Following the death of a mum after a Brazilian butt lift a cosmetic surgeon is warning of the dangers and issuing advice on what to do if the procedure goes wrong.
Dr Manish Sinha’s warning follows the death of Alice Webb, 33, who has become the first person to die after having a liquid Brazilian butt lift procedure. The cosmetic surgeon explained that liquid BBL posed significant risks:“This is a non-surgical variant of the cosmetic procedure, which usually involves a hyaluronic acid filler.
“But this type of procedure is unlicensed and unregulated.”
Glasgow City Council has already issued three prohibition notices to companies to prevent them carrying out the procedure and in Edinburgh the council warned people planning to have it to contact them because of their concerns.
Alice, from Gloucester, who had five children is the first person in the UK to have died following the procedure.
Dr Sinha continued:“Be extremely wary of unqualified people offering to carry out the procedure in ads on social media. Anyone showing an interest could find themselves subjected to high pressure sales tactics worthy of timeshare salesmen.”
Dr Sinha said the trend for the procedure has grown over recent years with more people trying to emulate the body shape of celebrities like Kim Kardashian or Cardi B.
He said: “Done surgically, the procedure normally involves the transfer of fat from your belly, hips, lower back or thighs to your buttocks. It is considered the riskiest of all cosmetic surgeries, with an estimated one death per 3,000 procedures and patients can be left in excruciating pain if anything goes wrong.
“This particular surgical BBL was banned by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) in 2018 and only in 2022, they recommended strict guidelines to follow, in particular, adequate training and use of ultrasound during the procedure to ensure the fat is injected in the superficial tissue and not deep in the muscles where the adverse risks are likely to happen.
“The procedure has gained in popularity, particularly among women aged between 20 and 40, who are keen to reshape their buttocks to give them a curvier figure like those sported by celebrities. It is estimated that some 400,000 such procedures are carried out around the world every year. Turkey has become a favoured destination for some due to the lower costs of having surgery there.
“The procedure usually costs between £3,000 and £8,000 in the UK but travelling abroad to have it done can prove to be a false economy, due to the risks associated with lower safety standards. People should be aware, however, that results cannot be guaranteed and I would recommend that anyone thinking of having a BBL ask what training a surgeon has had.”
Dr Sinha said patients should check if the surgeon is on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery, and ask how many operations they have performed and if there have ever been complications with a patient.
He said: “They should also find out what follow-up can be expected if something does go wrong and what patient satisfaction rates are.”
He said following surgery there can be many different signs that something may have gone wrong but the main symptoms are ongoing pain that is not relieved with medication and progressive swelling or bruises.
He said: “Patients might also experience hard areas in the buttocks, which may be fat necrosis, and changes in the position of the buttocks. Migration of the filler is a real danger and can be very difficult to control or treat.
“One of the most common complications is sepsis, where the body’s infection fighting processes turn on the body and can lead to cell necrosis, organ failure and death. Even a small injection site can lead to sepsis, so don’t assume that your symptoms aren’t the sign of something serious because there is no significant wound.
“Symptoms of sepsis are hard to detect, even for experienced medical professionals, but include breathlessness, a fast heart rate, blueish or mottled skin and a general feeling of malaise. If you have these symptoms it is vital you seek help straight away as sepsis can turn into septic shock if not treated properly.
“Another risk of the BBL is an embolism, either from injected fat or fillers which happens when the filler is accidentally injected into the bloodstream, causing a blockage in your veins or arteries. Embolisms are life-threatening. Symptoms include shortness of breath, confusion or headaches and a rash of small red, purple or brown spots.
“Other symptoms include dizziness, weakness and a racing heart rate. If you or anyone you know experiences these symptoms, you should go to A&E or call an ambulance.”
Other complications include cell death and localised infections.
The medic added: “If you’ve had the procedure and fear that it’s gone wrong, you should initially make a complaint to the hospital or clinic where you had it done. If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction, you could then complain about the surgeon involved to the General Medical Council.
“The Independent Healthcare Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS) may be able to help you if the hospital you had your surgery at is registered with ISCAS. You might also have to consult a qualified surgeon to discuss treatment for correcting damage resulting from a botched operation.”
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