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Episode details

World Service,20 Mar 2026,22 mins

Rise in BBLs among young women

Focus on Africa

Available for over a year

The Brazilian Butt Lift surgery is one of the fastest growing cosmetic surgeries in the world, but it is also one of the most dangerous. The risk of death from having a BBL is at least 10 times higher than many other procedures – that’s according to the UK’s National Health Service. In several countries in Africa, the demand for BBLs is on the rise, but there are still challenges around regulation. Just recently in Lagos, a young woman reportedly died after a BBL procedure, prompting Nigeria’s Lagos State Government to launch an investigation into her death. In this episode, we hear from two young women, in Kenya and Nigeria, who recently got BBLs to hear about the risks, the post-surgery recovery and the influence of social media on body image. Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash Technical Producer: Mbarak Abdallah Senior Producers: Carolyne Kiambo Jotham and Priyanka Sippy Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

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