By Oluwadamilola Ologbon
Less than a decade ago, cosmetic surgeries to enhance physiques, particularly through Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery, were an exception in the Nigerian entertainment industry. As of 2017, only a few actresses dared to go under the knife, but all that has changed.
The industry has witnessed a significant shift in beauty standards, with an increasing number of celebrities opting for surgeries like BBL, which now symbolizes femininity and allure.
Defined as a procedure to augment the buttocks by transferring fat from one body area to the buttocks to create a more curvaceous figure, Brazilian Butt Lift surgery bears no ties to Brazilian culture; instead, it is used to reference the Brazilian surgeon who pioneered the procedure.
Why we did BBL?
The first generation of celebrities who took the BBL route attribute their choices to the need to grow self-confidence. For instance, actress Tonto Dikeh, arguably one of the first who took the gauntlet of speaking about their BBL adventure, once told the BBC pidgin service that: “Brazilian Butt Lift: My bum-bum dey give me confidence.” The mother of one disclosed that she felt a lot more secure, making it clear that she didn’t do it to woo anyone rather, but to boost her self-esteem and make clothes fit.
Actress and businesswoman Caroline Danjuma said she underwent a complete body makeover after she separated from her wealthy husband, Musa Danjuma. According to the mother of three, she underwent boob surgery, the Brazilian butt lift, and liposuction.
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Author, television host, and radio host, Toke Makinwa, who added a lip filler to her butt lift procedure, once said on her Vlog that:”… I had a lip filler because I wanted to launch my lipstick brand. Also, I enhanced my body after I got my fibroids removed. I did that because I wanted to feel better in clothes. I do not regret enhancing my body… I wanted to look curvy, and I love it.”
Actress and entrepreneur, Iyabo Ojo also owned up to have undertaken a corrective surgery which resulted in some complications. She told BBC pidgin that she once had a tummy tuck, even though rumours indicate that she had more than that. Ojo, however, noted that people should be able to correct any part of their bodies that doesn’t give them confidence.
Actress Olaide Oyedeji is another outspoken beneficiary of this procedure. The actress attributed her decision to get a BBL to the bullying she got from people as a young, impressionable girl of 15. Speaking on an episode of Biola Bayo’s Talk2B podcast, Ms Oyedeji said: “I had always wanted to transform my body. Growing up, I didn’t have a flat tummy.. I had bums but no hips. And I was determined to do anything to be good at my field. Before, they were bullying me for not having a good body.
Why BBL is becoming more prevalent
But there has been an upsurge in the crave for BBL’s in the past few years. Names that have been associated with the procedure include: Toyin Lawani, Nancy Isime, Nengi Hampson, Chike Ike, Mercy Eke, Ini Edo, Onyii Alexx, Destiny Etiko, Bimbo Adeyemo Chioma Nwaoha, Angela Okorie, Regina Daniels, Uche Montana, Tope Olowoniyan, Lilian Afegbai, Zainab Bakare, Bolaji Ogunmola, Peju Johnson and Irewole Olaniyan and many upcoming artistes.
Investigations by our reporter revealed that an increasing number of actresses are now opting to go under the knife for various reasons. While the overarching motivation remains the pressure to conform to idealised beauty standards of the “hourglass shape,” and its allure for enhancing the self-confidence of many of these ladies, we were also told that BBL has become more affordable and accessible in Nigeria.
Unlike a few years ago when people had to visit popular destinations like Turkey to get the surgery for a typical cost of between 5,000 and 6,000 United States Dollars, eelive.ng learnt that options which has brought down the costs significantly now exist in Nigeria. Sources told us that actresses can now procure their new butts with as little as 1.5 million Naira, which is approximately $1,824.66!
So, rather than travel abroad for the surgery, many actresses now choose Lagos, thereby saving themselves the trouble of travel and accommodation costs. They are also able to have their family and friends support them during recovery, a source told our reporter last week.
According to the source, It became accessible and within reach; BBL or Lipo isn’t new, but back in the day, you have to be really rich to do it and also travel outside the country. Now, there are a lot of hospitals dedicated to BBL and beautification surgeries, with people doing their noses and all body parts these days. It is not so expensive anymore now that it is within reach.
