OpinionCosmetic surgery This article is more than 8 months old

Cardi B is right. It is time to leave the butt implant era behind

This article is more than 8 months oldArwa Mahdawi

Brazilian butt lifts have the highest mortality rate of any cosmetic procedure – and now surgeons are profiting, once again, from their removal

Never let it be said that I don’t have range. Earlier this year I brought you the latest hard-hitting news on cleavage trends (sideboobs are out, circumboobs are in). This week I’m briefing you on butts. More specifically, the Brazilian butt lift (BBL), a procedure in which fat is taken from one part of the body and injected into the buttocks.

The BBL surged in popularity in recent years despite the fact that it is problematic for a variety of reasons, not least because it boasts the highest mortality rate of any cosmetic surgery. A 2017 study found one in 3,000 BBLs ended in death. By comparison, another study found that cosmetic breast surgery was associated with a mortality rate of 1 in 72,000 procedures.

While a disturbing number of people seem prepared to die for a rounder behind, it looks like the fascination with BBLs may finally be deflating. There have been numerous headlines in recent months declaring “the end of the BBL era”. These have, in part, been sparked by intense speculation that some of the Kardashians may have had their (alleged but denied) procedures (allegedly) reversed. Rapper Cardi B also had her butt implants taken out last year and warned her fans off getting them.

Now the New York Post (a leading authority on cleavage and posteriors) has waded in with yet more evidence that the BBL era may be behind us. A recent report claims that New Yorkers are paying $25,000 to have their artificial behinds sucked out. One Fifth Avenue cosmetic surgeon told the tabloid that reversing BBLs, or reconstructing “overfilled” ones, is now his most popular procedure.

It’s a pretty good gig being a cosmetic surgeon, really. You put the fat in when big butts are deemed desirable. You take the fat out when the fashion industry decides that bums are passé. As long as women’s body shapes are treated as a trend, someone will always profit: that is the beauty of capitalism.

Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist

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