Another British woman dies after Brazilian butt lift surgery

UK cosmetic surgeons have been told not to perform “Brazilian butt lift” operations, following reports that a second British woman died from the procedure this year.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) has told its members not to perform the lifts, which it says are the “deadliest” cosmetic operation, until more safety information was available.


A BBC investigation on Thursday revealed a woman in her late 20s has died from the procedure and an inquest into her death is due to take place later in 2018.

It follows the widely reported death of 29-year-old Leah Cambridge, who experienced a heart attack after undergoing the procedure at a clinic in Izmir, Turkey.



The surgery involves drawing fat from the back or stomach and injecting it to reshape the buttocks and has become popular among people trying to emulate the look of reality TV celebrities.

But it carries serious risks: the injected fat may cause infections or necrosis, and if it is injected into a major blood vessel it could cause a heart attack or stroke.

Baaps told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show that one in 3,000 people die worldwide as a result of complications.

It represents the majority of NHS-trained consultant plastic surgeons in private practice, and the group decided to warn its members not to perform the procedure before learning of the latest death.