September 5, 2023, 12:31 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
It’s now widely known that the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) ranks among the most dangerous cosmetic surgeries. Yet, every year, numerous women and men go under the knife for a larger backside. The fatal consequences of such a procedure are once again highlighted by a case from Argentina, where 43-year-old TV host Silvina Luna died from the effects of the surgery.
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Model Dies from Brazilian Butt Lift Complications
What began as a desire for the perfect backside ended in a tragic story. However, this is not an isolated case. People who have undergone a Brazilian Butt Lift frequently complain about post-operative pain.
With one and a half million followers on Instagram, Argentine host and model Silvina Luna captivated her audience daily with her content. Amid vacation photos, TV appearances, healthy workout routines, and delicious food, the 43-year-old’s life seemed perfect—except for the recurring glimpses of hospital stays. The diagnosis was kidney failure and hypercalcemia (excess calcium). This led to dialysis and waiting for a kidney donor—in vain.
After 79 days in intensive care, Silvina passed away in the hospital. The cause of her kidney problems was not genetic or immune-related but rather the Brazilian Butt Lift performed in 2011. About four years after the procedure, the host complained of initial pain and was diagnosed with kidney stones by doctors. On Instagram, Luna shared her journey with fans, posting a video on June 5, 2023, discussing her worsening condition. Kidney failure followed at the end of August.
Typically, a Brazilian Butt Lift involves injecting one’s own fat. However, Silvina Luna’s doctor is suspected of having injected polymethylmethacrylate—also known as acrylic glass—into her buttocks. While the material is theoretically suitable for modeling muscles or dental prostheses, it is not approved for cosmetic procedures due to its harmful properties.1
Doctor Faces Multiple Charges
In 2022, Silvina’s doctor, Aníbal Lotocki, was sentenced to four years in prison after Luna and three other women, including the surgeon’s ex-partner, sued him for medical malpractice. Two weeks before Luna’s death, Argentine TV host Mariano Caprarola also passed away. He had undergone a Brazilian Butt Lift with Aníbal Lotocki in 2010. Lotocki is now facing court again, and his medical license has been temporarily revoked.
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High Mortality Rate for Brazilian Butt Lift
If you think Silvina Luna’s story is a tragic one-off with a bad doctor, you’re mistaken!
In fact, few cosmetic surgeries carry more risk than the Brazilian Butt Lift. Even in this country, there are cases where BBL patients lose their lives. The mortality rate is a staggering 1 in 3,000 people. The main risk of buttock enlargement using one’s own fat is a fat embolism, where fat tissue enters the blood vessels of the muscle tissue. This can lead to partial or complete blockage of the blood vessels. Additionally, thrombosis and reduced blood flow can occur. As with many other surgeries, classic symptoms such as wound infection, bruising, and swelling can also appear, though these typically subside relatively quickly.
The operation is particularly dangerous because it theoretically involves two procedures: liposuction and the subsequent injection. Complications can already arise during liposuction, and the body is subjected to double stress. When injecting the fat, the surgeon must be cautious: If the cannula is not placed correctly, fat cells can be transported to the heart or lungs.
The aesthetic plastic surgeon Dr. Markus says: “It is particularly important to ensure that the fat is not injected into the underlying, deep muscle tissue with the danger zones of the large vessels, but rather into the fat tissue zone above the muscle and under the skin.”
What to Consider When Considering a Brazilian Butt Lift
If you still consider a Brazilian Butt Lift despite the risks, you should seek thorough advice and research your doctor and the procedure carefully. A surgeon who does not discuss the process in detail beforehand and inform you of all possible risks is not a good doctor.
Dr. Klöppel clarifies: “An aesthetic procedure remains a surgery that should be performed exclusively by an expert and only after weighing all health risks.” For those who are too slim, the lift is not suitable, as there must be enough body fat available for treatment, explains the surgeon: “I cannot achieve the effect with foreign fat, as it could be rejected by the body like an organ transplant.”
You should also be careful not to inject too much fat into the buttocks. While in Western European countries, often a maximum of 300 ml of body fat per side is injected, larger amounts are possible in other countries. You should avoid this to minimize the risk of complications. It would be even better to give your buttocks a natural lift through targeted muscle training. This not only saves money but may also protect you from fatal consequences in the end.