MPs Urge Immediate Ban on Brazilian Butt Lifts Following Birmingham Mother's Death
The Government is facing urgent calls to ban Brazilian butt lift procedures amid revelations of a "wild west" industry where treatments are performed in dangerous locations including garden sheds, hotel rooms, and public toilets. This demand follows the tragic death of Birmingham mother Tryce Harry, who underwent the procedure abroad.
Parliamentary Committee Issues Stern Warning
The Women and Equalities Committee of MPs has accused ministers of "not moving quickly enough" to implement a licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Their report states that high-risk procedures like the liquid Brazilian butt lift, which has caused multiple fatalities, should be banned immediately without further consultation.
The committee emphasized that a licensing system for lower-risk procedures should be introduced within the current Parliament, allowing only qualified practitioners to perform them. Currently, there is no regulation governing who can perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as injectables, fillers, Botox, laser therapy, or chemical peels.
Birmingham Mother's Tragic Story
Tryce Harry, a 49-year-old teaching assistant and mother-of-two from Hockley, Birmingham, died in March 2018 after traveling to Hungary for a £4,700 Brazilian butt lift procedure. The treatment involved liposuction to transfer fat to her buttocks. During a two-hour hearing at Birmingham Coroner's Court, it was revealed that Mrs. Harry went into cardiac arrest just one hour after completing three procedures, including abdominal surgery.
A post-mortem examination determined she died from a fat embolism despite receiving CPR and advanced life support at a Budapest clinic. Birmingham area coroner Emma Brown concluded that Mrs. Harry died from "complications of elective surgery" and ruled that neglect did not play a part in her death.
Heartbroken Husband's Plea
Kirk Harry, who was not informed about his wife's collapse and death until three hours later, issued a powerful statement following the inquest. He described his wife as having "thought long and hard" about the procedure, seeing it as her dream and a new chapter in her life.
"She shouldn't have died," Mr. Harry stated. "If I could turn the clock back, I would, and I would advise anyone considering this procedure to have it done here in this country where medical practices are expected to be better. Whatever the cost, one can't put a price on life. You only get one life."
Mr. Harry added that his wife was "the love of my life" and that they had been together for more than 27 years, looking forward to the rest of their lives together.
Other Tragic Cases Highlight Industry Dangers
The committee's investigation revealed multiple other fatalities linked to Brazilian butt lift procedures:
- Mother-of-three Leah Cambridge, 29, died in 2018 after traveling to Turkey for a similar procedure
- Mother-of-five Alice Webb, 33, from Gloucestershire, died following a liquid Brazilian butt lift in September 2024
- Sasha Dean gave tearful testimony about being admitted to intensive care with sepsis and hospitalized for five weeks after a Brazilian butt lift went wrong
Unregulated "Wild West" Industry
The parliamentary report describes a dangerous environment where procedures are performed in inappropriate locations including Airbnbs, hotel rooms, garden sheds, and public toilets. This lack of regulation has led to serious harm for many individuals seeking cosmetic enhancements.
A Brazilian butt lift is a non-surgical buttock augmentation procedure where dermal fillers are injected to increase volume and shape the buttocks. The committee's findings underscore the urgent need for regulatory action to protect public safety in the cosmetic procedure industry.
