Brazilian butt lift, commonly known as a BBL, is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks.
Image: Freepik
A cosmetic procedure rarely discussed in parliamentary spaces suddenly became a topic of public curiosity this week after Acting Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection and Divisional Commissioner for Detective and Forensic Services, Lieutenant-General Hilda Senthumule addressed allegations relating to a Brazilian butt lift (BBL).
The issue arose during Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee hearing into claims made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
During testimony at the Madlanga Commission, suspended Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya alleged that Senthumule benefited from Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, including claims that he paid for a BBL procedure.
Senthumule strongly denied the allegation.
“I wish to submit to the Ad Hoc Committee that it is rather gravely unfortunate that I have to respond to such a baseless and damaging allegation,” she said.
“The allegations that Mr Vusi Matlala paid for my medical procedure are completely false, malicious and unfounded.”
Lt-Gen Hilda Khosi Senthumule, Acting Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection and Divisional Commissioner for Detective and Forensic Services in SAPS, testifying before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
She added that she had undergone liposuction in 2023 but paid for the procedure herself.
“For those who know me, I have never been shy about taking care of myself. In 2023, I took a conscious decision to go for liposuction in certain body areas that I regarded as stubborn,” Senthumule told the committee.
The moment, which even saw her briefly stand and twirl during questioning, quickly sparked conversation online.
And because the term was raised in such a public and serious setting, many people are now wondering: what exactly is a BBL?
The moment, which even saw her briefly stand and twirl during questioning, quickly sparked conversation online.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
A Brazilian butt lift, commonly known as a BBL, is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks using a patient’s own body fat.
Rather than using implants, surgeons first remove fat from other parts of the body, typically the abdomen, hips, thighs or lower back, through liposuction.
That fat is then purified and strategically injected into the buttocks to create a fuller and more rounded appearance.
Because the procedure uses a patient’s natural fat, it is often marketed as a more “natural-looking” alternative to buttock implants.
The dual effect of removing fat from one area while enhancing another is one of the reasons it has become so sought after.
BBL is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks.
Image: Pixabay / pexels
Liposuction, on the other hand, is a body contouring procedure focused purely on removing fat from specific areas of the body.
During liposuction, a surgeon inserts a thin tube called a cannula under the skin to suction out fat deposits that may be resistant to diet and exercise.
The goal is not necessarily weight loss but rather reshaping certain parts of the body, such as the stomach, thighs, arms or back.
In other words, liposuction removes fat, while a BBL redistributes it.
A BBL actually relies on liposuction as part of the process, but the two procedures serve different cosmetic goals.
A liposuction reshapes certain parts of the body, such as the stomach, thighs, arms or back.
Image: Freepik
Over the past decade, the Brazilian butt lift has become one of the most talked-about cosmetic surgeries in the world.
Its rise in popularity has largely been driven by celebrity culture and social media, where curvier body shapes gained mainstream appeal.
Celebs and influencers have openly discussed, or been widely speculated to have undergone, the procedure, further normalising it.
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok also played a role in boosting demand, with dramatic before-and-after transformations often going viral.
At the same time, the procedure has sparked debate within the medical community because it carries higher risks than many other cosmetic surgeries if not performed correctly.
While both procedures involve body fat, their goals are quite different.
Liposuction focuses on removing unwanted fat and improving body contours.
A Brazilian butt lift reshapes the body by transferring fat to the buttocks to increase volume and enhance curves.