Beauty and aesthetics professionals are calling on the Government to accelerate plans for industry regulation after the tragic death of a British woman following a non-surgical Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure.
Alice Webb, a mother of five, passed away at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital following complications from a "liquid Brazilian butt lift" (BBL), a procedure that involves injecting large quantitites of hyaluronic acid into the buttocks to make them appear rounder and lifted.
Webb fell ill after undergoing the procedure and died in the early hours of Tuesday morning (September 24). Her death marks the first fatality caused by this treatment being performed in a UK clinic.
Although the liquid BBL treatment is often promoted as a safer, cheaper alternative to a surgical Brazilain butt lift, risks are still high.
Dermal fillers are injected in large quantities, posing serious health risks such as blood clots, sepsis, and tissue death.
While some local authorities, including Wolverhampton and parts of Essex, have banned specific companies from offering the treatment, there is no nationwide licensing framework.
This lack of regulation has led to unqualified practitioners performing the high-risk procedure, often without sufficient medical training.
Call for regulation for aesthetic treatments
Industry experts and medical professionals have long called for stricter regulations. Plans for a licensing scheme were put into action by the last government but as yet no definite framework or date for implementation has been confirmed.
Commenting on the tragic death, Lesley Blair, chair of Babtac and Cibtac said, “This is shocking and awful to see and is another example of where we need the correct oversight, backed by legislation, in place as soon as possible.
"It demonstrates how imperative it is to have legal oversight in the industry, to avoid tragedies like this from happening. We are currently still awaiting feedback on the consultation we took part in with government for the impending licensing scheme.
"We need to continue to support the implementation of the legislation to be in place, to stop unqualified operators doing treatments in modalities that they are not trained to an acceptable safe level to do and in addition not qualified to manage any adverse complications if they arise.”
Aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Jonathan Roos emphasised that fillers are currently classified as devices, not injectable medicinal products, which allows unqualified individuals to perform treatments.
“This tragedy was avoidable,” he said, urging for tighter controls to protect both patients and practitioners.
Stressing that only medically qualified professionals should carry out procedures like BBLs, Tristan Mehta, chief executive of Harley Academy, commented: "As it stands, almost anyone can legally perform these procedures with minimal or no training.”
Consultant nurse practitioner, Tracey Dennison, added “It's astonishing that in 2024 anybody can pick up a needle and start injecting people without proper care behind the damage they can cause.”
Michael Saul, partner at Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors said the BBL is one of the most dangerous cosmetic procedures available in the UK. He added, "Despite this, BBLs are still on the rise, fuelled by unrealistic body standards."
Cosmetic and plastic consultant surgeon Gerard Lambe said, "Liquid BBLs, such as the procedure Alice Webb alledgedly underwent, involves injections of liquid hyaluronic acid fillers. It comes with many risks, including blood clots, sepsis, and the potential for the death of body tissues."
He added: "There is a real problem with regulation and practitioners with zero medical training setting up academies and online courses. Another huge concern is the quality of product with many practitioners using cheap imported 'dupe' fillers too."
As the growing number of unqualified individuals performing such high-risk treatments rises, Anna Kremerov, clinical director and owner of Anna Medical Aesthetics in Swindon, said patient safety must be the absolute priority.
“This tragedy serves as a reminder that we, as an industry, must push for higher standards and stricter regulations,” she said.