When popular Lagos-based socialite, late Elena Jessica made her private decision to get a second Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure, she ended up with unintended outcomes owing to the failed procedures and complications. Her first successful trip to the surgeon, which might have attracted hordes of admirers, especially the opposite gender, must have prompted her to go for a second. Unfortunately, she met with the grim reaper.

It was an avoidable and preventable scenario.

In the hushed corridors of body dysmorphic disorder, a silent struggle unfolds. Many women who have gone under the knife often grapple with a myriad of challenges that remain unseen and unspoken. The post-operative phase for some women is another season of tormenting troubles and savage struggles for survival. Those who survive are left with debilitating scars and lingering health issues.

Over the years, the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) has become a highly sought after cosmetic procedure, with many women undergoing surgery to achieve a more curvaceous figure. Women now want more; more bosoms, more buttocks, more figure-8 shaped bodies, thin waist. But this has come at a cost for some people due to the associated health risks.

In a divided outrage, Nigerians reignited concerns about the unchecked activities of unqualified surgeons and aestheticians who continue to operate freely under the guise of being professionals. Some of these unqualified aestheticians place themselves in positions where they administer medications to these women without any professional supervision.

Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure isn’t the only unsafe practice some women have become obsessed with. It is rather becoming a menace in the society. In the Nigerian blogosphere and on social media, many unlicensed facilities and quacks promise instant solution and immediate changes to the looks and bodies of their customers.

The cost of a BBL procedure can be exorbitant and financially demanding depending on the location and who is performing the surgery, especially in Lagos. Findings by our correspondents showed that it can rise from as high as six million to ten million naira, which covers the cost from consultation to post-operative care facilities.

However, the staggering price tag does not seem to deter its patrons.

For some aesthetic professionals, they often showcase their patient transformations on social media especially: ‘the before and after’. They show their clients who have undergone the knife procedures with large backsides, flat tummies and voluptuous breasts as points of testimony for prospective clientèle.

Enter BBL and ribs removal surgeries

As the popularity of BBL and ribs removal continues to grow, so do concerns and mixed reactions about its impact on body image and self-esteem.

The Brazilian Butt Lift is a cosmetic procedure that enhances the buttocks by transferring fat from other body parts such as the abdomen, hips, or thighs. The process involves removing fat through liposuction, purifying it, and then carefully injecting it into the buttocks to achieve the desired shape and volume.

Dr. George Bitar, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Washington, DC, highlights that the BBL provides a body shape transformation that cannot be achieved through exercise alone.

Nigerian model Abdulahi Rukayat Oluwaremilekun aka Ewatomilola, became an internet sensation after revealing that she drastically altered her waist through what she describes as extreme rib-reconstruction surgery.

During a live session with comedian and influencer Carter Efe, she claimed that the procedure – which she previously said reduced her ribs to just four – left her unable to give birth naturally. Her revelation stunned everyone in the room.

The clip quickly went viral, sparking controversy about the dangerous extremes some people would go to in pursuit of beauty and as well as the life-altering consequences that could follow their choices.

Rib removal surgery, which is also as costectomy, involves the surgical extraction of lower, floating ribs (typically 11 and 12) to create a narrower waistline. This is an invasive procedure requiring general anesthesia and careful, precise work to protect internal organs.

A study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal found that the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery has a high mortality rate. The study discovered that 1 in every 2,351 BBL procedures resulted in death, which is higher than other cosmetic surgeries such as tummy tucks. The leading cause of death in most cases was due to a pulmonary fat embolism.

While BBLs can be reversed through procedures that remove transferred fat and reshape the buttocks, outcomes vary, and complete symmetry or restoration of the original appearance is not guaranteed. Reversal procedures carry their risks and complications.

Interestingly, men can undergo BBL surgery. A controversy surrounding Jay Boogie, a well-known Nigerian transgender, sparked a heated debate on social media in 2023.

Boogie gained widespread attention after seeking public help to fund a kidney transplant, allegedly due to complications from a failed cosmetic procedure. This led to a divided response from Nigerians, with some criticising his decision to undergo BBL surgery in the first place, while others showed empathy and reportedly donated to support his cause.

In an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Jay Boogie expressed deep regret over undergoing BBL surgery, revealing that he had wished for death while struggling with the severe complications that arose from the botched procedure.

Another man, Idris Okuneye a.k.a. Bobrisky has undergone BBL as well.

Nelli as a victim of quackery: one death, too many

Every woman now appears to be altered. Many Nigerian women now want to have an artificial derriere that would attract the opposite gender.

According to the National Library of Medicine, quackery is the promotion of false and unproven health schemes for profit; performing a skilled procedure by unskilled personnel.

Jessica’s sister, Nelli, had confirmed that indeed her sister went under the knife at a Lagos-based Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Hospital situated in Lekki area. But she accused the hospital of wrongdoing in the surgery performed on her sister, stressing that the late Jessica deserved proper care, professionalism and safety.

