Brazilian Butt Lifts: An Editorial

It is rather strange to read at International Women’s Day the first report of a buttock implant leading to fatal lymphoma, a complication that we know until now only of breast implants [1,2] Buttock enhancement is mostly performed with autologous fat injection rather than with silicone implants. However, these Brazilian butt lift procedures are the deadliest in aesthetic surgery. One in every 3000 patients dies of a fat embolism. Injecting fat into the buttocks can easily lead to serious problems if done incorrectly [3]. Most of the 33 deaths have been attributed to unqualified doctors, but underreporting is very likely. Besides fatal fat embolism, sepsis and gangrene can also be fatal [3]. For those who have ever watched the TV series “Botched” may be surprised on the vast number of doctors that perform these types of surgeries who seem to have very questionable qualifications. In a celebrity and beauty obsessed society this practice continues. Hopefully, brain enhancement is winning from buttock enhancement.

It is obvious that the risks outweigh the benefits of buttock enhancement.

1. Shauly O, Gould DJ, Siddiqi I (2019) The first reported case of gluteal implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
2. https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/implantsandprosthetics/ breastimplants/ucm239995.htm
3. Frame J (2018) Brazilian butt lifts are the deadliest of all aesthetic procedures-the risks explained. Medical Express.