Cardi B knows how to go viral, even backstage.

During the Los Angeles show stop of her newly launched “Little Miss Drama Tour”, a candid conversation between both Grammy Award Winning rapper Cardi B and singer Kehlani quickly made its way across social media. In the clip, Kehlani commented on Cardi’s figure. Cardi responded without hesitation, saying that after tour she plans to go to Colombia to have her butt implants removed.

The moment was unscripted. The reaction online was immediate. And while the exchange was playful, it intersects with a serious and growing trend in healthcare: Americans traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery.

Cardi did not specify where her original augmentation was performed. What she did say clearly is that she intends to travel internationally for implant removal.

For clinicians, that detail matters.

Butt Implants, BBLs, and the Evolution of Aesthetic Trend

Buttock augmentation became one of the defining cosmetic surgery trends of the past decade. Social media visibility and celebrity influence helped fuel demand for more dramatic body contouring.

Recent data show that the procedural landscape has shifted. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, approximately 1,164 buttock implant procedures were performed in the United States in 2022. By comparison, more than 28,000 buttock augmentations using fat grafting, commonly known as Brazilian Butt Lifts, were performed that same year.

Implants now represent a much smaller share of overall procedures. Surgeons say preferences have gradually moved toward fat transfer techniques and, more recently, toward more natural proportions.

Complications remain part of the conversation. Published reviews have reported overall complication rates approaching 21 percent for implant-based augmentation. For fat grafting procedures, complication rates have been reported closer to 10 percent. Those numbers help explain why revision and removal procedures are not uncommon.

Patients pursue removal for different reasons. Some cite discomfort. Others describe aesthetic changes over time. For some, it is simply a shift in personal preference. Cosmetic surgery trends evolve, and so do patient goals.

Why Cosmetic Medical Tourism Remains Attractive

Medical tourism for cosmetic surgery continues to grow. Cost is one of the most significant factors. Procedures performed abroad may cost substantially less than those in the United States. Some clinics market bundled packages that include surgery, accommodations, and transportation.

Colombia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Turkey have established strong international reputations in aesthetic surgery. Many surgeons practicing in these countries are highly trained. However, regulatory standards, facility oversight, anesthesia practices, and post-operative monitoring systems can vary.

For healthcare providers in the United States, continuity of care is often the central issue. Post-operative complications may not appear immediately. Once patients return home, emergency departments and outpatient clinicians are frequently responsible for managing infections, wound complications, thromboembolic events, or implant-related concerns without coordination from the operating surgeon.

Reported Complications and Mortality in Cosmetic Surgery Abroad

Cosmetic surgery carries risk regardless of geography. Public health investigations underscore that risk can increase when post-operative monitoring and emergency response systems are inconsistent.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that between 2009 and 2022, 93 U.S. citizens died following cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic. Many of those deaths were associated with body-contouring procedures, including buttock augmentation. Investigations identified pulmonary fat embolism, anesthesia-related complications, and delayed emergency intervention among contributing factors.

In U.S. hospitals, clinicians have reported managing serious infections and surgical complications in patients returning from cosmetic procedures abroad. These cases often require hospitalization and additional surgery.

“I have seen a fair share of botched patients with serious infections and surgical complications who traveled outside the US.”

Thats according to Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, Dr. Navanjun S. Grewal, MD of RockStar Beauty. He went on to say “I would strongly urge Cardi B and other clients to stay in the United States for their surgeries. US surgeons have more rigorous training and are more renowned and skilled at plastic surgery. Furthermore the State Department Travel Advisory has listed Colombia as ‘Level 3 – Reconsider Travel’ due to its high crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. I would strongly advise all patients to stay in the United States and find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area.”

For nurses and advanced practice providers, these are not abstract risks. They are real-world presentations in urgent care clinics, operating rooms, and intensive care units.

What Patients Should Verify Before Surgery Abroad

Professional societies emphasize that safety hinges on surgeon credentials and facility standards rather than location alone.

Patients considering cosmetic surgery, whether augmentation or removal, should verify board certification in plastic surgery through a recognized specialty board. Facilities accredited by organizations such as Joint Commission International meet defined quality and safety standards. Membership in international professional societies such as the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery may also indicate adherence to established guidelines.

Equally critical are anesthesia oversight, emergency preparedness protocols, and a documented post-operative follow-up plan that extends beyond travel dates.

Beyond the Viral Clip

Cardi B’s backstage comment was not positioned as a medical statement. It was a personal decision shared candidly during a tour stop.

Yet celebrity transparency often influences public behavior. Cosmetic surgery remains a medical procedure with measurable complication rates and long-term considerations. Implant placement and implant removal both require careful surgical planning and post-operative monitoring.

As aesthetic trends evolve, the clinical fundamentals remain unchanged. Surgery is surgery. Credentials matter. Follow-up matters. And continuity of care does not end when the flight home boards.