Is the “BBL Smell” Real or Just a Social Media Myth?

It started as a whisper on social media and quickly spiraled into a full-blown TikTok talking point: the so-called “BBL smell.” According to viral posts, some patients claim a lingering, unpleasant odor follows them after undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), a procedure that involves liposuctioning fat from one area of the body and reinjecting it into the butt for a fuller shape. But is there any truth to this stinky rumor or is it just a viral rumor?

Featured Experts

• Dr. Anthony Youn is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Troy, MI
• Dr. Sean Simon is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami

Where Did the Claim Come From?

A recent New York Post story thrust the topic into headlines, citing firsthand accounts from patients who described a “disgusting” and persistent odor following surgery. Some online users have speculated that this smell could be the result of fat necrosis (where some of the transferred fat cells die) or the result of difficult post-op hygiene during the early recovery period when mobility is limited.

But plastic surgeons say it’s time to clear the air.

What the Experts Say

“I believe this is a social media myth that BBLs smell,” says Troy, MI plastic surgeon Anthony Youn, MD. “They can smell, like any operation, if something is wrong such as an abscess, but otherwise, having that operation shouldn’t create an odor other than due to hygiene.”

Miami plastic surgeon Sean Simon, MD is even more direct: “This is news to me. I’ve done well over 25,000 surgeries, including thousands of fat grafting cases, and I have never heard this complaint, not once,” he says. “And we know patients are not shy about complaining about anything. So, this is nonsense.”

Both doctors agree that an odor could indicate infection, but it’s not something unique to BBLs or fat grafting. “Even in cases of fat necrosis, which are rare in the buttocks, there wouldn’t be a smell unless the tissue was infected and open to the environment,” says Dr. Simon. “Odor comes from the bacteria involved in infection.”

When Odor Could Be a Red Flag

While the idea of a “BBL smell” may be overblown, both experts agree there are legitimate reasons a post-op patient should be seen by their surgeon, especially if something doesn’t seem right.

“If the odor is really foul smelling and/or accompanied by drainage, redness, pain or deformity, then the patient should definitely see her plastic surgeon for evaluation,” says Dr. Youn. “And if hygiene issues are ruled out, it should be taken seriously.”

Dr. Simon echoes this: “Odor from a wound should always prompt investigation for a possible infection. Look for other signs, too, like redness, swelling, tenderness, firmness. Those are all clues.”

The Real BBL Myth

Dr. Simon notes that this viral trend is just the latest example of misinformation swirling around the BBL procedure. “BBL gets a terrible rap, even from the plastic surgery community, as a ‘dangerous procedure,’ which is also untrue. When performed correctly, it’s extremely safe.”

So, if you’re considering a BBL, remember recovery care and surgeon selection matter. But odor? That’s one thing experts say you can stop worrying about.