<div class="text-justify">

My article today should ordinarily be tagged NSFW, but I will try as much as possible to make it SFW. Those who know BBL's full meaning already know what I am driving at. For the benefit of those that may not already know though, BBL simply means "Brazilian Butt Lift".

The term refers to a procedure during which physicians, a surgeon to be precise, remove fats from different parts of the body and add them to the buttock to make it bigger. Now you all understand why I said this article should be tagged NSFW.

Why would anyone want to make their butt bigger though? To the extent of having to go under the knife. I am not a woman and may not know the exact reasons many women chose to go this route. However, one could make some logical reasons.

One reason may be the desire to achieve a more curvaceous figure, as having larger, more shapely buttocks is often seen as a desirable trait in some cultures. I may not be able to speak for men in other cultures, but African men (including myself) particularly love curvy women. Apart from sexual attractiveness, the generally held belief is that curvy women are better when it comes to reproduction. This preference could be a major reason some African women without natural curves are pressured into opting for BBL.

Additionally, some women may feel more confident and attractive after having the procedure done, which can boost their self-esteem and quality of life. In Nigeria, only a few women who have done BBL will admit that they did it because men find them attractive. The majority of them will tell you they did it for their own self-esteem.


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/gentleshaid/23vsBvNJDYsg82mdoKWmstb6TL18afuHmKcuzWtV2fnibtF4nqPFyyb1tz4AmJoeEkPam.png)<center><sup>Image source: [flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/miafotografiayvideo/50226652717/)</sup></center>
 

### Is it worth the risks?
A few days ago, news broke out about a Nigerian lady in her early twenties who died due to BBL-related procedures. Even though the exact cause of her death remains unknown, the news gives credence to the fact that BBL procedures have risks. Some of the risks include

- Infection at the incision site or the transferred tissue. All procedures involving surgery carry this risk.

- Blood clots after surgery, which can lead to serious complications like pulmonary embolism (a blockage in the lungs).

- The possibility of injected or transferred fats entering the bloodstream and traveling to the lungs or other organs of the body. This condition, otherwise known as fat embolism can be life-threatening and is actually responsible for a large percentage of death related to BBL.

- The nerves around the buttocks can be damaged during the BBL procedure, leading to numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the area.

- Skin necrosis, a condition that occurs when the blood supply to the skin is disrupted, leading to tissue death, can happen in the buttocks or surrounding areas, resulting in skin damage or scarring.

- The possibility of developing Seroma, a fluid-filled pocket that can develop under the skin after surgery. They can be painful and may require additional treatment to resolve.


Even though the chances of these risks decrease when the procedure is performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, they still exist. 

While Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedures have become increasingly popular in recent years, they also carry a higher risk of complications and even death compared to other cosmetic procedures. According to a study published in the [Aesthetic Surgery Journal](https://academic.oup.com/asj/pages/about) in 2021, the estimated mortality rate for BBLs is 1 in 2,500. Even though the figure was later reviewed down to 1 in 15,000, it is still significantly higher than other cosmetic surgery procedures.

It's difficult to provide exact statistics on the number of people who have died due to BBL-related procedures, as the data is often incomplete or underreported. However, several reports and studies have highlighted the risks associated with BBLs and documented cases of deaths related to the procedure.

For example, a study published in the [journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ](https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/pages/default.aspx)in 2020 analyzed 73 cases of BBL-related deaths reported between 2011 and 2019. The study found that the majority of deaths were caused by fat embolisms. Other causes of death included pulmonary thromboembolism (a blockage in the lungs), cardiac arrest, and sepsis.

### Closing thought
There is no doubt that there are logical arguments for some women to undergo BBL procedures. Whether these arguments are plausible is another debate entirely, considering the risks associated with the procedures. Even though the chances of having a successful BBL remain high with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, the procedure itself is a superficial one just like most cosmetic surgeries. 

Would you say the risks are worth the rewards?

</div>

### References
- Tillo O, Nassab R, Pacifico MD. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) Gluteal Fat Grafting Safety Review -and Recommendations. Aesthet Surg J. 2022 Dec 10:sjac316. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjac316. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36495200.
- Pazmiño P, Garcia O. Brazilian Butt Lift-Associated Mortality: The South Florida Experience. Aesthet Surg J. 2023 Feb 3;43(2):162-178. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjac224. PMID: 35959568; PMCID: PMC9896146.