Nelli wrote: “My sister went into the hospital trusting them with her life. Today, she is gone, and instead of accountability, all we are seeing are statements trying to protect an image.

“If they were so sure about the information they came out to say, why would they shut off their comment section? They turned off their comment section rather than address people’s questions. Actions speak louder than words.

“If nothing went wrong, then there should be no problem with transparency, investigations, and answering the questions people are asking. Silence and denial will never erase what families are going through. Instead, we are left with pain, unanswered questions, and a lifetime of grief.”

Nelli added that the world deserved to know what truly happened to her sister, stressing that her life mattered and that her story would not be buried.

Although Nelli did not disclose the date Jessica underwent the surgery, a viral WhatsApp message purportedly from another of Jessica’s sisters claimed that she underwent liposuction and fat transfer to her hips, buttocks and calves at the facility on February 6.

Nelli stated that she began experiencing severe pain in the operated areas two days after the procedures. She added that medical tests later revealed Jessica had a very high white blood cell count and low blood levels, prompting doctors to administer a transfusion of five pints of blood.

“Even with antibiotics, her condition kept getting worse. Her white blood cell count continued to rise. Her buttocks, hips and calves became very swollen, tight, red, and inflamed. The doctors assumed that too much fat had been injected, which might have disrupted proper blood flow.

“On February 13th, they did another surgery (decompression) to remove most of the fat and placed drains. She was in terrible pain before and after the surgery.”

She said this development forced the family to move Jessica again on February 20 after they contacted another doctor, who informed them that a plastic surgeon was available at his hospital.

According to her, upon arrival at the new hospital, the medical team presented them with a bill of N6 million to cover one week in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the cost of surgery to remove the infected fat.

“We had to sell most of our belongings to raise that money so they could start treatment, because the doctor also said she had sepsis (a serious infection in the blood) and her condition was 50/50.

“More tests showed her blood level was critically low again, and I had to buy seven more pints of blood urgently. On February 22nd, she had another major surgery where doctors removed all the infected fat from her hips, buttocks, and calves.

“We have sold personal belongings. My father is retired, and my sister has always been the one taking care of the family. No one from Cynosure has called or asked if she’s still breathing,” she narrated further.

In response to the allegations, the hospital denied the now-viral video showing Jessica screaming during a surgical procedure.

The hospital, however, offered its deepest condolences to Jessica’s family, describing the period as “a difficult time.”

“Cynosure Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Hospital is aware of a video circulating on social media showing a patient screaming during a surgical procedure, which is being falsely attributed to our facility.

“We state clearly: this video was not recorded at our clinic, and we do not know the location or facility where it occurred.

“The circulation of this content adds additional distress to the grieving family, and we appeal to the public to handle it with compassion and sensitivity,” the hospital statement partly read.

Medical errors

Many Nigerians are worried that cases of professional carelessness or negligence are rampant in the country.

Tagged medical error, experts said it is defined as inappropriate conduct due to negligence, recklessness, or malpractice that causes harm to a patient by medical personnel.

Alarmingly, some experts estimate that up to 250,000 persons die annually in Nigeria due to medical errors. The World Health Organisation says one in every 10 patients is harmed in health care.

The Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences in a 2017 report found a worrying increase in medical errors/negligence in Nigeria.

Its survey showed a prevalence of negligence of 42.8 per cent per 145 medical practitioners in the country.

Three errors – medication prescription, radio-laboratory investigation ordering, and physician diagnoses – were found to be most common in the order of 95.2 per cent, 83.9 per cent, and 69.4 per cent respectively.

This unfortunate incident brings to fore Dr. Anu Adepoju’s clinic in Lagos, which was the place to be for cosmetic surgery. Med Contour carries out cosmetic surgeries like liposuction hips, butt enlargement and breast augmentation. Ladies stormed the place for their various surgeries.

Suddenly, stories of badly done surgeries started emerging. At a point, a lady allegedly died after a cosmetic surgery in the clinic. Thereafter, the clinic was shut and Anu was arraigned in court.

In March 2020, Omotola Taiwo took to social media to tell the world about the surgery she underwent through Dr. Anu and the complications she suffered from it. She had two simple desires; to have a flat stomach and a larger backside. She paid N1.2m for the two procedures. Just two days after the surgery, she said she began battling recurring infections, and fat necrosis – a benign condition in which fat tissue in the breast or other organs is damaged by injury, surgery, or radiation therapy.

“After the surgery, I started having complications. I started having belly burns, waist burns, and waist numbness and after two months, I started getting fat necrosis. The liquid fat that has turned to dirt starts to come out like a boil. As I stood up like this, my body is not complete, one is bigger than the other,” she said.

Dr. Anu in her response, summed her patient’s symptoms and concerns as Body Dysmorphia – a mental illness characterised by an obsessive need to fix’ even a seeming perfect body.

But the problem with the Dr. Anu’s submission, as observers pointed out, was that it was obvious to her that her returning client did not need any more work done, and she still went ahead to carry out the surgery regardless.

