Is liposuction dangerous? What to know after Brazilian influencer dies from surgery

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A Brazilian influencer and reality TV star has died after undergoing liposuction surgery earlier this week.

Luana Andrade, 29, died on Tuesday following an "aesthetic procedure" at a São Paulo hospital, according to local news outlet Globo 1.

Around two and a half hours into the surgery, which took place on Monday afternoon at São Luiz Hospital, Andrade suffered a "respiratory event" followed by cardiac arrest. Under the care of a private surgeon and anesthesiologist hired by her family, she was taken to the ICU where she had hemodynamic treatment.

However, Andrade died at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday due to a "massive pulmonary embolism," according to a statement from the hospital.

With more than 560,000 followers on Instagram, Andrade was known best for appearing on season six of Brazilian reality TV show "Power Couple" with her boyfriend, João Hadad, who shared a heartbreaking tribute on social media following her death.

"I am torn apart and living my biggest nightmare," Hadad wrote via translation in a post that included a photo of the couple holding hands in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. "A piece of me is gone. It is with great regret and a lot of pain in my heart that I say goodbye to my Luana, my princess."

Globo 1 also reported that Brazilian soccer star Neymar paid tribute to the late influencer, writing, "My condolences to the whole family, may God welcome Luana with open arms."

Complications arising from cosmetic surgeries isn't unheard of. Former "Wild 'N Out" star Jacky Oh died this summer following a Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, which involves liposuction and fat transfer. In March, the New York Post reported a Mexican nurse died after performing a liposuction on herself. In 2022, the wife of country singer Hank Williams Jr. died after doctors punctured her lung mid-surgery.

Liposuction surgeries are common procedures — but are they safe? Read on to learn more about the cosmetic surgery.

What is liposuction?

Liposuction is a procedure where a suction technique is used to remove fat from certain parts of the body, according to the Toronto Cosmetic Surgery Institute. It's typically an option for people looking to remove stubborn fat from parts of the body that won't go away by maintaining a healthy weight.

It's most often used on the arms, abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks and neck, allowing people to sculp and contour their body. Liposuction effects and recovery time differ depending on what part of the body it's used on, but it's always performed with anesthesia.

How common are liposuction procedures?

A 2022 survey from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery showed there were more than 2.3 million liposuction procedures performed worldwide last year. That's a 21 per cent increase from 2021, when it also topped the list of most popular surgical procedures.

In the United States alone, more than 200,000 liposuction procedures happen each year, according to Cleveland Clinic.

It's a common procedure among celebrities, with Wendy Williams, Sharon Osbourne and Amy Schumer all admitted to having the surgery.

Who should and shouldn't get liposuction?

Liposuction isn't recommended for people who are overweight, and it's typically reserved for people who are within 30 per cent of their ideal weight.

According to the Toronto Cosmetic Surgery Institute, good candidates for liposuction include people with not too much excess skin, good skin elasticity, muscle tone and good overall health.

But the procedure isn't recommended for smokers, or people who have blood flow problems, heart diseases, diabetes or a weak immune system, according to Alberta's Dr. Adil Ladak. It also isn't effective for cellulite.

Is liposuction dangerous?

All surgeries carry some level of risk, and liposuction could result in medical or aesthetic issues. Reactions to anesthesia or lidocaine, infections and fluid buildups, called seromas, can all occur during liposuction. The procedure can also result in scarring, loose skin or irregular contouring.

Speaking to People last year, Los Angeles-based plastic surgeon Dr. Michael K. Obeng said traumatic pneumothorax — or collapsed lung — can also be a concern, along with other internal organ punctures.

"If somebody is careless or not paying too much attention and they go deep, they can puncture the lung," Obeng said. "I personally have witnessed, in a very big hospital, a very renowned surgeon got into somebody's kidney during lipo.

"So people think liposuction is a very easy operation, but it's one operation that every time I'm doing it, I have to know exactly where the tip of my cannula [the suction tube] is because I don't take it for granted. It could be dangerous."

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