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Buttocks enlargement

Increasing the size of one's rear end is popular in the West, but the idea has been slow to catch on in Hong Kong

By Maggie Lin

While breast augmentation surgery is popular around the world, buttocks enlargement is also becoming increasingly popular in some Western countries.

Meanwhile, the idea to augment one’s buttocks has reached Hong Kong as well.

Dr. Elvis Lee, a cosmetic surgeon, opened his clinic for plastic surgery on Nathan Road in 2000.

He said that the surgery is popular in South America. In the past, many people were of Hispanic origin. They had big, firm hips which shaped the beauty standard at that time.

However, since his opening, only two clients have asked about bigger buttocks.


Dr. Elvis Lee (Maggie Lin)

Said Dr. Lee: “It is expected that very few Asians would be interested in having their buttocks enlarged. Their hips are already too large.

“They have a pear-shaped figure. If the size of their buttocks was reduced, their bodies would look more balanced.”

Frankieanna Woo, a senior buyer for Seibu, agreed and expressed her opinion on local women’s shopping preferences.

“Customers like buying clothes that can hide their buttocks,” she said.

Nowadays, a slim figure is preferred. This can also explain why women want reduced buttocks instead.

“Women complain that they can barely pull their pants up due to large hips.

“That is why they request to have liposuction on their bottoms and thighs,” Dr. Lee said.

Liposuction is a procedure in which fat is extracted from parts of the body so as to reduce the size.

Ultimately, the two clients who asked about hip enlargement surgery decided not to go through with it.

“They were not looking for bigger hips, but rather they wanted firmer ones,” said he.

This can be achieved by surgically implanting bags of silicon gel. This gel is similar to the silicon gel used in breast implants, but is of a much denser form so as to make the hips look firmer.

Fat injection is a backside enlargement alternative to silicon implants. It is a newer technique.

This is a multistage process by which unwanted fat from other parts of the body is extracted and reinjected into the hips. Subsequent injections are administered two to three months after the first.

Dr. Lee said, “The fat implanted eventually becomes part of the body. Therefore, if too much fat is injected at one time, fat cells may die.”

He added that patients who have had silicon implanted would get a cushion sensation when they sit down.

There is also a possibility that the gel bag may dislocate.

Silicon implantation requires general anesthesia and hospitalization. Fat injection, on the other hand, can be done at a clinic with only local anesthesia.

Fat injection also costs less.

The cost of fat injection surgery generally ranges from $20,000 to $30,000, whereas implantation costs $10,000 more on average, according to Dr. Lee.

All these considerations make fat injection generally more preferred than silicon implantation.

Nonetheless, nothing is perfect.

Patients who have just had fat injection typically feel tightness in their hips. Feelings of pain might persist for a week and bruising might persist for another week.

However, all surgeries have risks. The wound could become inflamed, or there is a possibility of capsular contracture, which leads to deformation, pain and hardness at the area.

According to Dr. Lee, those who want to pump up their buttocks may want to look more feminine.

Crystal Kwok Kam Yan, an actress and TV program host, does not oppose buttocks enlargement surgery.

Miss Kwok is famous for her candidness on sexual topics. She has hosted a phone-in program on sex.

Said Miss Kwok: “There is no harm having the surgery as long as it doesn’t harm the body.

“It is not bad if it can boost one’s self-esteem.”

However, she added, “If they want a better buttocks shape, more exercise will do. It is best if they make less artificial changes to their bodies.”

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