A man in China said he spent about 800 million won on hyaluronic acid procedures to artificially create "eight-pack abs," stirring controversy.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 11th (local time) that a Chinese man active on social media under the name "Andy Hao Tiannan" claimed, "I am the first person in China to create artificial abs."
According to the report, Hao, from Heilongjiang province, is an influencer with about 100,000 followers who mainly posts fashion and beauty content. He says about 20% of his body is made up of hyaluronic acid.
Hao said he spent 4 million yuan (about 820 million won) to receive hyaluronic acid injections a total of 40 times in the shoulders, collarbones, chest, and abdomen. "I couldn't build the muscular body I wanted through exercise, so I chose cosmetic procedures," he said, adding, "I fully agree with the saying that muscles don't grow on cowards. But please understand. I've had too many injections. I'm no longer a coward. Would you dare to do the same?"
He said he has already completed 40% of his target of 10,000 injections, and if the procedure-created abs last for three years, he will seek to be listed in the Guinness World Records for the longest-lasting artificial abs made with hyaluronic acid.
He also said he would do a live broadcast "cracking walnuts with my abs." In a video released last month, he expressed satisfaction even five months after the procedure, saying, "There is no swelling in the muscles at all, and the ab lines are still clear."
Experts, however, warned that such procedures can cause serious side effects. Li Jialun, a plastic surgeon in Wuhan, Hebei province, said, "Repeatedly injecting hyaluronic acid dozens of times can damage skin tissue and increase the risk of vascular necrosis," noting, "If the procedure is performed on muscle areas with a lot of movement, there is a high possibility of shape distortion."
Li added, "Hyaluronic acid or fillers can compress the muscles and actually reduce muscle mass, and after they dissolve in the body, the muscles may look even weaker."
The controversy is also continuing on Chinese social media. Some users criticized, saying, "With 4 million yuan, you could buy protein supplements for life and still have money left," while others reacted cynically, saying, "If he doesn't go around shirtless every day, the investment will feel wasted."