By Annie Freeda Cruez

KUALA LUMPUR - Plastic surgeons in Asia and Malaysia say they are seeing a rise in the number of women seeking aesthetic breast surgery.

But they are also concerned with the increasing number of corrective surgeries needed after operations by fly-by- night surgeons go wrong.

Dr Charles Randquist raised this concern at a news conference held in conjunction with the three-day Asian Breast Aesthetic Symposium last week.

He was speaking on behalf of plastic surgeons from Brazil, Singapore, South Korea, China, Japan, the United States, Canada and Malaysia who attended the inaugural symposium, held from Thursday to Saturday.

"Many women think cosmetic surgery, including the double eye-lid operation, can be done by beauticians.

"But beauticians and general practitioners are not trained to perform such surgeries as liposuction, breast augmentation and other cosmetic or reconstructive surgeries."

Dr Randquist, who has been practising aesthetic surgery since 1997 in his native Stockholm in Sweden, said not all women needed aesthetic breast surgery.

"Plastic surgeons have a responsibility to advise women on whether they need or don't need it and the risks involved."

Some 60 plastic surgeons from all over the world were here to share their expertise in the field and to discuss breast implants and breast surgery. Nine leading plastic surgeons, who use the newest methods and technologies, shared how best to serve their patients.

Consultant plastic surgeon Dr Lim Kim Siea, who practises in Penang, said he had seen a rise in the number of women, especially Chinese women, seeking aesthetic breast surgery.

"I also see quite a number of botched surgeries and have to re-do the procedure."

Many women are lured by beauticians into having such surgeries by unqualified doctors from China, who fly in and charge between RM8,000 and RM20,000.

"Many a time, women find that these doctors have done a shoddy job and seek repairs which cost them another big sum."

A shape implant done by a qualified plastic surgeon would range from RM12,000 to RM16,000, while a round implant RM10,000 to RM14,000, he said.

There were 45 board-certified plastic surgeons in Malaysia who could perform all forms of aesthetic surgery, Dr Lim added.