A BBC News investigation has revealed the potentially dangerous cosmetic procedures being offered by a self-styled “beauty consultant” with a celebrity client list that includes Katie Price. Ricky Sawyer specialises in liquid Brazilian butt-lifts, or BBLs, that involve injecting dermal fillers into the buttocks to lift and make them look bigger. BBC News has spoken with five of his clients, all of whom needed emergency hospital treatment following their procedures. More than 30 women showed testimonies that revealed serious complications, such as sepsis and tissue death. Such was the pain in one individual that she felt death might be preferable.
Mr Sawyer has been banned from practising in areas covered by several local authorities for the potential risks. The BBC conducted undercover filming, posing as a potential client and her friend, and booked a 45-minute appointment with Mr Sawyer through his Instagram page. Despite advertising that all liquid BBLs would be overseen by an ultrasound specialist doctor, no specialist or doctor was present at his pop-up clinic. He was working from a small room in a non-clinical environment, increasing the risk of infection.
Within five minutes of being in his office, Mr Sawyer encouraged the reporter to consider more filler. By the end of the appointment, he had offered to inject a litre of filler (500ml per buttock) at a cost of £2,000. The BBC’s footage was reviewed by plastic surgeon Dalvi Humzah, who said Mr Sawyer’s actions were “shocking” and highly dangerous, putting patients at serious risk of fatal complications.
The influx of hyaluronic acid common to liquid BBLs increases the risk of side effects like blood clots and sepsis, elevating the procedure to one of the most dangerous cosmetic treatments. Mr Sawyer, who can charge thousands of pounds per appointment, bragged on the camera that he performed up to seven procedures a day, six days a week. After other cosmetic treatments in the past and advertising through purported testimonials from celebrities, one woman, Joanne, wanted a “peachy bum.” She had travelled seven hours to Essex for the treatment. However, after arriving, she began to have second thoughts. “I had paid £600 deposit and had travelled all this way,” Joanne said. Earlier this year, the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) called on ministers to impose a ban on unqualified practitioners
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