A mother of five has become the first person to die after a non-surgical liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure at a UK clinic.
Alice Webb, 33, died at Gloucestershire Royal Infirmary in the early hours of Tuesday after falling ill.
Gloucestershire Police launched an investigation and two people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Both have since been released on police bail.
Save Face, a national register of accredited doctors offering non-surgical cosmetic treatments, said its director Ashton Collins was speaking to Ms Webb’s family.
The organization was told that Mrs Webb underwent a non-surgical liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL) before her death.
Save Face was also confirmed in The Independent that no one has previously died after cosmetic surgery at a UK clinic, although some have experienced life-threatening complications.
It has been calling on the government to ban high-risk BBL liquid procedures from December, warning that someone could lose their life if urgent action is not taken. Ms Collins said: “It makes me incredibly sad and angry that Alice’s death could and should have been prevented.”
It comes as what is believed to be Mrs Webb’s last Facebook post has been revealed. Next to a photo of a pumpkin that appeared to have been given to her by a relative, and then a later photo of the pumpkin carved and lit up, she wrote: “How cute.”
Dane Knight, who is believed to be Mrs Webb’s partner, wrote on Facebook: “I want to say a sincere thank you to all the family and friends who have been there for us in our time of need, including all the kind messages sent to my children and myself. There [were] some very beautiful messages sent by some of your children which brought a smile to the corner of my children’s mouth.’
He added: “Please keep the feelings of these five girls at the center here.”
Amy Seville, who says Ms Webb was her best friend, also wrote on Facebook: ‘These last 24 hours have been a dream I’ve been so desperate to wake up from.
“You were the best friend anyone could ask for.
“I’m heartbroken that you had to grow your angel wings and become another guardian angel to watch over me, your family, the kids and Dan!
“I will love and miss you forever. It’s not goodbye, just for now Amy… Life will never be the same again.’
Ms Collins said: “We launched a campaign in December 2023 calling on the Government to take urgent action to ban these procedures. We made it absolutely clear that without urgent intervention someone would die. I am devastated by the news of Alice’s death.
Non-surgical BBLs are not illegal in the UK – but Save Face said it has supported 500 women who have suffered life-threatening complications from the procedure, with more than 50 per cent of cases reported to the organization developing sepsis and 39 percent needed corrective surgery.
Ms Collins warned: “Liquid BBL processes are a crisis waiting to happen. They are advertised on social media as “risk-free”, “cheaper” alternatives to the equivalent of surgery and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“All of the procedures reported to us were performed by non-medical professionals performing incredibly dangerous procedures in non-sterile environments.
“I would advise anyone considering one of these treatments to avoid them at all costs. The risks significantly outweigh the associated benefits.”
The Independent It was recently reported that hundreds of women were rushed to hospital after botched breast lifts and augmentations by unregulated practitioners.
The procedure, which can be legally carried out by untrained people in the UK, involves injecting hyaluronic acid to change the shape of the buttocks or breast.
Data shows that faulty lifts have permanently disfigured women and required surgery to correct the faulty work.
said a woman The Independent was put in a coma for four days after a wet bum job went wrong. She said the ordeal left her with chest and arm pain.
