A mother of five, Alice Delsie Preete Webb, tragically became the first person in the UK to die after undergoing a liquid Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure.
The 33-year-old beauty therapist passed away on Monday following the treatment, which involves injecting hyaluronic acid and dermal fillers into the buttocks rather than using surgical methods like fat transfer.
It is believed that Alice’s procedure, typically priced around £2,500 and taking only 60 minutes, was carried out by an unqualified individual without medical training. Gloucestershire Police are currently investigating her death and have arrested two people on suspicion of manslaughter, though they have since been released on bail.
Who Was Alice Webb?
Alice’s close friend, Abi Irwin, described her as a “beautiful person inside and out,” noting how much she loved her family. Alice leaves behind her partner, Dane Knight, and their five children: Delsie (15), Preete (13), Gracie (12), Nylie (10), and Clarie (7). Dane thanked everyone for their kind messages, asking people to be mindful of their daughters’ feelings.
Alice’s liquid BBL, which is promoted on social media as a “risk-free” and affordable alternative to surgery, has raised concerns among experts. Ashton Collins, from Save Face, a UK government-backed register for medical aesthetic treatments, warned that liquid BBLs can be just as dangerous as the surgical version. Collins expressed sorrow over Alice’s death, emphasizing that Save Face had previously campaigned to ban these procedures, fearing that without regulation, fatalities could occur.
Since 2022, Save Face has received 479 reports of complications related to BBL procedures, with more than half of the cases involving life-threatening conditions such as infections, sepsis, and abscesses. Shockingly, none of these treatments were performed by licensed medical professionals, and almost all of the patients found their practitioners through social media.
Alice’s death is part of a growing trend of fatalities linked to BBL procedures. In 2019, Melissa Kerr from Norfolk died in Turkey following a surgical BBL, where a fat clot migrated to her lungs after liposuction.
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What Is Liquid Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)?
Both surgical and non-surgical BBLs carry significant risks, with one death occurring for every 4,000 procedures. Despite being marketed as safe, these treatments remain highly dangerous.
A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson confirmed that Alice was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital late Monday night after feeling unwell following the cosmetic procedure. She died early Tuesday morning. Alice’s family is being supported by specially trained officers, and a major crime investigation is ongoing.
A GoFundMe page created to support Alice’s family has since been removed due to speculation on social media.
The liquid BBL, a non-surgical buttock enhancement procedure, uses dermal fillers like poly-L-lactic acid to boost volume and shape. The minimally invasive treatment claims to offer natural-looking results lasting between two and four years, without the need for major surgery such as fat transfers or implants. However, despite its marketing as a safer option, experts warn that liquid BBLs carry significant risks.