Dr. Edward Chamata brings both artistry and advanced surgical techniques to every plastic surgery procedure he performs. He specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery of the face and body. He is best known for his advanced techniques in high-definition liposuction, high-definition tummy tucks, and buttock enhancement surgeries for both female and male patients alike. His signature tummy tucks focus on creating the most natural belly button alongside hidden incisions, coupled with his unique ab sculpting methods to create a fit, yet natural abdomen. Dr. Chamata has spent years training in art and sculpting, culminating in several of his medical illustrations being published in various medical journals. Dr. Chamata’s research studies have also been published in the most prominent plastic surgery journals worldwide. His published research includes topics on facelift surgery, rhinoplasty, buttock augmentation, revisional body contouring surgery, and many others.

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To get an hourglass figure, many look towards a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). As BBL’s have gained popularity over the past few years, just like any procedure, there have been a few false misconceptions circulating the web. To debunk them all, Haute Beauty expert Dr. Edward Chamata talks about the safety measures taken throughout the resculpting. Here’s what he had to say:

What is the main misconception behind BBLs?

There are two main misconceptions behind BBLs. The first is that this surgery will produce results that are overly exaggerated in terms of buttocks size, when in fact, results can appear natural and proportionate to the rest of the body. The second misconception is that this surgery is extremely dangerous and has a high mortality rate. With improvements in safety measures implemented by plastic surgeons today, this surgery is now statistically safer than tummy tucks, a very common surgical procedure!

What safety measures have been taken to make BBLs safe?

The most important safety measure taken to make BBLs safer relates to drastic improvements in the surgical technique and approach to this surgery, as well as a greater understanding of gluteal anatomy. Staying safe during a BBL surgery involves injecting fat only into the fatty subcutaneous layer of the buttocks rather than injecting it deep into the muscle or below the muscle. Injecting deep in those areas can cause inadvertent injury to large veins in that area, leading to potential complications such as pulmonary fat embolism.

What are the latest statistics when it comes to BBL safety?

The latest data from 2019 shows the mortality rate for BBLs to be as low as ~1 in 15,000. This is rate is lower now than that of tummy tucks, with a mortality rate of ~1 in 13,000.

 

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As a surgeon, do you do anything unique to make it extra safe?

For every surgery, I perform, pre-operative surgical planning is an extremely important aspect of the procedure itself to ensure safe and optimal results. In the days leading up to each surgery, I plan my incision placements, which areas on the buttock I plan to inject the fat, and what trajectory/angles I plan to take with my fat grafting cannula. These all contribute to safer surgery along with better results.

What are the most common questions patients have prior to a BBL?

The most commonly asked questions center around safety, as they should be! I always discuss potential risks and complications with my patients before their surgery so everyone is as informed as possible.

The most common question is: 

Where do you inject the fat? I only inject the fat into the fatty layer of the buttocks and not into the muscle in order to minimize any potential complications! This is THE most important aspect of performing this surgery safely.

Other common questions:

Are there potential risks of nerve damage? When fat is injected into the proper areas, nerve damage should not occur as the nerves travel deep, away from areas where fat is injected.

How much of the fat survives after surgery? On average, about 70% of the fat we inject survives. It’s important to strictly adhere to your surgeon’s post-operative protocol in order to maximize the amount of fat survival!

Has there been an influx of BBL patients since it has been deemed safe?

With the increased safety of this procedure as well as its growing popularity on social media platforms, there has been a massive rise in patients requesting BBLs. As patients are more informed about the surgery and that results don’t necessarily need to look fake or overdone, many patients are seeking BBLs to reshape and enhance their buttock.