As people grow older, it becomes increasingly harder to obtain and maintain the body type they so desire. Through technological advances in plastic surgery, those same people now have multiple ways to shape their body to their own liking. Whether it’s by decreasing size in certain areas of the body or even increasing the size, plastic surgery has become the quick solution to many patients eager to change their looks. For those looking to reshape their bottom, you can find the confidence booster in an increasingly popular operation known as the Brazilian Butt Lift by decreasing and increasing in all the right places. However, Dr. Sameer Jejurikar of Dallas warns that the procedure might be more dangerous than most people think.
Dr. Sameer Jejurikar’s Expertise
Dr. Jejurikar has basically become a celebrity in the field of plastic surgery through his work with the Brazilian Butt Lift. A board-certified plastic surgeon and a member of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Jejurikar has been performing the procedure for many years before it ever became so popular. “I first did the operation more than 10 years ago, before it had gained widespread popularity in this country. The results were good, and soon, I started getting more patients through word of mouth. Once the operation really became popular in this country, I essentially had a head start on everyone else in the community,” says Dr. Jejurikar in an interview with CEOCFO Magazine.
The thing that separates the Brazilian Butt Lift from other plastic surgery procedures is the process in which fat is not being taken away from the body, but rather moved from an unwanted area to the desired location. This is accomplished by liposuction and fat grafting which may achieve instant results, but like any surgical procedure it comes with a risk. The greatest risk of course is death which can happen when fat tissue ends up in the bloodstream and gets caught in a blood vessel causing blockage. In this case, the blockage is usually in the lungs preventing normal oxygen delivery. This is called fat embolism. Although an uncommon occurrence, it has the potential to cause fatal consequences. The death rates for this procedure is estimated to be around 1 in 2500-6000 cases, making this the deadliest operation in plastic surgery.
Tempting… but Risky
However small the chances are, the risks of this butt lift procedure have not gone unheeded in the world of plastic surgery. Dr. Jejurikar is an expert in the field and has acknowledged these risks and is continually proactive about creating a safer approach. “These deaths are preventable and, with more experience, a surgeon becomes more familiar with safe technique. Because of my experience, I have been named to the International Multi-Society Buttock Fat Grafting Safety Task Force. This task force has brought together some of the busiest gluteal fat grafting surgeons in the world to see if they can come to a consensus on safe practices.” This task force is a combination of 18 plastic surgeons created by several organizations such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS) and the International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science (IFATS). With such an extensive collaboration, it’s fair to conclude that the safety of future patients will only increase. The task force is focused on giving guidance to surgeons in the field. The topics of this training include dangerous places to inject within the buttock, which planes of injection to use when injecting, and which cannulas to use when injecting. “We’ve had a lot of productive dialogue and very soon will be able to offer some specific guidelines to surgeons throughout the world, which hopefully will limit preventable deaths moving forward.”
When a patient’s life is at risk, the search for safer procedures are a top priority. For Dr. Jejurikar, his education is never finished. He continues to be a student of the field and welcomes other strategies and techniques. This is obtained by going to meetings and learning from innovative plastic surgeons around the globe. In the same interview with CEOCFO Magazine, Dr. Jejurikar explains his willingness to further his education, “I’ve learned to balance my desire to try the “latest and greatest” technique with methods I know to be tried and true. Using the newest technologies and techniques with procedures that I know to be safe and effective is what truly allows me to get the best results for my patients.”
As more people are turning to surgical procedures to achieve their ideal body type, it’s important to have an open discussion on the benefits and safety risks of surgeries like the Brazilian Butt Lift. There’s no question that in the near future we will see the development of new procedures giving the promise of quick and easy fixes. Fortunately there are surgeons like Dr. Jejurikar who dedicate a great deal of time and attention to insure a safer process for patients. With the focus and research on these procedures, patients can feel more at ease with making life altering changes to their body.