RealSelf and The Aesthetic Society (The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) have published a safety guide and a consultation checklist for patients considering a Brazilian butt lift (BBL).

The new resources provide prospective patients with clear information about the associated risks of the procedure and specific questions to ask during a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

A BBL is a surgical procedure that involves removing fat from areas of the body, such as the thighs or stomach, and injecting that fat into the buttocks and hips. The procedure was widely considered to be one of the most dangerous cosmetic surgeries, but a new study suggests that the mortality rate has improved significantly – from 1 in 3,448 to 1 in 14,952. 

The new findings, published recently in Aesthetic Surgery Journal, suggest that updated recommendations for surgical technique—specifically, limiting fat injection to the subcutaneous layer just beneath the skin—have made a positive impact. However, the improved mortality data pertains only to BBLs performed by board-certified plastic surgeons, and does not account for those performed by doctors who are not board certified in plastic surgery.

To keep patients informed on the latest safety information and ensure they understand the importance of going to a board-certified plastic surgeon, RealSelf and The Aesthetic Society published two new resources:

  • The Brazilian Butt Lift Safety Guide provides consumers with clear information about the associated risks of the procedure, including the latest safety information. It also identifies the most important rules to follow for a safe surgery and smooth recovery.
  • The Brazilian Butt Lift Consultation Checklist outlines the crucial questions to ask during a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, from whether they have hospital privileges to how many BBLs they perform in an average day. It also provides guidance on what patients should listen for in a surgeon’s answer and red flags that may mean they’re not qualified to safely perform a BBL.

“The new risk profile means gluteal fat grafting, often referred to as a BBL, is getting safer—but our work isn’t done. First and foremost, we want to provide patients with clear information about why it’s absolutely critical to go to a board-certified plastic surgeon,” says Herluf Lund, MD, President, The Aesthetic Society, in a media release.

“RealSelf is a great resource for consumers because they list the board certifications and credentials for every doctor, and only allow board-certified plastic surgeons to provide consultations and answer consumers’ questions about BBL. By partnering with RealSelf, we can engage past patients, future patients and board-certified plastic surgeons around the country in order to get this information to as many people as possible,” he adds.

“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,” shares RealSelf founder and CEO Tom Seery.

“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.” 

[Source(s): RealSelf, The Aesthetic Society, PR Newswire]