Doctors are urging people to steer clear of risky liquid Brazilian butt lifts – as beauticians flood social media with Christmas “bargains.” Three months ago, mum Alice Webb, 33, died after having the procedure, in which dermal fillers are injected directly to the buttocks. The law currently does not require practitioners to have medical training, raising serious concerns about safety.
Last night, Alice’s heartbroken partner, Dane Knight, expressed his horror at the string of discounts offered online around the holiday season. He said: “Seeing discounts on the treatment what took Alice away from us fills me with rage. People need to understand the true risks behind these so-called bargains. Alice believed these procedures were risk-free. So did we. Now we’re facing a Christmas without her. You’re putting your health, your appearance, and even your life at risk.”
Dane, from Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucs, spoke out after supporting the campaign to ban unregulated cosmetic procedures. He pleaded: “If you’re considering this treatment, please don’t – we’re living with the devastating consequences when things go wrong. No procedure is worth the suffering we’re having to endure.”
Social media platforms are awash with ads for cut-price treatments leading up to Christmas. For example, Stoke-on-Trent aesthetics salon The Beauty Spot recently advertised on Facebook: “BBL 200ml £750, BBL 300ml £999, BBL 400ml £1400 – Christmas Offers.” Meanwhile, Beauty Jenics in Dagenham, Essex, promoted their offer with festive flair, saying, “Gift yourself the ultimate glow this Christmas! Why wait for Santa when you can treat yourself to a liquid BBL?”
Dr. Dan Dhunna, a Harley Street cosmetic doctor, has called for urgent action, warning of potential fatalities if the issue is not addressed. He stated: “Despite the tragic death from a BBL performed by a lay practitioner, and several local councils banning it, it’s shocking to see non-medics cashing in on body insecurities at Christmas. More must be done to ban promoting these on social media.”
Liquid BBLs involve the injection of dermal fillers and hyaluronic acid, which can lead to severe complications, including pulmonary embolism if the filler blocks a blood vessel. Though often advertised as safer alternatives to traditional surgeries, they have resulted in nearly 700 reported complications since 2022, with over half leading to severe, life-threatening issues.
Most troublingly, these complications were predominantly reported following treatments performed by non-healthcare practitioners, with 98% linked to social media promotions. Individual beauty salons have begun taking action; after being contacted, Jessie from The Beauty Spot stated, “We no longer do BBLs and haven’t done for some time.”
Dr. Dhunna expressed outrage over the normalization of these risky procedures, saying, “Like all 647 women I have spoken to, Alice walked ... thinking her treatment was risk-free, yet she never returned home.” Over half of those supported by the Save Face organization suffered dire complications and many remain permanently disfigured.
This alarming trend raises serious questions about the accountability of such practices and the individuals offering them. Dr. Dhunna says, “It is outrageous ... yet those responsible continue to profit at the expense of others, leaving victims to suffer.” More needs to be done to hold these practitioners accountable.
Save Face has launched initiatives encouraging victims of BBL complications to report incidents to the police, yet distressingly, not one case has ever been taken seriously. This failure of action highlights the dire need for systemic reform. “When regulators do not take these issues seriously, it’s no wonder the same mindset permeates social media. This must change,” Dhunna asserted.
To amplify the call for safer practices, Save Face recently initiated a petition dubbed “Alice’s Law,” aimed at making it illegal for anyone other than GMC-registered plastic surgeons to perform liquid BBL procedures. This campaign intends to not only honor Alice Webb’s memory but to safeguard others from similar fates. “We cannot allow another family to suffer this tragedy,” Dr. Dhunna implored. He urged the public to sign and share the petition, stating, “Please visit https://www.change.org/p/alice-s-law-justice-for-alice-webb-ban-liquid-bbl-procedures-from-the-high-street.”
