The UK government is facing renewed pressure to immediately ban liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) following a damning report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) that exposed a “wild west” of unregulated cosmetic procedures. The report, published today, February 18, 2026, calls for an immediate end to the high-risk procedure, which has been linked to fatalities and severe health complications.
The WEC’s nine-month inquiry found that cosmetic procedures, including liquid BBLs, are being carried out in unsafe environments such as Airbnbs, hotel rooms, garden sheds, and even public toilets. The committee highlighted a critical lack of regulation governing who can perform non-surgical cosmetic interventions, leaving the public vulnerable to potentially harmful treatments administered by untrained individuals.
“Procedures that are deemed high risk such as liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations, which have already been shown to pose a serious threat to patient safety, should be banned immediately,” said Sarah Owen, chair of the WEC. “There is no need for further consultation and delay.”
The report details the case of Sasha Dean, from Bedfordshire, who was left in a coma after receiving a liquid BBL. Dean spent five weeks in intensive care after developing sepsis following the procedure, which was partially performed in a private residence. She now suffers from ongoing physical and cognitive issues, describing the experience as having “ruined my life.”
The WEC also investigated the death of Alice Webb, a 33-year-old mother-of-five from Gloucestershire, who died in September 2024 after undergoing a liquid BBL. Gloucestershire Police investigated the circumstances surrounding her death.
The committee’s recommendations extend beyond an immediate ban on liquid BBLs. They are urging the government to introduce a licensing system for all non-surgical cosmetic procedures within the current parliamentary term, ensuring that only suitably qualified healthcare professionals can perform these treatments. The report criticizes the government for not acting quickly enough to address the risks associated with the rapidly expanding cosmetic industry.
“The government is not moving quickly enough in introducing a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures and should accelerate regulatory action,” Owen stated. “Currently, individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially very harmful interventions and often do so in unsafe environments. This ‘wild west’ of procedures is placing the public at risk.”
The WEC’s report also points to the influence of social media and image-editing technologies in driving demand for cosmetic procedures, raising concerns about the normalization of high-risk treatments by influencers.
The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the report and stated it would “consider the report and respond fully in due course.” A spokesperson said the government is “taking action to crack down on cosmetic cowboys and root out dangerous treatments,” and that new measures will ensure only qualified healthcare professionals can perform the highest-risk procedures. The department advised individuals considering cosmetic procedures to verify providers’ qualifications and insurance, and to be wary of suspiciously low prices.
