A video showing a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure has stirred strong reactions online after exposing the painful and risky side of the cosmetic surgery.
The clip was shared on X by a UK-Nigeria doctor identified as @OurFavOnlineDoc. The footage showed a plastic surgeon performing a BBL on a patient who was unhappy with the results of a previous surgery.
In the video, the patient’s body reportedly shows visible asymmetry and cellulite. Despite this, the surgeon proceeds with another procedure, saying it could help the patient feel better about her appearance.
The video quickly spread across social media, drawing thousands of likes and reposts. Many users reacted with shock, disgust and concern about the dangers of the surgery.
“And please someone tell me that is a rubber not human being,” user @Vkonboy wrote after watching the clip.
Another user, @MrEazi105419, said: “If this is true, why would anyone wanna undergo this procedure? Jeezzzzz !!! 🙆🏼♀️This looks really nasty.”
The discussion intensified after reports began circulating online that a Lagos socialite identified as Elena Jessica allegedly died after undergoing a BBL procedure.
Posts shared online claim the surgery was her second BBL, despite warnings not to go through another operation after the first.
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Unverified reports suggest the procedure took place at a clinic in Lagos where complications reportedly occurred.
A separate video circulating on Telegram, which has not been independently verified, is believed by some viewers to show the second procedure. In the clip, the woman is heard screaming in pain during the operation.
Another unverified WhatsApp voice note features a woman crying while claiming she had earlier advised Jessica to remove the BBL. The voice note also alleges the socialite stayed at the clinic for about a week after the procedure before she reportedly died there.
As the reports spread online, many users questioned the growing demand for the surgery.
“Women! Why are we so used to pain that we now normalize it? The pain our bodies cause is already enough,” user @mamamya27 wrote.
Another commenter, @InibeheEffiong, said: “Why would a woman subject herself to this sort of debasing procedure? To what end? This is so unnecessary.”
Offering a medical view, @Valony_Fi said: “It’s interesting from a medical standpoint, but it’s also known to be one of the riskier cosmetic surgeries, which is why qualified surgeons and strict safety protocols are really important.”
BBL surgery has grown rapidly in popularity worldwide. More than 825,000 procedures were performed in 2022.
However, medical experts warn that it remains one of the most dangerous cosmetic surgeries, with an estimated death rate of about one in 3,000, often caused by fat entering the bloodstream.