BBL frenzy: Quest for beauty, competition drive celebrities into cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery among celebrities is becoming a trend.

In Nigeria, Brazilian Butt Lift, popularly called BBL, is the order of the day.

Actresses, musicians, models, socialites, influencers, skit makers, reality stars, and even cross-dressers and transgenders are not left out of the BBL pandemic rocking the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Tonto Dikeh, relationship expert, Blessing Okoro aka Blessing CEO, social media slay queen, Sxxydimma, OAP, Toke Makinwa, cross-dresser, Bobrisky; reality stars, Mercy Eke, and Oluwabusayomi Abiri, aka Khloe, as well as Nengi Hampson have all boldly admitted to getting Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgeries.

Little wonder why BBL has permeated every celebrity and lifestyle discourse on the Nigerian cyberspace.

The social media debate on the craze for BBL in Nigeria has been hinged on two schools of thought- that those who undergo the surgery do so not to be intimidated by those who already did it, and that some undergo the surgery to enhance their physique.

The recent BBL saga involving popular Nigerian transgender, Daniel Anthony Nsikan, aka Jay Boogie, generated much ado on social media.

Boogie became a social media sensation after he reportedly cried out for public assistance to fund a kidney transplant owing to complications from a botched cosmetic surgery.

His outcry divided Nigerians, with many lambasting him as they questioned why “a man” would undergo a BBL surgery in the first place, while others were empathic and reportedly made donations.

However, in a chat with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Boogie claimed that he wasn’t the one that sent pictures of himself in the hospital bed asking for donations. He said his friends did without his knowledge.

He, however, admitted that he regretted undergoing BBL surgery, saying he wished for death while battling the complications of the failed cosmetic surgery.

He blamed the surgeon for his ordeal.

“It was hurting that I sat down and said, ‘God abeg, I am just tired. I just want to go [die]. What am I even doing? Who send me to come do this nyash sef?’

“The doctor is quack. I mean, if you know what you were doing, I won’t get complications,” Boogie lamented.

Is BBL Pressure Real?

Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday’s recent outburst on social media corroborated the longstanding belief that women, especially, celebrities are increasingly under pressure to undergo BBL surgeries.

Aside from peer pressure, the seeming value and prestige that society now places on BBL is luring more women into going under the knife. BBL is fast becoming a symbol of financial and social disparity among women in Nigeria.

Actress Nkechi Blessing recently lamented that society has become so engrossed with artificial bodies that natural bodies are no longer appreciated.

She vowed never to undergo body enhancement surgery despite not having a smooth physique.

Flaunting her natural body in a recent Instagram post, the thespian wrote: “Some of you are so used to artificial bodies that you don’t appreciate natural bodies anymore. So what if I have gallops here and there? Make I go restructure my body to please who? Internet children? Taaaa!!!”

An Expert’s Viewpoint

DAILY POST interviewed a plastic surgeon, Dr Sam and he discussed the surgical process, cost, maintenance, health risks, and misconceptions about BBL.

Dr. Sam said: “Brazilian Butt Lift, otherwise called BBL is a surgery that involves the transfer of fat from other parts of the body to the buttocks to help create larger buttocks.

“During the surgery, if the surgeon mistakenly touches the blood vessels or nerves, it can lead to death, infection, or discoloration. Some patients’ wounds may not heal.

“After the surgery, it is advised not to do exercise for 2 to 3 months to enable it to heal properly because that’s the time frame it takes to heal.

“It is necessary to maintain a healthy weight not to grow fat. It is also necessary to always wear faja to act as a compression which helps to control bruising and swelling, while at the same time helping to shape and mould your body and buttocks.

“BBL surgery costs 4000 to 5000 dollars abroad. I am not sure of the amount in Nigeria but it is not less than N3 million. It is only substandard ones that would cost N1 million or less. Substandard BBL surgeries lead to complications.

“BBL can last for years without the need for additional procedures but some patients choose to go for a lift procedure to combat sagging due to the normal ageing process since it is not natural, while others may choose to do occasional skin tightening procedures to maintain their results.”