Kuala Lumpur, Nov 3 An increasing number of Asian women are going for boob-boosting surgeries to improve their self-esteem.

The rise in the number is also due to the techniques, which are getting simpler and much safer than before.

Bigger breasts can be achieved within 20 minutes by a competent plastic surgeon and the patient can get back to work within 24-48 hours with a massive boost in her self-confidence.

Renowned Swedish plastic surgeon Dr Charles Randquist told Bernama from Victoriakliniken, Stockholm via Skype, that breast augmentation is something that lots of women in Asia desire at present "because it is all about quality of life".

"Modern women today don't want to feel that they are missing out. Natural proportional looking breast is closely related to femininity and something that may be part of self-esteem and thereby confidence in many aspects," The Daily Chilli quoted him as saying.

"Therefore, due to safe and predictable long-term results, more women seek this procedure as part of feeling well," he added.

However, he warned, saying: "I want to be perfectly clear, that although this may play a role in well being, in no way should this be considered as a solution for other problems, and patients should always be realistic in their expectations."

Randquist said while many women may think about breast augmentation, it is important to understand the risks involved.

He also noted that with breast augmentation and cosmetic surgery gaining greater acceptance in the increasingly affluent Asian society, there is a need to follow golden standards in the profession.

"The surgical golden rule is to be honest with oneself, and with one's patient's results, short and long-term complications. For instance, not every patient should have surgery. And the doctor should advise accordingly.

"If patients have unrealistic expectations, or if you feel that you will not be doing something good for the patient you should not perform surgery on the patient.

"You have to turn her down. But if they should decide to have surgery, this surgery should be based on good and safe surgical principles using scientific evaluated devises/implants that have lifetime guarantees!" he said.

Randquist is hosting the first Asian Breast Aesthetic Symposium in collaboration with Malaysian partners at the Gleneagles Hospital. (ANI)