KUALA LUMPUR: A 48-year-old sales consultant suffered lumps in her breasts and pain after undergoing a silicone injection for breast augmentation, performed by an unauthorised practitioner.
The victim, who wishes to be known as Chan, said she did the procedure some 20 years ago after a beautician, whom she visited for a facial, recommended it.
“The beautician performed the silicone injection procedure and it cost RM5,000,” she told a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong at Wisma MCA yesterday.
Chan began noticing lumps in her breast less than five years after the procedure and the pain that followed was so unbearable she could hardly sleep.
“In 2022, I went to a private hospital, and did a mammogram and an ultrasound but no abnormalities were detected. But after an MRI, I was told that the lumps were caused by the silicone.
“I went to see two plastic surgeons at the same hospital who recommended breast removal or live with the condition for the rest of my life,” she said.
As all seemed hopeless, Chan said a friend suggested going overseas to remove the silicone in her breasts.
“I did the surgery in Vietnam in January, costing RM25,000. The procedure went well and I am lucky to be alive,” she said.
Chan hopes that other women would be careful when going for any type of procedures, especially breast augmentation.
“We should only go to licensed specialists and not those who are unauthorised,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chong said beauty procedures or surgeries conducted by unlicensed individuals would often be detrimental to the health of the patients.
“We have encountered various cases where women were enticed by advertisements on beauty surgeries on social media and ended up suffering because of it.
“One of the common cases is injected silicone where victims suffer immeasurable pain.”
Chong added that those who wish to undergo beauty surgery or procedure should go to reputable doctors and specialists.
“They should never gamble on their health.”
