In the entertainment industry there are a handful of women who have really made a name for themselves because of their distinctive rear-ends, and among these women is Kim Kardashian, who gets a lot of attention for her curves. That said, not everyone is convinced that she was born with such an enviable booty, and the result could be thanks to butt injections.

So, can you achieve a booty that looks just like Kardashian's with these injections? Well, Cardi B claims that she has had them (illegal injections that caused her a great amount of pain), and anyone who has ever watched one of the rapper’s music videos will know that she has a great derriere. But there are some things you need to know about butt injections, and the first, and perhaps the most important point is that they hurt, a lot, especially if you get the wrong injections.

According to Cardi B’s interview with GQ, she described her buttock injections as “the craziest pain ever," adding, "I felt like I was gonna pass out.” That’s not to say FDA-approved buttock injections don’t hurt, but the reason Cardi B endured so much pain is that she opted for the cheaper injections, which are illegal because the chemicals aren’t regulated. And this is a terrible idea!

The process of buttock injections is when a substance is injected into the cheeks to make them appear larger. According to The Cut, the only FDA-approved substance to inject is fat removed from other parts of the body (like the belly, upper arms, and thighs), which is then transferred to the buttocks — once injected, this fat cannot move to other parts of the body, although around 20 percent can be rejected by the body, which liquifies it into an oil which will be passed out through urine within several weeks. However, some people do inject methods that are not FDA-approved like silicone and collagen, and these pose serious risks to the health.

And while most of these FDA-approved procedures are safe, if done correctly, there is a risk element involved. According to Cosmopolitan, plastic surgeon, Dr. Daniel Maman revealed that in some cases fat embolism can occur. He told the publication, "If you're a centimeter off, and the needle accidentally hits a blood vessel, the fat can travel straight to the heart, and the patient can die instantly." And others can experience pain, infection and fluid buildup.

When deciding if this procedure is right for you, it’s important to do your research, but also be prepared to pay. You should only ever have the work done by doctors certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, as this reduces the risks involved. It’s also worth noting that if you lose weight, your butt may reduce in size, so it’s best to maintain your original weight after surgery, or not put on extra pounds before the procedure.

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