The recent high-profile death of a former Miss Argentina brings questions and skepticism about the true risks of plastic surgery. After undergoing a cosmetic procedure for buttock enhancement, Solange Magnano, Miss Argentina crown winner in 1994, died of a pulmonary embolism in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Magnano underwent a procedure known as a gluteoplasty, which is commonly referred to as a “butt augmentation” or “Brazilian butt lift.” Fat can be extracted from other areas in the body and injected into the buttocks to modify and enhance the shape, or an actual implant will be transplanted under a layer of muscle into the buttocks. Implants for the buttocks are made stronger than breast implants, since they will undergo more stress and force.
According to a close friend of hers, Magnano’s embolism resulted when some of the liquid that was injected into her buttocks for the gluteoplasty traveled to her lungs, cutting off oxygen supply to the vital organs.
While it is possible that one’s own fat could cause an embolism after being injected back into the body (in the form of a gluteoplasty), it is very rare. More than likely, Magnano’s embolism resulted from a synthetic substance causing the blocked artery. In the United States, use of such a substance for this procedure is unheard of and not common practice (if at all).
Men and women often seek the gluteoplasty procedure for different reasons. Men usually want to enhance their muscular outline in that area while women are looking to shape and lift. The procedure will vary based on the goals. Females often receive injections as well as a prosthesis to reshape the area while men usually prefer to have only the prosthetic implant. This could lead to a larger risk for women developing clots of the injected material that could eventually lead to an embolism.
Helping avoid complications from any plastic surgery comes from carefully following post-surgical instructions. In the case of a gluteoplasty, patients are asked not to sit for at least a week, sleep on their stomach and avoid heavy exercises for the following 5-6 weeks. Avoiding future injections into the buttocks is also a must, as they may rupture or pierce your implant. Allowing your body to heal properly will prevent many complications and allow the best result possible.
Risks for a gluteoplasty include infection, rupture of the implant, embolisms and other common risks associated with any surgery, but all are extremely rare when using a licensed, experienced surgeon.
