Brazilian Butt Lifts Have an Alarming Mortality Rate As beauty standards continue to shift, there has been a marked increase in Brazilian butt lift operations. Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Nicki Minaj have popularized rotund derrieres. However, a report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons says the Brazilian butt lift is actually one the most dangerous cosmetic surgeries. The mortality rate is 1 in 3,000, or 0.033%. The mortality rate for all office-based cosmetic procedures is 0.002%. Many deaths are caused by pulmonary embolism, which occurs when fat is injected too deeply and enters the circulatory system. Patients can also suffer fat necrosis, in which injected fat cells die and lead to infection. The high number of unlicensed, unsafe "back alley" operations has also increased the death rate. Dr. Lara Devgan, Realself, via 'HuffPost'