Syringes, Surgery And Slaps: Thais Suffer For Beauty

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Syringes, surgery and slaps: Thais suffer for beauty

by Apilaporn Vechakij

BANGKOK, Jan 24, 2013 (AFP) - From breast-slapping and gold thread face-lifts, to vaginal whitening soaps and olive oil penis enlargements, image obsessed Thais are going to ever increasing extremes in the quest for beauty.

The colourful self-proclaimed pioneer of breast-slapping says her unusual technique allows clients to boost their bust by at least one bra size without surgery.

"This is the beauty by nature -- one million percent guaranteed," the eccentric 46-year-old, who has changed her name to Khunyingtobnom or Madam breast-slapper, told AFP.

Her work is also extremely lucrative, charging $600 for two 15 minute sessions covering one breast each and a premium face-slapping service -- which she claims can induce slimness -- costing about $1,000.

Having slapped her customers for 28 years, Khunyingtobnom said that her own small breasts prompted her late-grandmother to pass on the little-known art, which she applies to about 20 customers each day.

In a country where ideals of beauty carry particular weight, even in notoriously image-conscious Asia, it is not only women who are seeking to enhance what nature has provided.

Alarmingly high numbers of Thai men inject olive oil, beeswax, silicone and even paraffin into their genitals, in a misguided bid to enlarge their penises, according to one Bangkok urologist.

Skin lesions or serious infections are commonly the result, said Surat Kittisupaporn of the Police General Hospital, which sees up to 300 patients a month after botched penis treatments.

"The body reacts to the foreign substances. When there is chronic irritation or infection, it'll be very hard to cure... it'll be hard to even walk or take a shower," he said, making surgery inevitable.

In the worst case, Surat was forced to remove a 50-year-old man's genitals in November after he repeatedly injected olive oil into his penis.

The pursuit of an ideal beauty has a long history in the nation, according to Professor Suwirakorn Ophaswongse, of the Dermatological Society of Thailand.

"It starts from the belief that aristocrats should have white skin and people with dark skin are lower class," she said.

The influence of Korean pop culture has hastened the pace -- and boosted the numbers -- of those dashing to the cosmetic surgeon, she said, as Thais now seek to recreate the surgically enhanced, doll-like appeal of their 'K-pop' idols.

Illegal, backstreet cosmetic surgery clinics are cashing-in on that desire and increasing the risks.

A product promoter, or a so-called "pretty", died in October when a gel-like filler meant to make her buttocks more shapely was injected into her bloodstream.

Her friend and fellow "pretty", Nutchanunt Angkuttarothum, 25, said the tragedy had not deterred her from further surgery to add to a litany of procedures, including a nose job she has already undergone.

"We have to always take care of ourselves and look good, otherwise we wouldn't look different from others", she said after pouting for the cameras at a recent motorcycle launch event in Bangkok.

For women, the quest for bigger eyes, noses, breasts and bums is just one step in a wider bid to transform themselves.

Off-the-shelf skin whitening creams, including vaginal bleaching soaps, abound in the kingdom with many believing that a lighter skin reflects higher status and is more attractive to the opposite sex.

It is an image of desirability reinforced by the legions of models and actors who adorn Bangkok's billboards and star in the country's wildly popular television dramas.

For the city's strutting elite, known as Hi-Sos (High Society), more upmarket treatments are widely available, for the right price.

Anywhere between $13,000 and $200,000 will pay for gold thread face implants, a tradition apparently stretching back to ancient Egypt which its adherents believe tightens and brightens the skin.

Speaking at a upmarket Bangkok clinic, husband and wife Patcharat and Itsaraporn Rattanasuthaphaboon said they have both undergone the costly procedure.

"I used to have wrinkles and dry skin under my eyes but it has been a lot better since I did it last time," said 51-year-old Itsaraporn.

"It's okay by me," her husband said. "I just want my wife to look good."

The treatment involves strips of near-pure gold being sewn into the skin forming a mesh which stimulates the body to produce collagen, thus keeping the skin supple, says Maciej Lichaj, a Polish gold thread aesthetician at the clinic.

"People in Asia love gold... they want to have gold outside and inside", he explained, adding the results can be seen within months.

But not everyone is convinced by the scramble to be young, fair-skinned and beautiful.

