Why you should never have dermal filler in your buttocks

Why you should never have dermal filler in your buttocks - What is a BBL?

The Brazilian butt lift... or BBL, involves vast amounts of dermal filler (or fat) being injected into the buttocks to add volume and definition, without going under the knife. The treatments are advertised on social media as risk free, cheaper alternatives to the surgical counterparts - but that couldn't be further from the truth!

Dermal fillers are FDA- approved injectable medical devices used to address facial ageing by means of lifting and volumising tissue. It is important to point out - that its approved usage is limited to the FACE, but some practitioners use it 'off-label' in areas such as the buttocks.

Whats the problem with them?

Since 2021, there has been an exponential increase in complaints form patients suffering extremely dangeraous life-threatening complications that have left them permanently disfrigured and in pain. In the past year, over 200 people who have had unwanted outcomes, adverse reactions, and complications - over 70% required hospitilisation and 39% needing corrective surgery. All the complaints reported were regarding treatments carried out by non-medical practitioners.

Why you should never have dermal filler in your buttocks

A new study has revealed that 99% of medical professional do not perform non-surgical BBL as they deem them too dangerous. Despite this, they are being offered by laypeople, hairdressers, and beauticians who have no healthcare experience and are unable to manage potential complications. The demand for these treatments is increasing exponentially, as is the number on non-medic injectors offering them.

With the average cost of over £2000 per treatment, unscrupulous practitioners who have no healthcare experience are leaving the NHS to manage the complications.

96% of the patients who reported complications to SAVE FACE were treated by NHS services after being ignored or misadvised by their practitioner

Complications of the Brazilian Butt Lift

Commonly used material in buttock injections - including hyaluronic acid based dermal fillers and silicone, can travel to other parts of the body, leading to granulomas and lumps. Other complications include infections, disfigurement and scarring. In some cases, stroke can occur.

Unlicensed providers may also operate in unsterile environments. This could increase the risk for infections and death. Further more, illegal operatives may use non medical grade fillers etc.

There has been an isolated death associated with the use of dermal fillers for butt augmentation. The most common cause is an embolism which happens when the filler is accidentally injected into the bloodstream causing a blockage that impedes good blood circulation to major organs.

Complications are more than just a pain in the ass!

Unlike with facial fillers, where complications can be managed effectively by skilled injectors, these procedures often require hospital setting, intravenous drugs, and surgical intervention to rectify.

Why is it so dangerous?

It all relates to an anatomical structure called the inferior gluteal vein (which is a big vein right in the region of the buttocks) where the work takes place during BBL.

In each post-mortem carried out in people who have died following BBL using autologous fat, fat has ben shown to have been injected into this vein, causing a fat embolism which is usually fatal

Inferior gluteal vein anatomy.

The unusual anatomy of the region makes the procedure high risk, because the IG-vein differes from many veins elsewhere in the body.

Firstly, it is a very fat and floppy vein, and unlike other veins in your body, it is fixed in place because it passes under the greater sciatic notch of your pelvis, which means it can't roll out of the way of an approaching injector.

Secondly, like other veins, it contains valves which allow one directional blood flow, so that when the vein is compressed by surrounding muscles, the blood moves towards the heart. This one-directional movement generates a negative pressure (or suction) effect, meaning that anything inadvertently injected into the vein - like dermall filler - could be sucked into it resulting in an embolus.

Is change going to happen?

A report identified the risks and complications associated with the procedure, including pulmonary embolism, sepsis, deep vein thrombosis, and fat and skin necrosis.

SAVE FACE - A national government-approved register of accredited non-surgical treamtent practitioners, is calling for the procedures to be banned, while the local government association has asked Westminster to take urgent action. A spokespoerson for the local government association said "Councils are concerned by the prevalence of these procedures and urge the government to bring forward its planned licensing regime without delay, and to ensure councils have the compliance and enforcement capacity to take action against individuals and businesses carrying out these treatments.

Did you know, that recently the city of Wolverhampton council becamse the first local authority in England to take action to stop the procedure?

The bottom line

Brazilian butt lifts are a DANGEROUS procedure and should never be marketed as anything otherwise. Unfortunately, having the procedure done under local anaesthetic and in your injectors 'office' with a dermal filler does seemingly trivialise the procedure. There is a reason why medic injectors are choosing NOT to perform the procedure - because it is dangerous, and can kill or disfigure you

And remember - If you are still looking at having the procedure done despite the warnings - just because someone somnewhere is willing to perform the operation for you, it doesnt mean they should do

NEVER TRAVEL ABROAD FOR THE PROCEDURE.

Dr Sophie Gaskell BDS PGDip (Aesth med)

www.drsophiegaskell.com