Reminder on the Risks Related to Buttock Lipofilling

Leading authorities in plastic surgery around the world have issued formal warnings regarding the risks associated with buttock lipofilling.

Scientific Concerns Raised Since 2017

As early as June 2017, we commented on a publication in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, which outlined the dangers of fatal complications during Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedures. This article triggered widespread concern in the medical community.

Subsequently, several scientific societies convened to examine the data, leading to the development of international recommendations and the issuance of safety alerts.

Global Safety Alert for Plastic Surgeons

Plastic surgeons around the world recently received an “Urgent Alert” highlighting the critical risk of death associated with fat injections into the buttocks.

This alert underscores the possibility of fat entering the gluteal muscle and, from there, the bloodstream, potentially causing a fatal fat embolism or severe neurological damage such as stroke.

Official Recommendations:

• Never inject into the muscle.
• Strictly limit injections to the subcutaneous tissue (just under the skin).

Our Position: A Surgical Choice Based on Safety

While we understand the rationale behind these recommendations, we believe they are somewhat unrealistic in practice:

• Continuous monitoring of injection depth is extremely difficult, unless the surgeon uses real-time ultrasound guidance.
• Restricting injections to the subcutaneous layer significantly limits the volume that can be safely injected, reducing the aesthetic result.

For these reasons, and based on our assessment of the risk-benefit ratio, we made the decision over a year ago to no longer perform this procedure.

The risk of death is too high, and patient safety remains our utmost priority.

Alternative: Buttock Implants as a Safer Option

We continue to favor buttock implants as a reliable and effective solution for patients seeking volume enhancement in this area.

When performed by experienced surgeons, gluteal implants offer excellent aesthetic results without the life-threatening complications associated with BBL.

If you would like to explore safe options for buttock augmentation, feel free to contact us for a consultation.