Street Talk: Dr Edmund Chan
Dr. Edmund Chan, a specialist in plastic surgery, shares with us some of his professional experience, his views on beauty, and his advice for those considering a plastic upgrade.
HK Magazine: What do you think about the women who recently had to have their breasts removed beacause of faulty gel?
Edmund Chan: It reflects that there is a discrepancy between desire and social constraints. Many Oriental women have flat chests and want fuller breasts. The desire is there, but since our culture discourages surgery, they don’t dare to have it. That’s why they opt for less intrusive procedures such as the PAAG injection without considering its safety. Or they might use breast-augmenting cream, which is not scientifically proven to be effective.
HK: What are some of the misconceptions about plastic surgery?
EC: Plastic surgery is not molding. You can’t come to me and say that you want a celebrity’s nose or the Buddha’s ears. It doesn’t make sense. What you ask for should be something that goes with your other facial features. Plastic surgery has a therapeutic aspect.
HK: What are the trends in cosmetic surgery here?
EC: People in Hong Kong are getting more and more open about it. The average age of patients is also getting younger and younger – and the guys have joined in as well. Guys today need to keep up with their looks.
HK: How do you define beauty?
EC: Beauty is from the inside out. A good-looking girl with awkward movements is ugly. A lot of girls in Hong Kong are arrogant. They have that, Oh-I-am-the-most-beautiful-girl-in-the-world look on their faces, and yet, that’s plain ugly to me. Harmony is very crucial too.
HK: What's the most important aspect of a woman's appearance?
EC: I would say that for most guys, facial features and figures are equally important. How she dresses is less important.
HK: Do you agree with the saying, ”There are no ugly women, only lazy ones”?
EC: No. Beauty is not something that can be achieved by simple diligence – neither appearance-wise nor personality-wise. You may work very hard on your look or personality, yet remain ...unbeautiful.