What is a BBL Procedure?

Also known as a Brazilian Butt Lift, a BBL procedure increases the volume, lifts and enhances the shape of the buttocks. This can be achieved through various methods depending on the concerns and desired outcomes of the patient.

Options that are currently available to patients may include:

• Fat Transfer BBL: A Fat Transfer BBL involves fat being extracted from areas of the body with excess fat, such as the abdomen, thighs, waist and back. This fat is then processed to remove impurities before being injected into the buttocks.
• Buttock Implants: BBL with Buttock Implants involves silicone implants, similar to breast implants, being inserted into the buttocks.
• Liquid BBL: Also known as BBL Filler, this non-surgical alternative involves injecting Dermal Filler into the buttocks.

Although BBL is increasingly popular, with the BAAPS Annual Audit showing a 19% increase in the number of surgical BBL procedures (Superficial Gluteal Lipofilling) taking place in 2024 compared to the previous year, there are ongoing questions about the safety and messaging around Brazilian Butt Lift.

In April 2025, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned advertisements from six companies for Liquid BBL procedures. Their concerns centred around three key points:

• The nature of the procedures being trivialised, making them seem more minor than they are
• The advertising playing on individuals’ insecurities, suggesting that happiness and wellbeing can be obtained through certain physical traits
• The risks of the procedure not being clearly stated or safety standards potentially being exaggerated

If you are considering a BBL procedure of any nature, it is important to consider the following points as part of your research:

• Safety: This should include any risks potentially associated with the procedure, and also the track record and transparency of the clinic and medical practitioner you choose.
• Why you are considering a BBL procedure: Your surgeon or aesthetic doctor will discuss your reasons for opting for a BBL procedure to ensure that you have the correct motivations. This may include ruling out certain mental health concerns such as body dysmorphia.
• Your desired results: Before undergoing any BBL procedure, it is essential that you have realistic expectations of what you can achieve with the procedure. Having unrealistic expectations may also be connected to body dysmorphia which the medical professional performing your procedure will wish to rule out before proceeding.

How to Get a Safe BBL

For patients who are considering any BBL procedure, Cadogan Clinic offers safe Brazilian Butt Lift options depending on your concerns and desired outcomes.

Your dedicated patient advisor will recommend the best consultant for you, depending on your requirements. Cadogan Clinic has industry-leading infection and revision rates, and our safety and patient outcomes data are made publicly available for transparency.

Safe BBL Surgery

The safest surgical BBL procedure is performed with Fat Transfer. Fat is extracted from various areas of the body using Liposuction, processed to purify it, and injected into the buttocks. Crucially for safety, the fat must be injected beneath the skin, but above the muscle – a technique known as Superficial Gluteal Lipofilling. This dramatically reduces the risk of pulmonary embolism, where injected fat enters a blood vessel and travels to the lungs, causing a blockage. This is a serious and potentially fatal complication, which is typically associated with BBL surgery performed outside the UK. Previously, it was believed by some surgeons that injecting fat beneath the muscle reduced the amount of natural reabsorption that occurred. This has now been shown to be incorrect, and that injecting the fat deeper is simply more dangerous and doesn’t produce better results.

All surgical BBL procedures at Cadogan Clinic are performed in line with guidance from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, published in 2021. This industry-transforming report was co-authored by Cadogan Clinic’s consultant surgeon, Mr. Omar Tillo. It made several recommendations for the safest way to carry out Fat Transfer BBL surgery safely:

• Superficial Gluteal Lipofilling: Fat must be injected underneath the skin, above the muscle. Injecting the fat beneath the muscle carries a significantly higher risk and does not improve surgical outcomes.
• Ultrasound BBL: Ultrasound scanning can be used during the Fat Transfer phase to guide fat placement and avoid deeper fat injection.
• Avoiding an exaggerated appearance: BBL Surgery has often been associated with producing an unrealistic hourglass shape. These dramatic results should be avoided, especially when a patient’s safety is put at risk to achieve this.

Cadogan Clinic’s surgeons also don’t recommend the use of Buttock Implants. The risk of complications such as infection and nerve damage is slightly increased with the use of Buttock Implants due to the use of external implants and the complex nature of the network of blood vessels and nerves within the buttocks. In comparison, using the body’s own fat reserves reduces this, as the injected fat is recognised by the body.

If you are considering a surgical BBL procedure, it is essential that you discuss these points with your surgeon to ensure your safety is prioritised.

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