Liposuction: the most performed plastic surgery procedure in Brazil

Brazil performs more than 790 liposuctions per day and is the world leader in plastic surgery procedures. Although considered low risk, cosmetic surgery can present complications during and after the procedure. It was to eliminate abdominal fat that marketing manager Renata Junqueira Strada, 38, resorted to liposuction. The cosmetic surgery was carried out in October last year to reshape the abdomen.

“I’ve always had a difficult relationship with my body. I was skinny, then I gained some weight and lost weight again. Even though I did weight training, the belly fat wouldn’t go away, so I decided to have surgery. I wanted to look in the mirror and love my body,” she says.

Just like Renata, last year in Brazil another 289 thousand people resorted to liposuction in search of a body considered “perfect”, the equivalent of just over 790 surgeries a day. The aesthetic procedure appears at the top of the ranking of the most performed plastic surgery procedures in the country in 2024, according to the latest survey by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).

Liposuction preceded operations such as breast implants (232 thousand), eyelid surgery (231 thousand) and abdominoplasty (192 thousand).

Also according to the survey, Brazil leads the world ranking of cosmetic surgeries, with over 2.3 million surgeries performed in 2024. The number represents 75% of the cosmetic surgeries performed in the country, the remaining 25% (769,245) are considered non-surgical such as application of botulinum toxin, fillers and other minimally invasive surgeries.

The popularization of liposuction in Brazil does not follow a global trend. Globally, the most requested cosmetic procedure is eyelid surgery (2.11 million procedures), surpassing liposuction for the first time, which had 2.08 million procedures performed. This is followed by breast augmentation (1.65 million), scar revision (1.1 million) and rhinoplasty (1.08 million), completing the ranking of the five most performed surgical procedures in the world.

Why liposuction is so popular

Experts point out that the popularity of liposuction is not accidental and reflects cultural factors. Brazil has a strong tradition of valuing physical appearance, driven by the tropical climate, the media, social networks and the influence of celebrities who present the results of surgeries and cosmetic procedures as synonymous with personal success.

“Social media places this plastic surgery as another element of desire, as another element of quality of life and this leads to an increase in the number of interventions and an increase in demand,” evaluates Daniel Regazzini, plastic surgeon and communications director of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP).

Additionally, expanding access with competitive pricing has contributed to an increase in the number of procedures. It is common to find liposuction packages offered in consortia, with subsidized installments and advertising campaigns with “before and after” circulating on the networks, reawakening the desire.

“It is an operation that gives spectacular results, but it must be well indicated, that is, it is not an operation to be performed on an obese patient. Overweight patients need to lose weight and reach their ideal weight. Only then is it advisable to remove localized fat with liposuction”, explains Marco Cassol, plastic surgeon.

How the procedure is carried out and the risks

According to experts, liposuction is a low-risk procedure. In the procedure, cannulas are used to remove localized fat, contouring the body.

“Currently, these cannulae are connected to an electric device that vibrates, thus allowing the fat to be removed much more easily, reducing tissue trauma, decreasing post-operative pain and making the removal much more controlled and safe,” explains Rodrigo Mangaravite, plastic surgeon and member of the Israelita Albert Einstein hospital.

In recent years, liposuction techniques have evolved, with the emergence of less invasive versions, such as HD liposuction and laser liposuction, which promise more precise results and faster recovery. However, experts warn that they are all considered surgeries and carry risks.

Although it is considered a low-risk procedure, anesthesia must be used, the patient must be in good health and undergo pre-operative tests. Furthermore, it should only be performed by a plastic surgeon and in a hospital environment prepared to deal with any complications. According to the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, the maximum volume of fat removed from a patient should not exceed 10% of body weight.

“The risks of the operation range from perforation of the abdominal region, to skin lesions, such as burns and aesthetic deformities with excessive fat removal. These are the most serious complications”, adds Mangaravite.

The post-operative period is also a delicate phase. It is necessary to wear a compression garment for a few weeks, avoid strains, perform lymphatic drainage with qualified professionals and maintain medical monitoring. When these guidelines are not followed, there is a risk of fluid buildup, infection, fibrosis, and skin irregularities.

“Other risks include bleeding, anemia, thrombosis and infections. You can also suffer damage to the skin in case of very aggressive liposuction, you can have a fat embolism when a fat graft is performed and these procedures can have a very bad outcome. So, the risks are very much related to exaggeration,” adds Fernando Amato, plastic surgeon member of the SBCP.

Only a doctor can perform liposuction

The Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery emphasizes that only plastic surgeons can perform this type of surgery. Before undergoing the operation, the patient must check whether the professional is registered with the institution, confirm that the operation will be carried out in an appropriate hospital facility and carry out all the indicated pre-operative tests.

To check whether the professional is qualified to carry out this type of operation, the patient can enter the SBCP website, in the “Find a surgeon” field, and enter the name of the doctor. All member professionals of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery have their name and full registration on the platform.

“There is an exploitation of non-specialists in plastic surgery and non-doctors who take advantage of this disclosure and try to perform operations even in inappropriate and non-surgical environments. This can in fact represent a great risk to the patient’s life. Therefore it is not up to a pharmacist or a biomedical doctor to perform liposuction”, underlines Amato.

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.