Health warning to Norfolk residents on the dangers of Brazilian Butt Lift procedure after recent deaths

Warnings are being issued to those considering undergoing a type of non-surgical cosmetic procedure which resulted in the death of a Norfolk woman.

There are growing concerns that the procedure known as a ‘Brazilian Butt Lift’, BBL or Liquid BBL, can have serious and even fatal consequences - and Norfolk County Council’s public health department are issuing warnings.

This follows the recent death of a woman in Gloucestershire which was found to be linked to a non-surgical Brazilian butt lift procedure.

The BBL procedure involves injecting large volumes of dermal filler into the buttocks, to create a fuller appearance.

Several risks and complications are associated with it, including pulmonary embolism - which is a life-threatening blood clot - sepsis, deep vein thrombosis, and fat and skin necrosis, which causes the death of tissues in the body.

Dermal filler injections, which can also be applied to various other body parts, can prove fatal and are becoming increasingly used throughout the UK.

Cllr Fran Whymark, the county council’s cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: “The health and safety of Norfolk residents is our number one priority.

“We are actively discouraging people from undergoing a BBL. The health complications which can occur during or after this aesthetic practice are simply not worth the risk.

“Following the death of a Norfolk woman who underwent a BBL in 2023, it is imperative that those interested in this procedure do extensive research into the practitioner and process, or better and safer still, decide against it entirely.”

Stuart Lines, director of public health for Norfolk, said: “The rise in popularity of the BBL procedure is extremely worrying, especially given it is an unlicensed and unregulated practice.

“This means the quality and competency of practitioners are unmanaged by industry regulators.

“We are warning residents of the risks associated with these procedures and are urging people to report any concerns, or practitioners offering these treatments, to their local environmental health teams.”

Authority environmental health teams have statutory powers, such as Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, to investigate and take legal action against businesses offering non-surgical cosmetic beauty treatments if they are found to be putting the health or safety of customers at risk.

Anyone found offering or providing such treatments may now to be subject to formal action. This also applies to anyone providing training for these procedures to practitioners.