Painful pursuit of perfection

Painful pursuit of perfection

Becoming beautiful is big business, but like any other industry, there are certain considerations to make before investing in it

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE

Andressa Urach was the 2012 runner-up for Miss Bum Bum — an annual nationwide contest to find the best buttocks in Brazil. In her pursuit of the title, she received 200 times the recommended dose of silicone to make her rear look fuller.

In recent months, however, her thigh became infected and her tissue began to rot. The Brazilian model came close to dying.

Catherine Cando, a 19-year-old beauty queen from Ecuador, however, was not as fortunate as Urach. She died last month on the operating table during a standard liposuction procedure.

In recent years, there have been several cases in which people who aspire to become beautiful end up getting more than what they bargain for when they go under the knife. Rotten flesh, infections and even death are just some of the results from cosmetic surgery gone wrong.

"On the chopping block [surgery bed], I was not afraid that the procedure could turn dangerous at all. There are people doing this every day, anyway. My only concern — at that time – was that it wouldn't come out pretty," said Rada*, a university student who recently underwent double eyelid surgery. She selected a clinic by comparing different reviews on the internet.

Such a selection process is worrying, according to cosmetic surgeon Dr Amorn Poomee.

"Checking internet reviews is not enough," said Dr Amorn. "Even with good reviews, you need to check to see if the doctor actually graduated from a medical school and whether if this is his or her specialisation. This information can be checked at the Medical Council of Thailand. Or, you can just Google the doctor's name. If nothing comes up for the names you key in, you know you'd better stay away."

Dr Amorn also suggests that, before any operation can safely commence, three factors need to be considered: the place, the doctor and the patient. The place, whether a small beauty clinic or a hospital, needs to be clean, equipped and certified by the Ministry of Public Health. The doctor also needs to be certified and specialised in the area of cosmetic surgery. Lastly, the patient needs to be healthy and strong and this must be determined through an intensive health check-up.

Cosmetic surgery — like any other surgeries — bears risks. The patients need to be informed of the pros and cons by their doctors, as well as the complications that may arise during and after the operation. This standard procedure should be followed, both in hospitals and, especially, smaller clinics where most patients now flock to get their eyes and noses done.

"Clinics are sufficient for smaller operations, but they can't do much should complications arise. Hospitals are more ready for that," added Dr Amorn. "If you notice from recent news, the cases where surgeries go wrong usually happens in clinics."

Medical tourism is big business, and a recent subtrend to have emerged within that industry are groups of people travelling together, especially to South Korea, to get cosmetic surgeries done together.

Getting an operation abroad is preferred by many who want to keep their surgery a secret — at least until they return to their home country.

Dr Amorn believes that for those who do wish to get cosmetic surgery, a vanity trip abroad is not necessary, as Thailand's standards of cosmetic surgery are high and are comparable to places such as US, the UK and Australia. The price is also much cheaper here.

So, while many foreigners end up in Thailand to get surgery, many Thais fly out to South Korea.

"When you go in a group [on plastic surgery tours], a lot of people will be cheering [inadvertently applying on peer pressure] for you to go for it, and many people end up regretting their decision," said Dr Amorn.

"The problem is they can't even communicate properly with the doctor. After they come back, if they have a problem, they also don't know who to go to."

Before deciding on any surgery, Dr Amorn recommends that a thorough consultation with a doctor is a must.

"Beauty modification is not necessary. So, if you're uncomfortable or unsure, you'd better not go for it."


*Not her real name

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