Minor side effects of the treatment include bruising, swelling or contour abnormalities. However, there are some more serious complications which people need to be aware of.

Undergoing the procedure can lead to you having a fat embolism in the heart or lungs, which can be fatal. If the procedure is performed incorrectly, the injected fat can enter large veins in the buttocks, which then travels through to the lungs. This causes respiratory distress and ultimately death. Currently, the fatality rate for BBL is estimated to be 1 in 3,000 – the largest of all aesthetic procedures.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) advises UK practitioners not to perform BBL procedures, which explains why it’s not widely available here. While you may want to improve the shape of your glutes, it’s important to weigh up whether the results are worth the risk and, as always, research your surgeon thoroughly.

A safer alternative for enhancing your buttocks is muscle stimulation.