli in 198,857 cases, with more emboli among those who injected into deep muscle.

Since 2018 the plastic surgery societies have advised injecting fat only into the subcutaneous fat, above the muscle fascia. In a 2019 follow-up survey the reported death rate trended from 1 in 3,448 to 1 in 14,952.

Florida law adds rules for office surgery. In an office surgery setting the fat must stay in the subcutaneous space, the physician must use ultrasound guidance while injecting, and must do the fat removal and injection personally, one patient at a time.

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