The idea of women in Nigeria (or anywhere) surgically removing ribs purely for fashion or to achieve an extremely tiny waist is now gaining attention. In late 2025, a 23-year-old woman named Ewatomilola went viral after an interview with content creator, Egungun of Lagos.

She claimed to have undergone “rib reconstruction surgery” (sometimes described as removing most of her ribs, leaving only four—two on each side—for a dramatically narrower, “snatched” waist and an exaggerated hourglass figure). She expressed no regrets, saying she wakes up thankful for her body.

True rib removal surgery is irreversible, expensive, risky, and not mainstream even in cosmetic hotspots—doctors and health experts often strongly discourage it due to permanent impacts on protection for lungs, heart, and other organs.

Rib removal surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes incisions along the underside of the rib cage or in the back, depending on the specific ribs being removed.

Using specialised tools, the surgeon carefully detaches and removes the targeted ribs. The incisions are then closed with sutures. The procedure can take several hours, depending on the complexity and the number of ribs being removed.

BBL step-by-step process

During a Brazilian butt lift, a doctor called a plastic surgeon will remove fat deposits from other parts of one’s body and insert them into areas around their butt. After the person has recovered, the butt will be bigger, stick out more and have an even shape (symmetrical). The areas of one’s body that had fat removed will have smoother body contours (shapes).

Consultation: The plastic surgeon will meet with the woman prior to the procedure to ascertain one’s suitability for the procedure, and then will review the woman’s medical history, talk with her about the objectives and expectations, and conduct a physical examination.

Anesthesia: To guarantee the woman’s comfort during the procedure, she will be administered anesthesia on the day of the procedure. This can be either intravenous sedation with local anesthesia, which keeps her calm and pain-free, or general anesthesia, which puts the woman to sleep.

Liposuction: The procedure starts with liposuction, which involves removing extra fat from donor regions like the thighs, abdomen, or love handles. The surgeon will carefully remove the fat cells by making tiny incisions and using specialised instruments.

Fat processing: After being harvested, the fat is purified to get rid of contaminants and separate the healthy fat cells so they can be transferred. By doing this, the best fat is guaranteed to be injected into the buttocks.

Fat injection: In order to improve the shape, volume, and contour, the surgeon will carefully inject the fat into various layers after it has been prepared. Taking into account the particular anatomy and aesthetic preferences, they will carefully shape one’s buttocks to produce the desired result.

Incision closure: Sutures are used to carefully close the liposuction incisions after the fat transfer is finished. To reduce visible scarring, the incisions are usually small and made in discrete places.

Recovery and post-operative care: After the procedure, the woman will be brought to a recovery area where she will be watched while the anesthesia wears off. Compression clothing and prescription painkillers will be administered to help with swelling, bruising, and discomfort. And also, to promote healing and maximize the outcomes, the surgeon will give thorough postoperative instructions.

Stigma, regret and other associated health risks

A weight loss coach, Stephanie said: “We live in a time where people are told that once there’s a problem with their body, they need to fix it. Are we trying to fix body dysmorphia with surgery? Today it is the stomach, tomorrow it is the waist, then the next day it is the arms, and then the hips again.

“What we don’t talk about enough is how body insecurities affect people. People need to be mindful about what talk about. Many don’t talk about the associated risks. Cosmetic surgery is still surgery. Moments like this make me wonder if the society is focused on fixing bodies.”

While cosmetic surgery can provide a confidence boost, it also opens women up to criticism and judgment, often leading to emotional and mental tolls.

A woman claims her quest for love drove her to work on her body. But two years later, she had yet to find true love. Her story highlights the paradox many women face.

Cosmetic surgery can result in botched, permanently disfigured bodies or even death when poorly done by unqualified aestheticians.

Lagos probes socialite’s death after BBL surgery

The Lagos State Government has begun a probe into the death of Elena.

The government, through the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), said it had launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In a statement on Thursday, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Abiola Idowu, assured the public that authorities would carry out a thorough and transparent investigation.

According to her, preliminary information indicates that the clinic where the procedure was reportedly carried out is registered with HEFAMAA.

She, however, stressed that registration does not shield any health facility from regulatory scrutiny, especially in cases involving patient safety.

Idowu said the agency had commenced a comprehensive review of the incident, including verifying the professional credentials of the medical personnel involved, assessing the level of care provided before, during and after the procedure, and evaluating the facility’s compliance with regulatory standards governing cosmetic surgeries.

She added that aesthetic and cosmetic procedures in the state are regulated under strict guidelines covering facility infrastructure, practitioner qualifications, infection prevention and control, patient consent, anaesthetic safety and emergency response capacity.

The government urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could compromise the ongoing investigation.

It also warned the public against patronising unaccredited facilities for cosmetic or aesthetic procedures.

The government reiterated its commitment to protecting residents through strict regulatory oversight, continuous monitoring of health facilities and enforcement of healthcare standards across the state. (The Nation)