Brazilian Butt Lift Is Here to Stay: Plastic Surgeons Share the View from Brazil

Newswise — "As the Brazilian butt lift continues to grow in popularity, plastic surgeons around the world are looking for answers on how to perform it safely and effectively," comments Dr. Rodrigo Rosique. "We wanted to share our Brazilian perspective on the critical steps for this procedure – highlighting the need to avoid fat injection directly into the gluteal muscle to prevent potentially serious complications."

Coauthor Dr. Marina Rosique adds, "Our paper summarizes the technical knowledge and experience we have gained in striving to achieve the best cosmetic results and safety outcomes with patients seeking to enhance their shape," Published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the Rosiques' article has been named Best International Paper in the journal's annual Best Paper Awards.

'No Longer Seen as a Passing Trend' – Plastic Surgeons Seek Answers on Brazilian Butt Lift Technique

Driven by celebrity idols and social media influence – think Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj – more women are seeking the Brazilian butt lift to achieve a fuller, rounder buttocks shape. According to ASPS statistics, nearly 24,000 women underwent buttock augmentation with fat grafting in 2018 – a ten percent increase over the previous year. "With five years of continued growth, gluteal augmentation is no longer seen as a passing trend," says Dr. Rodrigo Rosique."

In the Brazilian butt lift, the plastic surgeon performs liposuction to obtain fat from one part of the body, such as the abdomen, thighs or flanks; then uses the processed fat to sculpt and enhance the appearance of the buttocks. Fat grafting has rapidly become the preferred choice for buttock enhancement, although gluteal implants are still a good option for some patients.

"There is an accumulated experience of more than 30 years with this procedure in Brazil," says Dr. Marina Rosique. "Recent data show that Brazil alone performs 20 percent of the total gluteal augmentation procedures done around the world."

Careful Fat Injection Technique Avoids Risks of Gluteal Enhancement

A critical issue is the need to avoid serious adverse events. In 2015, reports began to appear of a low but significant rate of deaths resulting from fat embolisms in patients undergoing Brazilian butt lift. These reports prompted an urgent safety warning regarding these risks, along with an advisory to plastic surgeons to ensure proper technique – in particular, injecting fat into the subcutaneous tissue, not directly into the gluteal muscles.

The authors note similarities to safety concerns raised by the booming popularity of liposuction in the late 1990s. "As in that situation, a better understanding of the risks and appropriate plastic surgery technique, complications have decreased," says Dr. Rodrigo Rosique. More recently, the Rosiques have published new data suggesting that gluteal augmentation can be considered safer than a tummy tuck, a widely accepted procedure.

The authors propose a simple memory aid to remind plastic surgeons of the key steps to help ensure safe performance of gluteal augmentation with fat grafting. The mnemonic "BRAZIL" refers to the use of blunt cannulas, retrograde injection, abundant hydration, avoiding injection into the defined danger zone, use of implants in certain cases, and injecting the larger volume of fat into the subcutaneous area.

The award-winning paper follows a  previous paper from Rosique Plastic Surgery, which reported high patient satisfaction rates after Brazilian butt lift. That study also attracted worldwide attention, receiving the PRS Best Cosmetic Paper Award for 2016. Dr. Rodrigo Rosique comments: "It's very gratifying to achieve recognition from the world plastic surgery community, we're most proud that we're able to share our experience, helping to promote safe outcomes and excellent results for the growing numbers of patients investing in this procedure."

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About Rosique Plastic Surgery

Ds. Rodrigo and Marina Rosique of Rosique Plastic Surgery, located in the Ribeirao Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil, are recognized worldwide as leaders in plastic and cosmetic surgery. Rosique Plastic Surgery is dedicated to the search for excellence in the choice and application of plastic surgery techniques most appropriate for the individual patient. Dr. Rodrigo Rosique and Dr. Marina Rosique are both graduates of the University of São Paulo, full members of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery. They actively participate in the development of plastic surgery, publishing their work in international journals renowned and are often invited to lecture in Brazil and abroad. To learn more,  visit https://www.rosique.com.br/

Media Contact

Dr. Rodrigo Rosique may be contacted for interviews at [email protected]

Dra. Marina Rosique may be contacted for interviews at [email protected]