The City of Edinburgh Council has issued a warning to individuals scheduled for non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) in the city over the weekend to reach out to them amid apprehensions regarding the procedure.
The local authority revealed it had received information suggesting that the cosmetic enhancement might be conducted at an undisclosed location between Friday, April 26, and Sunday, April 28, with individuals responding to social media posts.
Although the procedure, which utilizes a hyaluronic acid filler, is not illegal, improper execution can have fatal consequences.
The council indicated that other local authorities had also been apprised of the matter.
According to BBC Scotland News, companies have been observed offering treatments at undisclosed private locations, which are only revealed later.
Councillor Neil Ross, convener of the council’s regulatory committee, urged individuals who have appointments for the procedure to urgently contact the council due to safety concerns.
Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) are aimed at enhancing the size, shape, or lift of the buttocks, typically involving the insertion of silicone-filled implants or the injection of fat transferred from other body parts. While traditional surgery can be costly, liquid or non-surgical BBLs present a more economical alternative, utilizing hyaluronic acid injections.
However, if not performed correctly, the procedure can result in severe health complications.
BBLs have garnered attention for their associated risks, with the NHS highlighting them as having the highest mortality rate among cosmetic procedures. Experts caution that injected fat can lead to pulmonary embolisms by blocking blood vessels in the lungs.
In 2019, a woman from Norfolk passed away during a BBL procedure at a private hospital in Istanbul.
To address safety concerns, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) issued new guidelines in 2022, recommending the practice of superficial gluteal lipofilling (SGL) instead of traditional BBLs. SGL involves injecting fat below the skin, unlike BBLs, which insert fat deep into the muscles. Additionally, BAAPS advises surgeons to use ultrasound scans simultaneously to monitor the cannulas’ placement during SGL procedures.
