The so-called “BBL smell” has been trending online for weeks, fueled by viral speculation and a rumor that even dragged rapper Cardi B into the spotlight.
Now, a board-certified plastic surgeon is setting the record straight.
Dr. Nneamaka Nwubah, a Nashville-based plastic surgeon, took to Instagram (@dr_amakamd) to explain the truth behind the buzz. In a candid video captioned “The BBL Smell — Fact or Fiction?” she addressed the misconception head-on.
“The BBL smell. I don’t know what all that talk is about, y’all,” Dr. Nwubah said. “I actually did a BBL today. Like, I do BBLs. I haven’t had a patient come and report to me about a BBL smell.”
The Origin of the Rumor
The topic spiked after a July 2025 rumor claimed Cardi B’s Brazilian Butt Lift emitted an odor “like a trash bag,” allegedly said by NFL player Stefon Diggs. Both Diggs and Cardi B quickly denied the claim, with the rapper dismissing it as a joke rooted in personal hygiene.
While some patients do experience temporary musty or sour odors during recovery — often linked to fluid buildup from liposuction — Dr. Nwubah stressed that this is neither unique to BBLs nor inevitable.
“What you’re seeing out there that is saying a BBL smell exists and is inevitable with a BBL is simply not true and I’m here to debunk that,” she explained.
Why Hygiene Matters in BBL Recovery
According to Dr. Nwubah, the problem often comes down to improper post-operative care, especially among patients who travel for surgery and don’t have follow-up care.
“One of the problems … is that many patients are going out getting plastic surgery with no follow-up at all and so there’s no one to talk to about issues. Maybe you don’t get adequate post-operative instructions in terms of what you should do,” she added.
She also noted that in cases of “overly done” BBLs, basic hygiene can become more difficult.
“It can be hard to clean between your butt cheeks if you can’t even get something in there to clean it,” she said, adding that patients need to be extra diligent in the shower.
Dr. Nwubah even recalled personally helping patients through the recovery process:
“I used to actually do shower visits … and I would let them know, like, hey, you really got to get in between every crevice and crack to make sure things are clean.”
The Role of Liposuction
Dr. Nwubah also explained that liposuction — a procedure required for BBL contouring — can cause drainage, which may sometimes produce a temporary smell.
“From liposuction, you can have some drainage and that is normal, right? That’s a normal phenomenon,” she said. “Now, that drainage when it just kind of drains and sits in that garment, it can have an odd smell to it. But that happens with liposuction whether or not you do a BBL, if that makes sense.”
Her bottom line: odor can occur during healing if hygiene isn’t managed properly, but the idea of a permanent “BBL smell” is a myth.
“Again, just because you see it on the internet does not make it true,” Dr. Nwubah stated. “I do BBLs all the time … I have not had patients complain about this BBL smell.”
Fact Over Fiction
The viral conversation around the so-called “BBL smell” underscores the risks of medical misinformation spreading online. Dr. Nwubah’s message is clear: BBLs don’t inherently cause odors, but proper aftercare is essential.
“The most important thing is just make sure you’re keeping things clean, cleaning between all the crevices,” she said.
