The NHS has warned against “bargain basement” Brazilian Butt Lifts as death rates continue to soar, with the health service regularly having to treat patients when they return home
England’s top medic has issued a stark warning about the “potentially deadly” risk of cut-price Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBL) in the run-up to Christmas. The NHS has been flooded with deals from foreign clinics offering 25 per cent discounts and all-inclusive packages, including hotels and flights for less than £3,000, as well as finance deals in an attempt to “lure people in”.
NHS medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis cautioned that while these may seem like “enticing looking offers”, the truth is that “these bargain basement cosmetic procedures are potentially deadly”. This comes after a series of deaths and medical complications resulting from botched surgeries, with the health service regularly having to treat patients when they return home.
BBL surgery has the highest death rate of all cosmetic procedures as the fat injected into the buttocks can lead to a pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal blockage in a lung blood vessel. Other serious side effects include the skin infection cellulitis, as well as lumpy scars around the area of surgery.
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The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has advised its members not to perform BBL surgery, which the NHS says has increased the risk of people undergoing unsafe procedures abroad. The health service said foreign clinics have been at the forefront of botched cosmetic procedures in recent years with BBL surgery “costing as much as 70% less than in the UK”.
Sir Stephen has issued a stern warning amid the holiday season, saying: “At a time when NHS staff have never been busier, the last thing they need is patients turning up at their door with medical complications following a BBL from an unregulated surgeon overseas.”
He also delivered a chilling reality check on cut-price cosmetic ops, pointing out that such surgeries can be fatal: “While many people’s social media feeds will be full of enticing looking offers in the run-up to Christmas, the reality is these bargain basement cosmetic procedures are potentially deadly.”
Sir Stephen further highlighted the burden on public healthcare, stating, “BBLs have the highest death rate of all such treatments, and all too often it is left to the NHS to repair the damage and taxpayers to foot the bill. The NHS will always be there for those who need it but it should not be left to deal with the consequences of botched BBLs.”
Health Minister Karin Smyth joined the chorus against unlicensed clinics, vowing to safeguard people’s well-being: “For too long, cowboy clinics have been causing immeasurable damage to people in the search for an unrealistic, ‘beach-perfect’ body. I am determined to protect people and the NHS and will be outlining plans soon to crack down on these rogue operators in the UK.”
She offered advice for those considering cosmetic surgery, stressing the importance of due diligence: “I urge anyone considering any cosmetic procedure, whether home or abroad, to do your research. Find a safe, reputable and trusted practitioner. If it feels too good to be true, then it probably is. A cheap deal is not worth risking your life over.”
