The Brazilian Butt Lift has one of the most discussed safety profiles of any cosmetic procedure. That’s not a reason to avoid it. It’s a reason to choose your surgeon and facility carefully. When performed correctly, by a qualified surgeon, in a properly equipped facility, a BBL is a safe and transformative procedure. When corners are cut, the risks are real.
At Aeris, we believe that every patient considering a BBL deserves to know what to look for before they walk in the door anywhere.
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What She Asked Before She Booked
A patient came to Aeris after spending three months researching BBL surgeons in Miami. She had done more homework than most. She had read about complications, watched educational videos, and developed a list of questions she brought to every consultation she attended.
She asked Dr. Carlson about his accreditation, his complication rates, what monitoring takes place during and after surgery, how fat is injected and into which tissue layer, and what the post-operative protocol looks like. Dr. Carlson answered every question directly and welcomed the level of detail she brought.
She booked with him, not because he was the most persuasive, but because he was the most transparent. She told us afterward that it was the first consultation where she felt like she was getting real information instead of a sales experience.
The Safety Standard That Matters Most
The most significant safety advancement in BBL surgery in recent years is the understanding that fat must be injected into the subcutaneous layer (the fat layer beneath the skin) and never into or below the gluteal muscle. Injecting into or below the muscle dramatically increases the risk of fat entering the bloodstream through large blood vessels, which can cause a life-threatening fat embolism.
Ask any surgeon you’re considering directly: where do you inject the fat? A qualified, safety-conscious surgeon will answer this question clearly and specifically.
Facility Accreditation Is Non-Negotiable
BBL surgery should be performed in an accredited surgical facility, one that meets the standards of organizations like AAAHC or The Joint Commission. Accreditation means the facility has undergone an external review of its safety protocols, equipment, staffing, and emergency preparedness.
A ‘surgery center’ or ‘clinic’ that lacks accreditation is operating outside those standards. This is not a minor distinction.
Board Certification and Specialization
Your surgeon should be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), not by a board with a similar-sounding name. Board certification in plastic surgery requires years of specific training, a rigorous examination process, and ongoing education requirements.
Body contouring and BBL should be a significant part of that surgeon’s active practice, not an occasional add-on. Ask how many BBL procedures they perform per year and whether you can see their results.
Red Flags to Walk Away From
Be cautious of practices that offer deeply discounted pricing with pressure to book quickly, cannot or will not answer specific questions about injection technique and facility accreditation, have limited before-and-after documentation, or do not offer a clear post-operative protocol and follow-up plan.
The Benefit to You
The benefit of doing this research is that you can pursue a BBL with genuine confidence, knowing that the practice you’ve chosen has earned your trust, not just your attention.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Carlson at Aeris. Call (305) 446-7700 or fill out our consultation form. Come with your questions. We’ll answer every one of them.