A Miami plastic surgeon is being sued following the death of a patient during a buttock lift procedure

Surgeon Baotram Tran faces the loss of her license in Florida following the death of a patient due to a prohibited procedure during a butt lift in 2022.

Baotram TranPhoto © Facebook / Dr. Baotram Tran

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A plastic surgeon from Miami is facing a state lawsuit for the death of a patient during a Brazilian butt lift procedure, according to the complaint document.

Baotram Tran, whose medical license is from Florida, may lose their permission to perform surgical procedures due to the events that occurred on March 18, 2022, at Professional Plastic Surgery, located at 2299 SW 37th Ave.

According to the lawsuit filed by the Florida Department of Health, a 41-year-old woman went to that center for surgery that included abdominal, flank, and back liposuction; breast augmentation; and gluteal fat grafting and died that same afternoon.

The report states that during the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), the doctor injected fat into the gluteal muscles. After the operation, while in the recovery room, the patient complained of shortness of breath and then stopped responding.

The woman was transported to Mercy Hospital, where she died at 5:34 PM on March 18, 2022.

During a BBL, which is a form of liposuction, fat is suctioned from the abdominal area and injected into the buttocks.

However, the Florida administrative code prohibits injections into the gluteal muscles because it increases the risks of a fatal pulmonary embolism.

The court documents detail that the Miami-Dade coroner's autopsy described a main pulmonary artery obstructed "by a 5 cm fragment of material that appeared to be fat."

"[Tran] knew, or should have known, that injecting fat into the gluteal muscles was strictly prohibited", wrote the Miami Herald, which had access to the documents.

According to the text, during gluteal fat grafting procedures, the fat can only be injected into the subcutaneous space and must never pass through the gluteal fascia. Intramuscular or submuscular fat injections are prohibited.

The surgeon would have violated rule 64B8-9.009(2)(f) in her treatment of the patient when she injected fat into the gluteal muscles.

For this reason, the state entity requests that the Medical Board issue an order to revoke or suspend Tran's license, restrict her practice, impose an administrative fine, or issue a reprimand.

The doctor has a license in Florida registered since August 4, 2016. Prior to the complaint, there are no previous disciplinary actions in her record, according to a report by Miami Herald.

Frequently Asked Questions About Risks and Regulations in Aesthetic Surgery in Miami

What was the cause of death of the patient during the Brazilian butt lift in Miami?

The cause of death was a pulmonary embolism caused by a fragment of fat injected into the gluteal muscles. During the procedure, the surgeon injected fat into the gluteal muscles, which is prohibited in Florida due to the high risk of fatal embolisms.

What legal actions is plastic surgeon Baotram Tran facing?

The surgeon faces a state lawsuit that could lead to the revocation or suspension of her medical license. She is accused of violating the administrative code by injecting fat into the gluteal muscles, a prohibited procedure that resulted in the patient's death.

What regulations exist in Florida for Brazilian butt lift procedures?

In Florida, it is prohibited to inject fat into the muscles of the glutes during a Brazilian lift. Regulations specify that fat must be injected only into the subcutaneous space to avoid the risk of pulmonary embolisms.

What security issues have been identified in plastic surgery centers in Miami?

Multiple patient safety violations have been detected, including a lack of essential medications and inadequate assessments. Centers like Perfection Plastic Surgery have been suspended for failing to meet necessary safety standards, putting patients' lives at risk.

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CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.