People in the UK are more interested in Brazilian bum lifts than ever, but it’s no secret that they’re dangerous. What’s going on?
Brazilian bum lifts (aka BBLs) are the most searched for cosmetic procedure online in the UK, with more than 700,000 searches between September 2023 and August 2024 according to research from The Harley Street Skin Clinic.
This once-banned procedure is extremely high risk, so we spoke to two experts — consultant plastic surgeon at Real Plastic Surgery Naveen Cavale and consultant plastic surgeon at Highgate Hospital Mark Solomos — to find out everything you need to know.
What’s a BBL?
A BBL is a reshaping surgical procedure in which fat is transferred into the bum or hips, Naveen explains: “Fat is harvested from other parts of the body, such as the abdomen, thighs or flanks, through liposuction. This fat is then processed and injected into the buttocks to enhance shape/size.”
Why’s it called BBL?
The term ‘Brazilian bum lift’ originated from Brazil, where body contouring procedures became highly popular. However, Naveen warns: “The name itself is somewhat misleading, as the procedure isn’t a traditional lift, which involves surgically lifting and tightening skin. Instead, it’s a fat transfer that adds volume, making the term ‘BBL’ more of a catchy marketing name than an accurate medical descriptor.”
How long does a BBL last?
This varies from person to person, but, while it’s a semi-permanent procedure, results can remain for up to 10 years.
“The longevity of a BBL is subject to various factors, including the patient’s lifestyle, weight fluctuations and ageing,” explains Naveen. “While some fat is expected to be reabsorbed naturally by the body, the remaining fat cells can potentially provide shape for years. However, this isn’t guaranteed, and weight changes or natural ageing processes can diminish the initial outcome.”
What’s the recovery process like after having a Brazilian bum lift?
Recovery from a BBL procedure can be lengthy, uncomfortable and comes with a high risk of infection.
“Patients are advised to avoid sitting directly on their buttocks for several weeks to prevent pressure on the transferred fat, which can be quite very restrictive and challenging,” explains Naveen.
“Special pillows or cushions may be required to help the patient sit or lie in specific positions, and some individuals find it takes months before they feel fully recovered. Pain, bruising and swelling are common, and post-operative complications can include infection, fat necrosis (where the fat hardens into lumps) or asymmetry.”
Why are BBLs so dangerous?
As Naveen said, infection, fat necrosis and poor aesthetic outcomes such as asymmetry are possible, as are fat embolisms. Mark explains: “There’s a risk of injecting fat into a blood vessel, and this piece of fat can travel up to the lungs and block your circulation, resulting in death.
“That’s why in the UK, the procedure is done using ultrasound and the fat is placed just under the skin and not into the muscle.”
The procedure was banned in the UK for four years, but in 2022, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) issued new guidelines to its members for carrying out BBL surgery. Despite the procedure being banned in the UK for a few years, BAAPS found people were travelling abroad to have the surgery nonetheless.
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What are the death rates for BBLs?
It’s reported that for every 4,000 treatments, a patient dies — not good odds, particularly considering the growing interest. If every person who Googled BBLs last year went ahead and had one, 175 could die.
“Studies indicate that the risk of death from a BBL is substantially higher than from other cosmetic surgeries, largely due to the risk of fat embolism,” says Naveen, before adding: “I must say, as a consultant, this is deeply concerning and a critical reason why I’m hesitant to recommend or support BBLs.
“The alarming statistics around mortality highlight the potential dangers of this procedure, even in skilled hands, and emphasise the need for patients to carefully consider these potentially life-threatening risks before proceeding.”
What’s a liquid/non-surgical BBL and is it safer?
“This involves using dermal fillers to add volume to the buttocks without the need for fat transfer,” explains Naveen. “This technique typically involves injecting hyaluronic acid or other fillers to enhance the shape of the patient’s posterior.
“While it may seem appealing to avoid invasive surgery, I remain cautious about these treatments. Fillers are temporary and often need to be ‘topped up’ to maintain results, and injecting such large volumes of fillers poses its own risks, including lumps, infections and migration of the filler.
“Additionally, this approach doesn’t provide the same dramatic enhancement as a traditional BBL, and the cost can quickly add up with repeat treatments. In my opinion, the non-surgical approach offers an only limited improvement while still carrying potential risks, making it far from an ideal solution.”
Why are BBLs so popular?
It’s widely known that Brazilian bum lifts are dangerous, so I asked the experts why, in their opinion, the procedure continues to be popular. Here’s what they had to say:
Naveen: “The rising popularity of BBLs is likely influenced by social media and celebrity culture, where curvaceous body types are often glamorised. Platforms like Instagram have created a beauty standard that places high value on exaggerated body proportions, and individuals may feel pressured to emulate this look. However, I’m concerned that the social appeal has led to people underestimating the procedure’s dangers. Many individuals focus on the aesthetic results they see in images posted by influencers without fully understanding the surgical complexity and risks involved. Unfortunately, this has led to a demand for BBLs that often disregards patient safety in favour of immediate, dramatic transformations — a trend that I find worrisome from both a medical and ethical perspective.”
Mark: “I’d suggest that the rise in popularity of BBLs is largely due to the fact that companies have started performing them in the UK again. Internationally, I’d say it’s still very much seen as a fashionable thing and is about proportions. I’m not a big fan of BBLs from both a surgical point of view or in terms of the outcome of the procedure. As BBLs are a fashion trend, the demand for procedures like this come and go; the result is that, later down the line, people want to reverse the work they’ve had done, which can lead to further complications and added danger.”
