In an age where beauty standards continue to evolve, FRANCISCA ADIDI examines the growing obsession among women with enhancing their buttocks — whether through surgery, artificial padding or fashion design. From cosmetics’ clinics offering desire for fuller curves has become a defining trend in modern beauty culture. the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) to tailors sewing extra foam into dresses, women’s
Rise of the BBL
IN the pursuit of beauty andattraction, some women now go as far as undergoing Wednesday, October 15, 2025 surgical operation in order to enlarge their buttocks. According to Miaaesthetics.
com, a plastic surgery site, the procedure known as the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) “sculpts the buttocks
and adds volume using the patient’s own fat from other areas of the body. No matter the patient’s age, genetics, or other factors, butt enhancement can lift, tighten, and improve the overall appearance of the buttocks.”
The BBL has become the fastest-growing cosmetic surgery globally, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The procedure is usually performed as outpatient surgery under
general anaesthesia. It begins with fat extraction from donor areas such as the stomach, hips or thighs, depending on the fat distribution and amount required.
“Liposuction is performed washed, spun, and purified to isolate the most viable cells for transfer,” the report adds.
“About 25 per cent of the cells will be healthy enough to reuse. The prepared fat is then injected into the buttock area, carefully shaping, lifting, and augmenting the body according to the patient’s
wishes.”
Despite the appeal, many women complain about the high cost and the physical pain involved during and after surgery often the greatest deterrent to undergoing the procedure.
Pain, risks of the procedure Is BBL painful? Reports indicate that, like all surgeries, some discomfort follows a BBL. “Many patients report mild to moderate soreness in their buttocks and at the liposuction sites after the procedure.
Buttock pain is often compared to muscle soreness. It typically subsides within 48 hours and is generally not difficult to cope with,” the report explains. Post-surgical pain is managed through prescribed medication, though mild discomfort may linger. “Overthe- counter pain relievers such as Tylenol usually prove more than adequate.
Severe pain or pain that increases rather than decreases may indicate complications,” it warns.
While the Brazilian Butt Lift is generally considered safe, the report lists possible risks. These include
bleeding, infection, numbness, stretch marks, excessive resorption of grafted “hourglass” figure.
A university student who preferred anonymity said, “I like it and go for it to improve my self-image and feel more attractive and confident.”
On the Plateau and its environs, the growing influence of fashion has inspired creative alternatives for those unable to afford surgery. Some women now turn to tailors to design custom clothes with built-in pads. A tailor at Jos Terminus central business area, who preferred anonymity, said: “I witness young ladies coming to my shop to sew clothes with inserted pads or foams neatly placed. I
sew the clothes with extra foams either on the breast cut, hips, or buttocks, making them fitting and flattering.
It’s mostly seen during weddings to attract men or impress other women.” Similarly, Rifkatu Simon
(not real name) explained, “I make such clothes for wedding appearances just to look gorgeous and beautiful so that my friends will Angel, a tailor in Rayfield, Jos South LGA, said, “I charge girls who want either extra breast pads, hip extras, or extra buttocks, and they are always ready to pay just to look good. When it comes to beauty, women don’t joke about it, and I hail them for that.”
All said, the pursuit of curves (whether through surgery, padding or fashion), reflects more than
just vanity. It is a sign of how deeply modern beauty ideals shape women’s self-expression, identity
and confidence in a world that constantly defines what it means to be attractive beautiful and desirabl through small incisions, removing excess fat from the donor areas to ensure there is enough fat for grafting.
Once retrieved, the fat is Others use it to fill “hip dips,” creating a smoother silhouette. Some omen, like Sonia, Jennifer, and Baby (not real names), told THE NIGERIA STANDARD: “We only use it for special occasions like weddings or dates to enhance our look for a specific outfit or event.”
Artificial options come in various forms. These include padded shapewear garments like panties or
shorts with built-in padding and butt or hip pads that can be inserted into clothing to add volume and shape.
Tailors, the latest fashion trend
and improved self-image as reasons for choosing padded alternatives. The side effects of artificial
buttocks can include infection, bleeding, scarring, and pain, as well as more severe risks like blood or fat clots that can travel to the heart or lungs. Other complications may involve the implants
shifting, capsular contracture (scar tissue hardening around the implant), or the body rejecting the material, leading to cosmetic and physical issues like chronic pain and an unfavorable appearance.
Lovina, a Jos-based beautician, explained, “It helps in balancing my body proportions and also improves my self-image and confidence, all as a temporary enhancement either for special
events or daily wear.”
Another woman, who simply gave her name as Comfort A., admitted, “In fact, use it to bring out the beautiful shapes to attract men.” Initially, artificial buttocks were mainly used by cross-dressers and drag performers for comedic or dramatic effect. Today, however, women use them for aesthetic appeal. They use it to achieve a curvier, rounder look and the classic fat, asymmetry and fat bolism.
Experts emphasise that choosing a qualified surgeon and adhering to pre- and post-surgical instructions significantly reduces these risks.
Artificial buttocks: The easier alternative
For women unwilling to endure surgery, artificial buttocks offer a simpler, painfree and cheaper option. Many women cite personal preference for a fuller look admire me. I feel good that way. I don’t like surgery for buttocks because when it fails, it is dangerous and can kill, that’s why I prefer
artificial buttocks.”