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eelive.ng was told that BBL has taken a near epidemic dimension with the filmmaking industry such that soft loans are now available for actresses who desire to undergo the surgery but are unable to immediately afford it! A source told us that willing actresses get these loans and pay them back like someone would when he got a car on hire purchase! Of course, there are allegations that actresses undergo these surgeries to increase their chances with wealthy men who would spend anything to get their attention, an allegation always almost rejected by all the ladies concerned.
A prominent filmmaker and player in the industry, Temitope Duker tried to provide some context to the crave for BBL, which she said she would never be able to muster the courage to undergo.
Aside from the desire to meet society’s expectations of beauty, she explained that some actress imagine that becoming more curvy could enhance their careers. She explained that while these may be true in some instances, it could be counterproductive.
She explained, “As a film producer/director myself, casting is based on the script and characterisation. If the story calls for a village girl or a rural woman, and you walk in with a surgically enhanced hourglass body, chances are I won’t cast you—it detracts from the realism I may want to create. The story and characters always take precedence over looks.” She gave the example of the movie, 12 Years a Slave, starring Lupita Nyongo and how her role didn’t require glam or enhancements.
While encouraging ladies to find confidence in themselves, she cited another example of an actress who had undergone cosmetic surgery to achieve a curvier look. However, when the actress was called back to continue her role in a series she has acted in previously, her newly procured body did not align with her character originally established look.
Societal impact Of BBL on the average woman
Beyond the uncertainty that it might bring upon the careers of people, there are also growing concerns about the celebrities’ BBL and the impact on the larger society. Data, from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) shows that BBL is the fastest-growing type of cosmetic surgery, with its popularity increasing by 20% yearly. The glorification of the procedure has a profound impact on young girls and women in Nigerian society as a whole.
Many women seeking to emulate celebrities begin to aspire to achieve similar physiques, often going to great lengths to attain the coveted thick figure. This, has led to a rise in the demand for BBL surgeries, as well as other beauty enhancement procedures in the country. The pursuit of these beauty ideals has also raised concerns about body image issues, low self-esteem, and the potential health risks associated with these procedures.
Respondents to eelive. ng’s queries over the last two weeks unanimously agree that the current wave of body enhancement and the flaunting that attends it brings a lot of pressure on young girls in the country who now struggle to conform to the beauty standards of their celebrity models. This, according to experts, can have far-reaching consequences on the mental and physical well-being of young girls.
A social media influencer who spoke to eelive.ng on the conditions of anonymity expressed worry that an increasing number of girls and women now feel so insecure such that people who are otherwise naturally endowed still feel the need to undergo the BBL surgery, given social media’s normalisation of BBL.
She admonished women to accept and love their bodies the way God made them noting that the idea of beauty changes with time and that lack of self confidence would lead people to pandering to what society defines as beauty at every time.
“And this is never constant! For instance, “the era where hips and buttocks are seen as symbols of femininity and allure is slowly coming to an end. This BBL trend will soon go out of fashion. I heard that some Hollywood celebrities, like Kim Kardashian, are even having their own procedures reversed. Even I read that Nancy Isime has reversed some of the things she did to her body. So why go through all these trouble” the influencer queried.
The risks attached to BBL
Like all surgeries, BBL carries significant risks, including infection, scarring, fat embolism, and even death. There have also been instances of loss of life. The actress, Iyabo Ojo confessed to a post-surgery complication that put her life at risk for instance. Also in 2024, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos convicted a Lagos-based “plastic surgeon,” Anu Adepoju over a failed plastic surgery that resulted in Nneka.
Onwuzuligbo’s death in 2020. Women are therefore, advised to embark on adequate research and consultations with qualified medical professionals before undergoing the procedure.
Experts emphasise the importance of thorough research and consultation with qualified medical professionals. Consulting unqualified practitioners can lead to disastrous outcomes, leaving patients with mismatched body proportions and other severe issues. As one of our sources said “We have several people walking around looking like ants because their bodies don’t match, big hips and butts on very tiny legs” Avoiding this, according to the influencer who spoke with us is that every human being should love themselves!
Her conclusion: “You are beautiful just the way you are. God doesn’t make mistakes. Do not be deceived by what you see because the minute you start doing any surgery, there is no stopping, and you will never be satisfied, so do not do it. Love yourself and know that you are enough and all you need to do is eat well, exercise and be healthy.”
