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Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), both surgical (fat‑transfer) and non‑surgical (liquid), have unfortunately become associated with severe complications, even fatalities. A recent Sky News report warns that fat injections and non‑surgical BBLs are being offered in public toilets, highlighting the risks posed by unlicensed practitioners.
💉 What are BBLs?
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Traditional BBLs involve liposuction to harvest fat from areas such as the thighs or abdomen, and then re-inject it into the buttocks. When done by qualified surgeons using ultrasound guidance, the fatality rate has dropped from ~1 in 2,351 to ~1 in 15,000.
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Liquid BBLs utilise dermal fillers, such as hyaluronic acid or poly-L-lactic acid, and can be performed under local anaesthesia, making them seemingly safer, but not without risk.
⚠️ Key Risks
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Pulmonary embolism: Misplaced fat can travel into blood vessels and block the lungs, a major cause of death in traditional BBLs.
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Severe infections & necrosis: A reported case in the UK saw a 36‑year‑old develop severe abscesses and sepsis from a filler-based BBL.
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Unregulated environments: Plastic surgeons and bodies like Save Face argue that liquid procedures should only be performed by qualified medical professionals, highlighting the dangers of unsterile settings and inexperienced injectors.
📣 Real‑World Consequences
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Sky News reports on fat injections being offered in public toilets—an alarming sign of how cosmetic procedures can bypass proper regulation entirely.
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UK deaths: Alice Webb, believed to be the first UK fatality from a liquid BBL, tragically underscores the lethal potential of these procedures abroad. Another case involved a woman whose butt “rotted from the inside out” after a filler-based lift, requiring emergency surgery and extensive recovery .
✅ How to Protect Yourself
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Always choose a board‑certified surgeon in a regulated, accredited facility.
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Verify that they use ultrasound guidance during traditional BBLs to avoid deep, potentially dangerous injections.
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Be highly cautious of non‑surgical options, many are unregulated and administered in unsafe environments.
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Avoid price‑ion events or unverified clinics, especially those offering deals online or abroad.