Butt Injections Nearly Cost A California Woman Her Life

Butt injections left April Brown almost killed April Brown

April Brown used to be hair stylist and fashion designer. Today, Brown, of California, is fighting an uphill battle without any arms or legs -- the tragic result of what she says were a series of unlicensed butt injections that almost cost her her life.

But injections and enhancements aren't new; celebs have long had access to them, and rumors of Nikki Minaj, Lil Kim and Kim Kardashian getting them are rampant.

But it's only been recently that they've come to the masses, some with near tragic effects like Brown's harrowing experiences. Her limbs were removed last year after a life-threatening infection -- an exhausting, excruciatingly painful ordeal that Brown says began five years ago after she got silicone butt implants from an unlicensed practioner.

"They call it butt injections," she told NBC News Los Angeles. "These things are done at pumping parties. They call it medical grade silicone but a lot of it is industrial grade silicone."

Brown's case recalls similar incidents in Florida.

So, I ask HairNistas, is that "donk" really worth it? Are you willing to risk your life for it? Your arms and legs?

More than Ass

Let's be clear: There is nothing wrong with celebrating butts, if you have been blessed to have one naturally. When it comes to Black culture, our butts have long been celebrated and praised; there are songs about the butt; it is feted on on music videos.

For a long time, we were the only ones telling each other that our butts looked good. Now, white celebs have joined in the game. Yet, the pendulum has swung so far to the left that now many Black women feel they must have a video girl/stripper  "donkey" booty that's big enough to put a glass on for self worth.

Is A Butt Worth Your Life?

Most of those girls on videos and on the stripper pole have had enhancements. Yes, those butts do exist in our culture, but just not as much as rap songs and videos would have you to believe.

This post isn't mean to shine on plump backsides. If you get it from your Momma, more power to you. But if you don't? We shouldn't be so eager to have a medical procedure done -- a risky one at that -- just to get a stripper booty, ostensibly to please a man. They are filling girls butts up with everything from caulk to commerical silicone used in nail polish and furniture polish to ghastly combos of tire sealant, cement and glue, to God knows what else during back alley injections that are killing us.

If you're going to get a butt enhancement, treat it like a medical procedure. Thoroughly research your provider and only go to a licensed facility. Beware of folks at pumping parties or people who promise to do a butt job that costs thousands for just a few hundred dollars.

I'm wary of tying my self esteem to a specific body part. Women have been doing that for years and where has that gotten us? To the left, from men who have left for the next and biggest ass, boobs, hips, pick your body part.

Brown admits she had low self esteem and now the mother of two is left without any hands or legs.

Men may have their preference; we all do. But aren't you more than just ass?

Would you risk our life over a body part?