PHOTO: Sam at the press conference at Wisma MCA on Thursday.

By Zalinah Noordin

Believing that having her breasts removed could fulfil her lifelong wish of becoming a "man", a 36-year-old businesswoman ended up losing her nipples too.

The woman who wished to be known as Sam developed a bad infection which left her with a major scar after the botched cosmetic surgery at a beauty salon. On top of that, she ended up RM24,000 ($9,854.40) poorer.

Tired of being teased by her colleagues and friends, Sam had gone to a beauty salon in Subang in May to get the surgery done.

She also revealed that she had always felt like a man as she grew up with two elder brothers and wanted to be like them.

"I was told that the surgery would cost RM12,000 with an additional RM3,500 to beautify my body," she said after seeking help at the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department in Kuala Lumpur yesterday,

Sam paid up and was told to go to a clinic in Johor where surgery was done since the centre in Subang only did beauty treatment. She was promised that a specialist surgeon from China would do the job.

"However, when I spoke to the "surgeon", I found out he was a local and seemed unsure of what I was in for," said Sam.

Despite her nagging doubts, Sam still ahead with the procedure and it was all done in a few hours.

"I was discharged on the same day of the surgery and did not suspect anything amiss as my chest was wrapped in a bandage," she said.

A constant searing pain proved too much for her to bear and Sam was horrified to find both her nipples missing after she removed the bandage a week later. She also found that the wounds were infected as the area was swollen and pus was flowing out.

After the operation, she was not given any antibiotics or pills to take.

Thinking that it was a temporary condition, Sam went to seek medical treatment in Singapore. The infection cleared up but she still felt some pain.

Sam claimed that she later called up the beautician and demanded a refund including her medical fees and the beautician had initially agreed to it.

However, the salon operator changed her mind about giving a refund and challenged Sam to bring the case to court.

A police report was lodged at the Subang Jaya Police Station as Sam claimed that she was also constantly harassed and threatened by the salon operator and her partner.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said that he would assist Sam in her legal suits against the beautician and advised people to check the credentials of beauticians and so-called plastic surgeons.