What are the dangers of the BBL?

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What are the dangers of the BBL?

Thanks for asking.

Beauty standards are always shifting. Back in the 1960s through the 90s, especially in the West, the ideal body for women was all about being slim. Think long, lean silhouettes and flat bottoms. By the late 90s and especially in the 2010s, that completely flipped. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj helped usher in a new trend, one that celebrates curves, especially a fuller derriere. To achieve this look, some people turn to cosmetic surgery. And there's one procedure in particular that has become famous or notorious, the BBL. So what exactly is a BBL?

BBL stands for Brazilian Butt Lift. And yes, it did originally come from Brazil, dating back to the 1970s. Here's how it works. Fat is removed from one part of the body, usually areas like the thighs or hips, using liposuction. That fat is then processed and injected directly into the buttocks, with the aim of creating a fuller, rounder backside using your own fat instead of implants. It may sound straightforward, but it is widely considered the most dangerous cosmetic surgery in the world. A 2017 report published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal surveyed 610 surgeons. Out of roughly 200,000 reported procedures, there were 32 deaths and 103 non-fatal complications. That gives us a mortality rate of about 1 in 6,000. But some forensic experts, especially in the US, estimate the real number may be closer to 1 in 3,000. To put that into perspective, the second most dangerous cosmetic procedure, the tummy tuck, has a much lower mortality rate at about 1 in 13,000. But why is the risk so high?

The biggest concern is something called a fat embolism. That's when fat enters the bloodstream and blocks blood flow to vital organs like the heart or lungs. It can be fatal and it can happen quickly. The problem often comes down to technique. Because the body will absorb some of the fat injected, surgeons, in order to get dramatic results, inject too much fat too deeply into the gluteal muscles, resulting in embolism. Because of this, some surgeons now recommend using implants instead of fat transfers, especially for those seeking a more dramatic change. While implants come with their own risks, they're generally seen as safer than BBLs in terms of fatal complications. There you have it.

Now you know what the dangers of the BBL are. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you really will know for sure.

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