Around one in 10 adults in the United Kingdom have undergone some form of cosmetic procedures, with women more likely than men to consider a procedure, statistics show
A top plastic surgeon has warned over a popular cosmetic procedure – declaring they would never perform it due to its high-risk nature – saying that each injection brings patients “one step away from intensive care”.
Surveys indicate that roughly one in 10 adults in the UK have had some form of cosmetic work done. Women are more inclined than men to go under the knife, with a staggering 93 per cent of plastic surgeries in 2022 being performed on female patients. Data from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reveals a total of 25,972 operations were conducted between 2022 and 2023.
Among these, over 1,000 individuals opted for fat transfers, commonly used to augment certain body parts. The Brazilian bum lift, or BBL, is a particularly prevalent type, involving fat being harvested from one area and injected into the buttocks, costing up to £8,000.
However, many are now turning to the cheaper ‘liquid BBL’, which uses filler injections to achieve similar results for as little as £200, according to The Telegraph. Consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon Ash Soni, with over 3,000 surgeries under his belt, staunchly refuses to offer liquid BBLs due to the dangers involved.
He stated: “It would be easy for me to do this procedure, but I’ve consciously decided not to. A lot of care must be taken regarding the buttocks because of the complex anatomy of the area.” The buttocks house some major blood vessels, and puncturing one with a fat or filler injection could lead to dire results. Dr Mervyn Patterson issued a stark warning to the Telegraph: “With every injection you are one step away from an intensive care unit. I wouldn’t dream of doing this procedure.”
Back in 2018, BAAPS advised members to cease performing the BBL because of alarming death rates. By 2022, they recommended fat grafting should be only superficial and under ultrasound guidance, referring to this as Superficial Gluteal Lipofilling, reports the Express.
Recently, the liquid BBL hit the news after Alice Webb, a mother-of-five, reportedly had the treatment before her untimely death at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. This incident led to the arrest of two individuals on suspicion of manslaughter.
Ashton Collins, director of Save Face, voiced serious concerns: “Liquid BBL procedures are a crisis waiting to happen. They are advertised on social media as ‘risk-free’, ‘cheaper’ alternatives to the surgical counterpart and that could not be further from the truth.
“We have supported over 500 women who have suffered complications because of these treatments, many of which have nearly died. Over 50% of the cases reported to us contracted sepsis and 39% needed corrective surgery. All of the procedures reported to us were carried out by non-healthcare practitioners who are carrying out incredibly dangerous procedures in unsterile environments. I would advise anyone considering one of these treatments to avoid them at all costs.”
