Young mother dies following Brazilian Butt Lift procedure in the UK
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of a young mother in Gloucestershire this week. Alice Webb, 33, died after falling ill on Monday evening after reportedly undergoing a non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure. Ms Webb, a mother of five, is thought to be the first person to die following the popular cosmetic procedure.
Non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lifts in the UK
A non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lift is a cosmetic procedure that aims to add volume, lift and enhance the shape of the buttocks without the need to go under the knife. The desired effect is most often achieved by injecting high volumes of Hyaluronic Acid dermal fillers into the relevant areas.
A recent report conducted by Save Face, a Government-approved register for Medical Aesthetic Treatments, lays bare the frightening statistics associated with non-surgical BBLs in the UK. Since 2022, 507 complaints have been submitted to Save Face, 479 of which were associated with BBL and Hip Dip procedures. Reported complications of these procedures include infection, sepsis and the development of abcesses. 98% of patients who experienced these complications subsequently required treatment from the NHS.
Who is offering non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lift procedures?
In the aforementioned report conducted by Save Face, 2,215 registered healthcare professionals who practice aesthetic medicine were surveyed about their usage of Hyaluronic Acid dermal fillers.
- 99% of these professionals said they do not offer non-surgical BBL or Hip Dip procedures using Hyaluronic Acid dermal fillers
- 98% said they do not offer non-surgical BBL and Hip Dip procedures because it is unsafe and there is a high risk of multiple complications
However, in the UK there is little to no legislation surrounding these non-surgical treatments, meaning unqualified and unlicensed providers can offer these services to paying customers. Because of the lack of legislation, there is usually no way of knowing if the provider has insurance, or if they are using clean, suitable equipment.
Susanne McGraw, Head of Personal Injury at Watermans, says
“This is such a tragic story that a woman has lost her life going for what she thought was something that would enhance her life. She trusted the practitioners and they failed her. The fact that the authorities have charged the persons concerned with manslaughter, the unintentional killing of a person, highlights that this is an area which urgently needs proper regulation to ensure the safety of the public. Unfortunately the lack of regulation means that no one can be sure that the person carrying out the procedure knows what they are doing or that the product being injected into you is safe.”
Susanne continues
“Anyone considering any type of cosmetic procedure, surgical or otherwise should think very carefully about who they choose to carry out the procedures for them. Even where it is classed as a non-surgical procedure, people should be aware of the fact that there are serious risks to be aware of and must be careful and take their time when choosing a practitioner. Take time to research the practitioner and ask questions about their training, where the products are from and insurance. Do not be uncomfortable in asking this as any professional will gladly answer your question.”