COSMETIC TOWN JOURNAL



Brazilian Butt Lift Pioneer Passes On

Posted August 19, 2016

On August 13th, 2016, Dr. Ivo Pitanguy passed away from natural causes at 90 years old. He was renowned around the world for developing the Brazilian butt lift. Plastic surgeons all over the globe were inspired by his work that spawned dozens of variations and adaptations of this technique.

A revolutionary body contouring procedure, a Brazilian butt lift differs from its predecessor, butt implants, by using the body’s natural fat instead of silicone injections and implants. The fat is extracted from common areas of the body like the abdomen, arms and thighs and then re-injected back into the buttock area to improve size and shape. This technique also prevents any major scars since there will be no incision required to transfer the fat unlike implants.

Besides laying the foundation for the new generation of butt augmentation procedures, Dr. Ivo Pitanguy also made immense contributions towards other aspects of plastic surgery. His work in rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, face lift and tummy tuck has helped his peers gain crucial insights on how to make the results more reliable, safe and efficient. Dr. Pitanguy even made great strides in making plastic surgery more available to poor populations in order to fix birth defects and other impairing deformities. Typically, a doctor will only specialize in one specific practice so Dr. Ivo Pitanguy is considered the renaissance man of plastic surgery for making a profound impact on multiple facets of cosmetic surgery. And until his death, Dr. Pitanguy remained active in the community. He even carried the Olympic torch through Rio for the opening ceremony of 2016.

Brazilian butt lift is a plastic surgery procedure that has received a lot of attention recently, especially in western culture. And with an average cost of $8000-$16,000, Brazilian butt lift clearly has become big business these days. But what made it so popular in the first place?

It’s a combination of timing, marketing and luck. Media coverage also played a huge role in promoting Brazilian butt lift to the masses. Celebrity plastic surgery gossip about Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj getting butt augmentation was never confirmed but the coverage alone helped to promote its popularity.

Brazil, the country which the procedure is named after, even holds an annual Miss Butt Brazil competition, showcasing women with the largest, curviest romp. In 2015 alone, about 320,000 buttock enhancement procedures were performed and there are no signs of slowing down. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The American Society of Plastic Surgery published a study that shows how popular cosmetic butt surgery has become in recent years.

Even though the popularity of Brazilian butt lift is undeniable, it is not without any downsides or side effects. Perhaps the biggest risk with this technique is fat necrosis. It occurs when the grafted fat becomes lumpy and infected which can be life threatening if not treated immediately. Implants are not such a great alternative either since they can move around and cause pressure on the nerves that run into the legs and thighs. As a result, proponents argue that Brazilian butt lift is still a better alternative in comparison to implants.

Regardless of your views, any potential patients should do diligent research before going under the knife. Here is a great guide on what to ask your plastic surgeon during consultation.

- KT

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