"People don't have to be white to be beautiful -- good personality, having knowledge and other capacities are much more important," Professor Suwirakorn said. "It's better to have beauty from within."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-01-24

[JetsetBkk]

Her work is also extremely lucrative, charging $600 for two 15 minute sessions covering one breast each

I'd do it for free.

.

Edited January 24, 2013 by JetsetBkk

[rkidlad]

I see people sitting people crouched down on the street with their palms being read by some old man or lady. The person having their palms read is listening intensively and taking all this rubbish in.

People will believe what they want to believe. They normally wanna believe that they'll be rich or that if you punch them in the tits they'll have bigger kens.

I wish I could convince some of the politicians here that if I slap them in the face they'll be more beautiful. Unfortunately, I'm foreign and have not had voodoo, black magic, mumbo jumbo bestowed upon me. That's only for the rich and/or immoral locals.

[Locationthailand]

That's it. Thailand, last person out turn the lights off. There's no chance for you now.

[OzMick]

For bigger breasts, they should rub toilet paper between them.

[scorecard]

Twelve months back I was waiting at Narita airport in Tokyo to fly to Seoul in Sth. Korea. Just before boarding the aircraft a high profile Japanese boy band (4 or 5 young Jap. guys, proably all late teens) arrived into the same gate lounge, and took the same flight.

Many of the waiting female passegers recognized the band and they went beserk. Same happened on arrival in Seoul with a waiting Korean fan club.

The most noticeable thing about all of the boys in the band was their extreme ultra white flawless complexion, obviously not natural, and they all had bleached blonde hair (blonde not red or yellow).

Their choice of course, but it often goes through my mnd what damage all these whitening chemicals will do long term.

[Whidbeyboy]

Any idiot would understand that the slapping induces swelling, albiet temporary. They used a similar technique in the US where massage therapist did so massage so deep in the thighs as to cause swelling magically erasing cellulite, and leaving bruises.

The fad didn't last though some walked away with some cash for beating people up.

Everyone wants the quick fix, and the crazier it is the more popular it is, at least for awhile.

[Lucie]

Oh what a blessing to be born an English woman - pasty-white skin, a long nose, and a couple of big knockers! Woohoo! Face it, Thai women (you of the tiny waists, blemish-free skin, delicate limbs and lustrous hair) you have nothing on me!

[laislica]

Oh what a blessing to be born an English woman - pasty-white skin, a long nose, and a couple of big knockers! Woohoo! Face it, Thai women (you of the tiny waists, blemish-free skin, delicate limbs and lustrous hair) you have nothing on me!

and I'd bet that you would love a nice golden tan.

Thai ladies are probably deficient in vitamin D due to the lack of sun exposure.

All due to the crazy world of advertising.

[Mudcrab]

For bigger breasts, they should rub toilet paper between them.

Hahahaha....and nobody has asked why yet. They haven't been exposed to the wit and talent of Col Elliot obviously!

[uptheos]

Sounds like an old slapper.

[arthurboy]

Barking bonkers, the lot of them.

[uptheos]

Barking bonkers, the lot of them.

Ever get the feeling we're living in a Salvador Dali painting?

[arthurboy]

Barking bonkers, the lot of them.

Ever get the feeling we're living in a Salvador Dali painting?

Completely, and every waking moment.

[Kitbaikitmah]

Oh what a blessing to be born an English woman - pasty-white skin, a long nose, and a couple of big knockers! Woohoo! Face it, Thai women (you of the tiny waists, blemish-free skin, delicate limbs and lustrous hair) you have nothing on me!

[Kitbaikitmah]

Absolutely lass.

Methinks these little dollybirds are like budget airlines:

Big on promotions

Difficult to pre-book...take a place in line

Come in many painted colours

Have to buy your own drinks

Share time in the associated company of budget tourists, politely

When it comes to a crunch, they all carry a black box

After years here, a true woman is to be treasured

[Pimay1]

Thailand hub of tit slapping.

[nattydread]

Oh what a blessing to be born an English woman - pasty-white skin, a long nose, and a couple of big knockers! Woohoo! Face it, Thai women (you of the tiny waists, blemish-free skin, delicate limbs and lustrous hair) you have nothing on me!

dream on Lucie