Hello I’ve been wanting a BBL for 1-2 years now. I just find out that you can get fat embolism and I read that some girls Have died from it . After reading that, I am kind of hesitant to get a bbl. I really really want one. How can I prevent getting fat embolism ? What should I do ? Thank you & I appreciate all of you doctors that take time out of your day to answer my questions :)
February 4, 2021
Answer: Risk of fat emboli Fat embolus is a very serious and known complication of fat transfer (which has been recently spotlighted in the media). While it is true, injection of donor fat into the infra-muscular plane (within the muscle) increases fat viability, this does come with a significant increase in risk. There are large vessels deep to and within the muscle which can be inadvertently injected while grafting leading to a fat embolus. The consequences of such a complication are very serious and life threatening. BBL/gluteal lipoaugmentation demonstrates a dramatically higher risk profile than other surgeries. The Aesthetic Surgery and Educational and Research Fund has convened a task force as well. The hope is that we will have more concrete guidelines for addressing these very serious complications. That being said, the safest way to avoid fat emboli is to stay in the subcutaneous plane (at the expense of fat viability) and avoid the deeper muscular plane. If grafting of the deep plane is planned, surgeons should consider blunt cannulas and aspiration prior to injection. Using a supra-gluteal approach to minimize the risk of inadvertent intravascular injection has also been proposed. While this will likely impact graft viability negatively, it will also lower the risk of a serious complication. According to AAASF data the risk of death from BBL will range from 1:3000 (subcutaneous grafting should reduce this risk relative to intramuscular grafting). By comparison the risk of fatal complication from abdominoplasty is 1:13,000. It is unclear how the relative risk falls with subcutaneous injection vs. intramuscular injection (however, in all likelihood, it is less). No result is worth risking one's life for. I find that the patients who focus not on the volumization but rather the contouring benefits of the liposuction are happier than those whose sole goal is size. Relatively speaking, the subcutaneous plane is the "safe" plane. In summary, the procedure can be safely performed, however, they should be performed by a board certified (ABPS) plastic surgeon with experience. These risks should be discussed as well as the strategies being employed to avoid them.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
February 4, 2021
Answer: Risk of fat emboli Fat embolus is a very serious and known complication of fat transfer (which has been recently spotlighted in the media). While it is true, injection of donor fat into the infra-muscular plane (within the muscle) increases fat viability, this does come with a significant increase in risk. There are large vessels deep to and within the muscle which can be inadvertently injected while grafting leading to a fat embolus. The consequences of such a complication are very serious and life threatening. BBL/gluteal lipoaugmentation demonstrates a dramatically higher risk profile than other surgeries. The Aesthetic Surgery and Educational and Research Fund has convened a task force as well. The hope is that we will have more concrete guidelines for addressing these very serious complications. That being said, the safest way to avoid fat emboli is to stay in the subcutaneous plane (at the expense of fat viability) and avoid the deeper muscular plane. If grafting of the deep plane is planned, surgeons should consider blunt cannulas and aspiration prior to injection. Using a supra-gluteal approach to minimize the risk of inadvertent intravascular injection has also been proposed. While this will likely impact graft viability negatively, it will also lower the risk of a serious complication. According to AAASF data the risk of death from BBL will range from 1:3000 (subcutaneous grafting should reduce this risk relative to intramuscular grafting). By comparison the risk of fatal complication from abdominoplasty is 1:13,000. It is unclear how the relative risk falls with subcutaneous injection vs. intramuscular injection (however, in all likelihood, it is less). No result is worth risking one's life for. I find that the patients who focus not on the volumization but rather the contouring benefits of the liposuction are happier than those whose sole goal is size. Relatively speaking, the subcutaneous plane is the "safe" plane. In summary, the procedure can be safely performed, however, they should be performed by a board certified (ABPS) plastic surgeon with experience. These risks should be discussed as well as the strategies being employed to avoid them.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
July 19, 2021
Answer: Risks of BBL You are right, that is a known risk of BBL and there are currently major alerts within the US for Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. I don't see your location above but please seek only Board Certified surgeons in the US and read up on the risks. I do not perform them due to long term outcomes and risks to my clients. Best of Luck.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
July 19, 2021
Answer: Risks of BBL You are right, that is a known risk of BBL and there are currently major alerts within the US for Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. I don't see your location above but please seek only Board Certified surgeons in the US and read up on the risks. I do not perform them due to long term outcomes and risks to my clients. Best of Luck.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful