What the data actually shows
Infection rates at JCI-accredited facilities in leading destinations, including Colombia's 2.1–2.55 per 1,000 patient days, are comparable to US benchmarks. Complication rates for standardized procedures like rhinoplasty (10–15% revision rate) are similar whether performed domestically or abroad at accredited facilities.
A note on BBL safety specifically: BBL carries the highest mortality rate of any cosmetic procedure when fat is injected intramuscularly. A subcutaneous-only fat transfer protocol, confirmed directly with your surgeon, is the single most important safety factor — verify this specifically before booking any BBL, regardless of destination.
Why "is it safe abroad" is the wrong question
The more useful question is "is this specific facility and surgeon properly verified" — safety correlates with accreditation and certification, not geography. A verified provider abroad and an unverified provider domestically represent very different risk profiles, regardless of which side of a border either sits on.
See colombiacosmeticsurgery.com and colombiabbl.co for the specific verification steps that apply to any provider you're considering.
The Takeaway
Direct your safety diligence toward facility and surgeon verification specifically — that's where the actual risk factor lives, and it's genuinely checkable regardless of destination.