Scared to have surgery because I heard about fat embolism BBL plus lipo 360. Risky? (Photo)

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons have suggested various measures to improve the safety of the procedure:1) No injection into the muscle.2) Fat should only be grafted into the superficial planes with the subcutaneous space considered safest.3) Use a large, blunt, single hole injection cannula and instrumentation that offers control.4) Avoid downward angulation of the cannula.5) Position patient and place incisions to create a path that will avoid deep muscle injections.6) Maintain constant three-dimensional awareness of the cannula tip.

Dear Eclectic990067,
generally speaking, if your plastic surgeon is well trained and follows instructions and recommendations, you should be fine. 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

You are correct that the BBL procedure has a higher risk for fat emboli. The complication rate has dropped significantly since rules changed in the placement of grafted fat. Liposuction 360 also had some risks but either procedure is quite safe in the right hands.
Dr. T

There was a significant amount of buzz if years back about the risks of the BBL after the American Society of plastic surgeons called the procedure the most dangerous cosmetic surgical procedure with a fatality rate of 1:3000.

At that time the American Society of plastic surgeons also came out with recommendations to make the procedure safer. This included using large blood cannula‘s and not injecting fat into the gluteus muscle.

We don’t have statistics stating what the current complication or fatality rate is since implementation of new safety recommendations.

Previously plastic surgeons often grafted fat into the gluteus muscle because it gave much better results. not doing so it’s going to limit results to some degree but make it safer for the patients.

I don’t think the complication rate is nearly as high currently as it was stated in the past because most plastic surgeons have changed how they do the procedure.

Fat embolism can happen from any surgical procedures including Liposuction but it is exceedingly rare to happen from liposuction alone.

The most common cause for fat embolism is orthopedic surgery or trauma with fractures.

My best guess is that the rate a fat embolism is currently less than one in 10,000. Statistically that is equivalent to an average person driving a car for one year in regards to mortality.

I think most plastic surgeons would say that liposuction without fat transfer is safer with far less complications.

I suggest having multiple in person consultations for local plastic surgeons who have experience with this procedure.

Experience makes surgeons better so to get the best results and have an overall safe experience I suggest looking for board-certified plastic surgeons who been doing this procedure for a while.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD