The so-called “BBL smell” has become a viral talking point on social media, with stories and memes claiming that Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery leaves recipients with a permanent, unpleasant odor. But does a BBL really make you stink? Let’s clear up the rumors with facts from medical experts and real-world patient experiences.

What Is a BBL?

A Brazilian Butt Lift is a cosmetic procedure where fat is liposuctioned from one part of the body and injected into the buttocks for shape and volume. As with any surgery, there’s a period of healing, swelling, and aftercare, including wearing compression garments and sometimes getting lymphatic massages.

Origins of the “BBL Smell” Rumor

Discussion around “BBL smell” started online, with some claiming that the procedure causes a long-lasting or even permanent odor. Theories range from surgical drainage and metabolic changes to people simply struggling to properly clean the area after surgery. Influencers, surgeons, and patients have all weighed in, creating an atmosphere of confusion and exaggeration.

What Surgeons and Experts Say

• Temporary Odor Is Possible: After surgery, some mild smell is normal. This stems from:
  • Fluid drainage for a day or two (mainly saline solution or blood, which usually isn’t odorous unless infected).
  • Wearing tight, warm compression garments that can trap sweat and bacteria.
  • Difficulty reaching and cleaning the area properly during the early healing phase, especially if mobility is reduced or swelling is significant.
• No Lasting or Permanent “BBL Smell”: Once healing is complete and normal hygiene resumes, there’s no medical reason for a BBL to cause permanent odor.
• Misconceptions About Metabolic Changes: Some cite metabolic shifts or anesthesia leaving the body as potential causes, but these are short-lived (lasting hours to days), not months or years.
• Infection Is Rare but Smelly: If an incision site becomes infected, this can cause a foul odor, but infection is uncommon and treatable. Persistent, strong, and unusual smells after the initial recovery period should prompt a visit to a doctor.

The Real Cause: Hygiene Challenges

The main factor that may cause odor after BBL surgery isn’t the surgical procedure itself, but temporary difficulties with personal hygiene. Enlarged or swollen buttocks can make it harder to clean the area thoroughly, especially immediately after surgery. Compression garments can further contribute by trapping heat and moisture. However, as healing progresses and mobility returns, regular washing and good hygiene eliminate any lingering odors.

How to Prevent Any Unpleasant Smells

• Clean Carefully: Use fragrance-free, gentle cleansers and follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions. Consider using wet wipes or a bidet during the recovery phase if reaching is difficult.
• Change Garments Frequently: Clean and replace compression garments, underclothes, and bedding often to minimize bacteria buildup.
• Watch for Signs of Infection: Strong, long-lasting odors accompanied by redness, pus, or fever require prompt medical attention.
• Resume Normal Hygiene: Once you have healed and movement is restored, proper washing will prevent any recurring smell.

Bottom Line

A Brazilian Butt Lift does not make you stink for life. Any post-surgical odor is temporary, related to fluid drainage, sweat, and restricted mobility during recovery. With good hygiene and aftercare, unpleasant smells resolve as your body heals. Persistent odor months or years later would not be due to the BBL itself, but could signal a hygiene issue or rare medical complication.

The “BBL smell” is mostly myth—so you can bounce with confidence, not dread.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” (officially the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) is a sweeping tax and spending package passed in July 2025. It makes permanent many Trump-era tax cuts, introduces new tax breaks for working Americans, and enacts deep cuts to federal safety-net programs. The bill also increases spending on border security and defense, while rolling back clean energy incentives and tightening requirements for social programs.

Pros

1. Tax Relief for Middle and Working-Class Families

• Makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, preventing a scheduled tax hike for many Americans.
• Introduces new tax breaks: no federal income tax on tips and overtime pay (for incomes under $150,000, with limits).
• Doubles the Child Tax Credit to $2,500 per child through 2028.
• Temporarily raises the SALT (state and local tax) deduction cap to $40,000.
• Creates “Trump Accounts”: tax-exempt savings accounts for newborns.

2. Support for Small Businesses and Economic Growth

• Makes the small business deduction permanent, supporting Main Street businesses.
• Expands expensing for investment in short-lived assets and domestic R&D, which is considered pro-growth.

3. Increased Spending on Security and Infrastructure

• Allocates $175 billion for border security and $160 billion for defense, the highest peacetime military budget in U.S. history.
• Provides $12.5 billion for air traffic control modernization.

4. Simplification and Fairness in the Tax Code

• Expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and raises marginal rates on individuals earning over $400,000.
• Closes various deductions and loopholes, especially those benefiting private equity and multinational corporations.

Cons

1. Deep Cuts to Social Safety Net Programs

• Cuts Medicaid by approximately $930 billion and imposes new work requirements, which could leave millions without health insurance.
• Tightens eligibility and work requirements for SNAP (food assistance), potentially removing benefits from many low-income families.
• Rolls back student loan forgiveness and repeals Biden-era subsidies.

2. Increases the Federal Deficit

• The bill is projected to add $3.3–4 trillion to the federal deficit over 10 years.
• Critics argue that the combination of tax cuts and increased spending is fiscally irresponsible.

3. Benefits Skewed Toward the Wealthy

• The largest income gains go to affluent Americans, with top earners seeing significant after-tax increases.
• Critics describe the bill as the largest upward transfer of wealth in recent U.S. history.

4. Rollback of Clean Energy and Climate Incentives

• Eliminates tax credits for electric vehicles and solar energy by the end of 2025.
• Imposes stricter requirements for renewable energy developers, which could lead to job losses and higher electricity costs.

5. Potential Harm to Healthcare and Rural Hospitals

• Reduces funding for hospitals serving Medicaid recipients, increasing uncompensated care costs and threatening rural healthcare access.
• Tightens verification for federal premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, risking coverage for some middle-income Americans.

6. Public and Political Backlash

• The bill is unpopular in public polls and is seen as a political risk for its supporters.
• Critics warn it will widen the gap between rich and poor and reverse progress on alternative energy and healthcare.

Summary Table

In summary:
The Big Beautiful Bill delivers significant tax relief and new benefits for many working and middle-class Americans, but it does so at the cost of deep cuts to social programs, a higher federal deficit, and reduced support for clean energy and healthcare. The bill is highly polarizing, with supporters touting its pro-growth and pro-family provisions, while critics warn of increased inequality and harm to vulnerable populations.

Dr. Peter McCullough, a prominent cardiologist and vocal critic of COVID-19 vaccine safety protocols, delivered explosive testimony before the U.S. Senate, alleging that federal officials intentionally concealed known side effects of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, particularly myocarditis, to avoid fueling vaccine hesitancy. The hearing, held by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, focused on the government’s handling of adverse event data and the transparency of public health messaging.

Allegations of Concealment and Downplaying Risks

Dr. McCullough and other expert witnesses argued that by early 2021, federal health agencies—including the CDC and FDA—were aware of a rising number of myocarditis cases, especially in young males, following mRNA vaccination. According to McCullough, rather than promptly issuing a Health Alert Network (HAN) message to inform medical professionals and the public, officials chose to minimize the risks in public communications and delayed formal warnings.

Senate documents and testimony indicated that the Biden administration’s primary concern was not the adverse events themselves, but the potential for increased vaccine hesitancy if these risks were widely publicized. Subpoenaed records showed that talking points distributed to top health officials in May 2021 described myocarditis and pericarditis as “rare” and emphasized the benefits of vaccination.

Expert Testimony and Public Reaction

Dr. McCullough cited autopsy data and peer-reviewed literature to support his claims, stating that a significant proportion of post-vaccine deaths could be linked to the mRNA vaccines—a point that has ignited debate within the medical community due to conflicting interpretations of the data. Other witnesses, such as Dr. Jordan Vaughn, reinforced concerns about the lack of timely alerts to physicians, arguing that earlier warnings could have improved patient outcomes and informed consent.

Disputed Evidence and Context

Some lawmakers and public health advocates cautioned against interpreting the delayed warnings as evidence of a deliberate cover-up. They noted that internal emails and communications showed CDC officials reminding providers to report myocarditis cases and discussing how best to communicate evolving risks. Critics of the concealment narrative argue that these actions reflect the complexities of decision-making during a public health emergency rather than intentional suppression of information.

Current Agency Position

In response to mounting scrutiny, the FDA has expanded warning labels for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to include more detailed information about the risk of myocarditis, particularly among young males. The CDC maintains that these cases remain rare and typically resolve quickly, and continues to emphasize the overall safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

Summary Table: Key Points from Senate Hearing

The Senate hearing has intensified calls for greater transparency and accountability in vaccine safety monitoring, while also fueling ongoing debate over the interpretation and communication of vaccine risk data.