A company conducting a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure in a hotel function room, resulting in a woman’s hospitalization, has been prohibited from performing such procedures in Glasgow.
The incident occurred in March, prompting Glasgow City Council to take action against two companies and an associated individual practitioner. Environmental health officers issued prohibition notices, preventing them from conducting “high-risk” BBLs and breast augmentation procedures within Glasgow’s jurisdiction.
Similar complaints have been reported to other local authorities in Scotland and across the UK, including the City of Edinburgh Council. In response, the council advised individuals scheduled for non-surgical BBL procedures in Edinburgh to contact staff due to safety concerns.
The prohibition notices restrict the companies and individuals from performing any BBL or breast augmentation procedures within Glasgow until they can demonstrate safe practices. Failure to comply may result in legal consequences, including prosecution, imprisonment, fines, or both.
Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow’s convener for neighbourhood services, emphasized the council’s action to prevent procedures in unsuitable and non-sterile environments. Three prohibition notices have been served on two companies and an associated individual practitioner, with a 21-day window for appeals.
Understanding Brazilian Butt Lift Procedures and Risks
Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) aim to enhance buttock size, shape, or lift by inserting silicone-filled implants or injecting fat transferred from other body parts. While traditional surgery can be costly, liquid or non-surgical BBLs offer a cheaper alternative using hyaluronic acid injections.
However, improper procedures can lead to severe health complications. BBLs have garnered attention for their high mortality rate among cosmetic procedures, primarily due to the risk of pulmonary embolism caused by injected fat blocking blood vessels in the lungs.
In response to safety concerns, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) issued new guidelines in 2022, recommending superficial gluteal lipofilling (SGL) over traditional BBLs. SGL involves injecting fat below the skin’s surface, unlike BBLs, which deposit fat deep into the muscles. Surgeons are advised to utilize ultrasound scans to monitor cannula placement during SGL procedures.
