Most patients spend weeks comparing surgeons, prices and recovery houses, then sign the consent form in about five minutes, often in Spanish, often on the morning of surgery, often after fasting and with a coordinator waiting. It is the most important document in the process and the one that gets the least attention.
This guide explains what a meaningful consent process for a Brazilian butt lift should include, what Colombian law says about age, and how international patients can make sure they actually understand what they are agreeing to. It is general information, not legal advice. For questions about legal rights or liability in Colombia, speak with a qualified Colombian lawyer.
What informed consent is supposed to do
Informed consent is not a signature; it is a conversation that ends with a signature. The goal is that you understand what will be done, why, what the alternatives are, what could go wrong, and what will happen afterwards, so that your decision is genuinely yours.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes the process for buttock enhancement in similar terms: the surgeon or staff explain the risks in detail, the patient signs forms confirming they understand the procedure and its risks, and all questions should be put to the plastic surgeon directly (ASPS, accessed 2026). It also frames the decision as personal: whether the benefits meet your goals and whether the risks are acceptable to you.
What a BBL consent form should cover
Forms vary between clinics, but a solid one for gluteal fat grafting should leave no doubt about the following points. Use this as a checklist when you read yours.
Consent form checklist
Read before signingThe risks section deserves the most time
ASPS lists the risks of buttock enhancement as including anesthesia risks, asymmetry, bleeding, deep vein thrombosis and heart or lung complications, fat necrosis, fluid accumulation, infection, changes in skin sensation, persistent pain, poor wound healing, the possible need for revision, prolonged swelling, skin loss and unfavorable scarring (ASPS, accessed 2026). A BBL-specific consent form should also address fat embolism plainly. Plastic-surgery societies have identified it as the gravest danger of the procedure, and in 2022 described fat embolism deaths as occurring with disturbing frequency (joint safety statement, 2022).
If the form you are given does not mention fat embolism at all, ask why. A consent document that leaves out the risk professional societies worry about most is not doing its job.
Technique belongs in the conversation too
Consent forms rarely describe surgical technique in detail, but you can ask that key safety commitments be noted in your chart or in writing. The 2022 multi-society statement supports placing fat only in the subcutaneous space above the gluteal fascia and using real-time ultrasound to track the cannula tip during injection. Asking "will you be using ultrasound during the fat injection, and can that be noted?" is a reasonable request.
Results and revisions
ASPS explains that good results are expected but not guaranteed, that some transferred fat is reabsorbed, that final fat-transfer results can take up to a year, and that sometimes more than one procedure is needed (ASPS, accessed 2026). The consent form, and the conversation around it, should reflect that honestly. Be wary of any document or salesperson that implies a specific final size.
What Colombian law says about age
Colombia has a clear rule on minors. Ley 1799 de 2016, issued in July 2016, prohibits aesthetic medical and surgical procedures for patients under 18 and specifies that parental consent is not a valid exception. The law lists narrow exceptions, such as nose and ear surgery, reconstructive surgery and procedures justified by a documented physical or psychological condition with a special permit. A cosmetic BBL does not fall under those exceptions.
The same law prohibits advertising aesthetic procedures to minors and using minors as models in cosmetic-surgery campaigns. Penalties include large fines, loss of a medical license and closure of repeat-offending facilities, and professionals and facilities are jointly liable for sanctions and damages. If you see a clinic marketing to teenagers, that is a serious warning sign about its compliance culture.
Language: the biggest practical risk for international patients
Consent is only informed if you understand it. The NHS advises that a surgeon should speak a language you understand so they can explain the procedure and answer your concerns (NHS, reviewed 2022). The Government of Canada warns that language barriers can lead to misunderstandings, including about aftercare (Government of Canada).
Practical steps
- Request the forms in advance. Ask the clinic to email its consent documents when you book, so you can read and translate them at home.
- Ask for an English version. Many clinics serving international patients have one. If the legally binding version is in Spanish, ask for both.
