What is the risk of a fat embolism after a BBL? Can it happen weeks or months after the procedure?

Hello, thank you for your question. Fat emboli have been reported from a wide range of procedures including orthopedic procedures, long bone fractures, liposuction, fat transfer procedures and other procedures as well. The risks of a fat embolism after BBL is very low but not zero. It is very rare and not well understood. Find a BBL expert who performs hundreds of BBLs each year and has great reviews and great before and after pictures.

Dear candies517,
every surgery has possible complications. As long as your surgeon knows them and follows instructions, the risk is low. In case of fat embolism, it can occur during the procedure or shortly after it but it won't occur months after surgery. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thanks for the question. The highest risk for fat embolism in a BBL procedure is either during the procedure or in the week after the procedure. The risk decreases significantly after that. In most cases, the fat embolism is a result of an injury to the veins in the gluteal area during the procedure. Steps can be taken during the procedure to limit these risks including: use of blunt cannulas during injection, superficial injection of the fat, and avoidance of certain higher risk anatomical areas during injection.