The dark side of the Brazillian butt lift boom

Brazil's cosmetic surgery industry performed an estimated 1.5 million procedures in 2022, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. Buttock augmentation procedures, commonly called Brazilian butt lifts, accounted for a significant portion of this market. Patient safety advocates have documented cases of post-operative complications including infections, fat embolism, and deaths, though comprehensive national data on adverse outcomes remains incomplete. The Brazilian Federal Medical Council has opened investigations into unlicensed practitioners operating in the country, and multiple hospitals have faced lawsuits related to surgical complications.

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