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We’ve seen BBLs (Brazilian Butt Lifts) grow in popularity over the last couple of years, mostly due to increased representation in the media, especially in reality TV and music, specifically hip-hop. However, women in our community participate in the phenomenon, often contorting their bodies to achieve a certain archetype of curviness and acceptance. Culture writer Brooklyn White previously reported on this dangerous trend in ESSENCE’s December 2022 piece, “The Risk Of The Rump,” where she wrote, “Buttock cosmetic surgery, known as Brazilian butt lifts, or BBLs, is not only a white phenomenon. although the majority of butt lift patients seen by many plastic surgeons are White. Brazilian butt lifts evolved from a derriere lift surgery first introduced in the mid-1960s. In recent decades, the procedure has grown just in popularity. Black celebrities, including K. Michelle and Cardi B, have openly discussed getting butt injections, though K. Michelle has since stopped the practice for health reasons. While other stars have apparently had work done on their bums , those who openly admit it are few”.
However, as much as we see the perfectly crafted images of newly sculpted bodies online, collectively, we are noticing the downsides of the BBL procedure, as surgeons are quickly realizing the potential for fat to enter the veins and travel to the heart and lungs, according to the 2020 study “Assessing Cosmetic Surgery Safety: The Evolving Data,” found that one in 15,000 to 20,000 BBL procedures results in death. However, one may experience other side effects after completing the cosmetic procedure, such as bruising, bleeding, scarring, numbness, swelling, and foul odor.
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A shocking recent TikTok video that has gone viral with 156,000 views and 13,000 likes has inspired a lively debate among men about the alleged foul “BBL smell” while engaging in intimate moments. The TikTok user’s post recounted his experience with his date, who had a BBL, as he experienced “an attack on my nose” after she stripped and shimmied in front of him. In it, he recounted trying to tell her, as politely as possible, that she wasn’t as fresh as she could be. Embarrassed, she went and took a shower.
His experience started a debate about the smell, with medical professionals explaining the reasons behind it. Those looking for a BBL to get a fat bottom with matching thighs may be overlooking the pitfalls of the process when it comes to personal hygiene and cleanliness. Some women, including those who have undergone BBL, have said that a huge rear end is simply harder to keep clean after using the toilet.
A doctor confirmed the theory that wiping your back can be more difficult if you have a BBL due to the enlarged body mass. Roger Tsai, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, confirmed the theory in a feature-length TikTok video titled “Two Secrets Instagram Models Don’t Want You to Know About Their BBL.”
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“The sweep there is going to be a lot harder because there’s a lot to get around,” he said. “So if you’re around someone with BBL and they smell, well…”
While there isn’t necessarily a cure for bad breath from taking BBL, the best thing one can do is make sure they wipe their private parts thoroughly after relieving themselves, or maybe invest in a bidet.
