Procedure uses fat donated from deceased individuals
Primarily chosen by those with liposuction side effects
Some warn that "its safety has not been proven"
In New York, United States, controversy is growing as more people undergo cosmetic procedures that transplant fat donated from deceased individuals.
On February 3 (local time), U.S. outlet the New York Post reported the story of Stacey, a woman in her 30s who underwent a fat graft procedure. Stacey, a finance professional living in New York, recently spent 45,000 dollars (about 66 million won) on a "mini Brazilian butt lift (BBL)" procedure.
In general, a Brazilian butt lift refers to a procedure in which fat is removed from certain parts of the body and then transplanted into other areas. It is a body-contouring procedure mainly performed to create a slimmer waistline and enhance overall body volume. The word "mini" is added to this Brazilian butt lift because only a small amount of fat is suctioned.
However, Stacey did not have fat harvested from her own body for transplantation. Instead, she used fat donated from a deceased person. She acknowledged that "(the procedure I had) may sound unfamiliar," but stressed that "scientifically, using body tissue from cadaver donors has been a practice in the medical community for decades."
She added, "In the past, I experienced side effects from liposuction, such as indentations in my thighs," and "I decided to undergo the procedure to correct these specific areas and improve my pelvic line."
Another woman in her 30s, a Pilates instructor, also underwent cosmetic surgery to augment her chest using the same method. She told the outlet that "the fact that it was fat from a cadaver donor was unsettling, but I am satisfied with the results," adding, "Now I feel more confident."
The procedure of extracting fat from deceased individuals and transplanting it is known to be chosen by people who have previously experienced side effects from liposuction. Plastic surgeon Darren Smith, who performs mini Brazilian butt lift procedures, explained, "Because this procedure is done by injection rather than surgery, the recovery time is short," adding, "Demand is increasing among patients who have experienced rapid fat loss due to weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro."
However, some experts have issued warnings, saying the safety of the procedure has not been proven. This is because transplanting another person’s fat into one’s own body can cause side effects such as immune rejection and inflammation, and there is also a risk of infection from various viruses entering the body.
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