Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgeries have become one of the fastest-growing cosmetic procedures, thanks to the trend of wanting an hourglass figure.  

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported a 90 percent increase in BBLs between 2015 to 2022, and a roster of celebrities, including Cardi B, Kim Kardashian, and Nene Leakes, are all rumored to have received butt-enhancing procedures.  

But while BBLs – which cost an average of around $8,600 – might look aesthetically pleasing, there is a less pleasant side effect: the ‘BBL smell.’

Dr Eric Anderson from Chicago-based Impressions Face + Body, told DailyMail.com that ‘the BBL smell is real,’ and it can be caused by a number of things, including tissue death and unhygienic practices. 

One complication of BBLs is ‘fat necrosis,’ which causes fatty tissue in the buttocks to die following surgery, ‘an indicator that a patient was overfilled with fat during the procedure. 

‘When there is more fat in an area than the blood supply allows, the fat will die through a smelly process called fat necrosis, which can lead to infections that need antibiotics, hospitalizations, and even sepsis.’

But the smell may also come from uncleanliness. 

In one viral video, TikToker @donpsoundsoff described the smell from one woman’s BBL he went on a date with as an ‘an assault of my nose’.

And in another clip, a woman said she had to get her BBL reversed because it ‘smelled like a dumpster.’

Cardi B has expressed regret over getting injections in her hips and buttocks, saying the operation led to her butt having an odor

Another posted: ‘When God created us, he gave us arms. All of our arms [are] made specifically for our body. You probably have a hard time wiping… properly because your body is a little bit wider than your arms are allowing you to reach in that area.’ 

Dr Roger Tsai, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, says reaching around to the larger buttock area after surgery might be difficult after using the bathroom, which can cause a foul-smelling odor.

He explains: ‘Wiping down there is going be a lot more difficult because there’s more to reach around.’

Offering his verdict on the matter, Dr. Eric W. Anderson from Chicago-based Impressions Face + Body, told DailyMail.com that ‘the BBL smell is real’

Plastic surgeons typically give their patients fair warning about difficulties in the bathroom following the procedure. 

Sitting is not allowed for about two months after undergoing a BBL, though sitting on the toilet for a relatively quick bathroom break is ok.

Many physicians recommend bidets to wash the area thoroughly.

New York-based plastic surgeon Dr Douglas Steinbrech adds that a foul smell following BBL surgery may not be something to worry about. 

He explains: ‘It’s actually pretty common for patients to notice some unusual or even unpleasant smells after a BBL procedure. 

‘I don’t see it a lot in my practice but I have seen the conversation online.

‘Most of the time, what they’re smelling isn’t anything dangerous – it’s usually related to the healing process. 

‘After surgery, the body is draining fluids, and the patient is wearing tight compression garments that can trap sweat, moisture, and bacteria against the skin. 

‘That combination, especially in warm areas like the lower back or thighs, can definitely lead to some odor. 

‘If fat was removed from areas like the stomach or thighs, they might also notice some musty or sour smells coming from those donor sites while they’re healing.’

Plastic surgeons have previously told DailyMail.com they suspect Kim Kardashian has received enhancements for her buttocks

That being said, Dr Steinbrech says if the smell is really strong, getting worse, or is accompanied along with redness, swelling, or discharge, it could be a sign of infection or fluid build-up.

In this case, the patient should definitely reach out to the surgeon. 

But even if the surgery goes well, the physician says he has heard many patients say they’re surprised by how long the smell sticks around, even with good hygiene.

He reveals: ‘Honestly, the BBL smell is just not something that always gets mentioned before surgery. 

‘The patient is not doing anything wrong, and they’re not alone.’

In a bid to keep the smell to a minimum, Dr Steinbrech advises keeping the area clean and dry and regularly changing compression garments. 

While BBLs have seen a meteoric rise in popularity, the procedure is considered one of the riskiest out there, with one in every 3,000 patients dying from complications.

And because many women go overseas to get a discounted procedure, follow-up with the doctor who performed it is minimal or, in most cases, nonexistent.

A BBL involves a surgeon harvesting fat from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs and other areas via liposuction.

That fat is then reinjected in the buttocks.

But it’s hard for doctors to see where they are injecting it and could be mistakenly pumping fat into the gluteal muscle, which introduces fat particles into blood vessels.

These particles travel through the bloodstream and block blood flow to organs including the heart, leading to a condition called fat embolism syndrome.

This causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, and even respiratory failure or cardiac arrest.

Nerve damage in the area where the fat was injected may also occur, leading to paralysis of the lower extremities and chronic pain.

The risk of complications and potentially deadly after-effects have convinced some plastic surgeons to stop offering the service.

Dr Lara Devgan, a New York-based plastic surgeon, said: ‘This is my litmus test, my personal golden rule of plastic surgery: If you wouldn’t let your mother or sister or brother have a procedure, you shouldn’t let your patients either.

‘The Brazilian butt lift is an operation that I do not perform any longer, because the mortality data speaks for itself. The risk-benefit calculus simply does not add up.’

Dr Chris Funderburk of Neinstein Plastic Surgery in New York says the best way to avoid complications with BBLs is by doing research to find a certified surgeon and ‘not pushing it too far’.

He recommends patients to go for ‘a more natural and elegant look rather than overfilled and exaggerated’.