- Use a professional translator for anything unclear. Free translation apps are helpful for gist but can miss nuance in medical and legal language.
- Insist on hearing it from the surgeon. A coordinator can help, but the surgeon should explain the risks and answer your questions directly, with an interpreter if needed.
- Keep a copy. Photograph or request a copy of every page you sign, in every language.
Timing: when you sign matters
Signing in the minutes before surgery, when you are hungry, anxious and surrounded by staff, is not ideal. The NHS recommends two consultations before cosmetic surgery to allow a cooling-off period. For a Medellín BBL, aim to:
| Stage | Consent step |
|---|---|
| Before booking | Request the standard consent forms and read them at home. |
| Remote consultation | Ask the surgeon about anything unclear in the forms. |
| In-person consultation in Medellín | Go through the final forms with the surgeon, ideally a day or more before surgery. |
| Surgery day | Confirm nothing has changed, then sign. |
| Afterwards | Keep copies with your operative report and records. |
Questions to ask before you sign
Before the signature
Ask the surgeonConsent for anesthesia and added procedures
A BBL usually involves more than one consent document. Anesthesia often has its own form, and any added procedure, such as liposuction of extra areas or a combined operation, should be named explicitly. Read the anesthesia consent with the same care: it should say what type of anesthesia is planned and who provides it, and it is the right moment to disclose every medication and supplement you take. If the plan changes after your consultation, for example an extra donor area or a different anesthetic approach, the consent should be updated to match. You should never discover after surgery that something was done which you did not specifically agree to.
Signs the consent process is being rushed
- You are handed forms for the first time on surgery morning.
- Only a coordinator explains the risks; the surgeon is unavailable.
- Questions are met with "everyone signs this" or "it's just a formality."
- Pages are missing, blank or not translated when you asked for a translation.
- You are told you will lose your deposit if you take time to read.
Any one of these is a reason to slow down. Postponing is uncomfortable; proceeding with surgery you do not fully understand is worse.
A consent form you have read at home, discussed with the surgeon and kept a copy of is protection. A form you signed unread on surgery morning is just paperwork.
This guide is for comparison and travel-planning purposes. It cannot determine whether surgery is appropriate for you or replace advice from clinicians who know your history.
Request a Medellin BBL consultation.
Tell us what you are considering and your travel window. Keep detailed medical records and sensitive health information for the clinical team rather than a marketing form.
FAQ
Can I get the consent form before I travel to Medellin?
Ask for it. Many clinics can send a copy of their standard consent documents in advance. Reading them at home, with time and translation tools, is far better than seeing them for the first time on surgery morning.
Can someone under 18 have a BBL in Colombia with parental permission?
No. Ley 1799 de 2016 prohibits aesthetic medical and surgical procedures for patients under 18 and states that parental consent does not make an exception. Narrow exceptions exist for certain procedures such as reconstructive surgery, but a cosmetic BBL is not one of them.
What if the form is only in Spanish?
Ask for an English version or a professional translation, and ask the surgeon to go through the key sections with you directly. Do not sign a document you do not understand. If the clinic will not help, that tells you something about how communication will work after surgery.
Does signing a consent form mean I give up my rights if something goes wrong?
A consent form records that risks were explained and that you agreed to the procedure. It is not a guarantee of outcome, and it does not replace the surgeon's duty of care. Legal questions about liability in Colombia are for a qualified Colombian lawyer, not a website.
Can I withdraw consent after signing?
You can ask to stop or postpone before the procedure begins. There may be financial consequences under the clinic's deposit and cancellation terms, so read those before you pay, but money should never be a reason to proceed with surgery you are no longer comfortable with.
MedellinBBL.co is an independent information and referral service, not a clinic. We do not diagnose, prescribe, certify providers, or provide emergency care. If you have urgent postoperative symptoms, seek appropriate medical care rather than relying on a website or messaging service.