THE RISE OF THE REAR
BOTTOM IMPLANTS HAVE NOW OVERTAKEN BREAST IMPLANTS IN THE POPULARITY STAKES, AS BELFIES (THAT’S BUTTOCK SELFIES) PERMEATE INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER – WITH KIM KARDASHIAN LEADING THE CHARGE. AS WE GET READY FOR THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS, EMIRATES WOMEN INVESTIGATES
WORDS : AOIFE STUART-MADGE K im Kardashian’s curves are now so famous that last year they threatened to ‘break the internet’ when a cover shoot with Paper magazine was leaked online. And Kardashian fever shows no signs of abating: the reality star recently topped a survey by cosmetic surgery group Longevita of the most coveted celeb bottoms; and there’s even a Kardashian app which lets you try on Kim’s mind-boggling proportions for size on your own photo.
According to data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, demand for silicone butt implants has doubled since 2013, while fat transplants, dubbed the Brazilian, rose more than 15 per cent. Meanwhile the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery found an even bigger increase in the demand for this surgery: they claim demand for both augmentations and fat transplants had doubled in the last year. On releasing the statistics, Dr Michael Edwards, the society’s president pointed to Instagram, and stars like Kim Kardashian who love to flaunt their fuller behinds online in the name of ‘belfies.’ “It’s social media,” said Dr Edwards. “The Kim Kardashians and the Jennifer Lopezes...”
In fact, the recent surge in demand for butt augmentation surgery has been attributed to the belfieloving Kardashians to such an extent that many in the cosmetic surgery industry now refer to the surgery simply at ‘The Kim’. Longevita plastic surgeon Prof. Dr. Fuat Yuksel, says, “Kim has been popular among women seeking butt augmentation or ‘Brazilian Butt Lifts’ as they are more commonly known, for a few years, but in the last 12 months we’ve had a massive rise in the numbers asking for a Kim Kardashian bum.” He adds, “The Brazilian lift is now one of the most highly sought- after procedures we do – we’ve seen a 200 per cent increase in the number of enquiries for this procedure in the last 12 months alone. Women love beauties like Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian who have bigger bums and are not afraid to flaunt it.” MIDDLE EAST DEMAND And belfie fever has spread to the UAE too. Edwina Viel from the London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery (LCAS) in the Gulf says it’s now one of the most popular surgeries among women in the Middle East. One of the most popular treatments at the Dubai-based surgeries is called ‘The Organic Bottom.’ Edwina’s husband, plastic surgeon Dr Maurizio Viel explains, “This is using the patient’s own fat, usually taken from the abdomen area, and injecting it around the bottom area to enhance or to shape it. This looks and feels very natural, and it is a sought-after procedure because it is the patient’s own ‘organic’ parts so there is no allergic reaction. This is an extremely popular procedure in the Middle East.”
However, if you are going to opt for surgery to boost your caboose, it’s important to do your research and find a reputable clinic. LCAS surgeon, Dr Roberto Viel (Maurizio’s twin brother) has this advice, “Be careful when choosing your doctor. It should be with a doctor with a good reputation in a reputable clinic or hospital. We have seen time and time again, patients who come to us who have been injected with poor quality or illegal fillers by surgeons pretending to be qualified, or after going to other neighbouring countries and choosing their doctors on price rather than qualifications - and are now facing a lifetime of complications. The Dubai Healthcare City, MOH and DHA are extremely strict with licenses but there are people practising under the radar,” he warns.