The surgery that's rising in popularity amongst women - and why it can kill

It's a procedure that's rocketed in popularity in the last ten years - but the potential dangers are causing alarm.

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a cosmetic surgery where fat is moved from one part of the body to another - in most cases to the bottom.

The fate of an 'amazing' mum of three from Salford, Demi Agoglia - who died last week, reportedly days after having a BBL in Turkey - is the latest to spark concerns about the procedure.

In 2022, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) reported that the procedure is the fastest-growing type of cosmetic surgery, with its popularity increasing by 20% year-on-year.

Now Gerald Lambe, a surgeon at Manchester's Reflect Clinic, has outlined the risks the procedure poses - particularly when patients travel abroad, with Turkey being a major destination for medical tourism.

Mr Lambe told the M.E.N that there were 'more and more people travelling to Turkey' for BBLs, describing the procedure as 'really high risk'.

Describing what can go wrong, he added: "If you inject fat into the veins then that blob goes to the heart and into the lungs - and can cause the patient to die - and that’s what is happening.

"In the UK we’re very aware about the supervision and likely to be taken to court if anything happens, but in Turkey it seems that it's difficult to sue (surgeons) and they just disappear into the ether," he explained.

"It is cheaper abroad, but when you do it cheaper you have to do it quickly and do lots of cases, and therefore the care isn’t as good," he added. In the UK this surgery can cost from £6,000, but in Turkey, it's advertised for half the price.

Last month it was reported that in 2022, 1.2 million of British 'medical tourists' ventured to Turkey, and