What is the emerging trend on social media, which, despite being noted in advance, from old to young are racing to follow?

It is known that this trend is only popular on social networking forums, starting from Chinese online platforms. The reason is because of the uniqueness but brings unexpected results.

After buttocks or prosthetic breasts, the latest body part to be faked is the navel. Fake umbilical patches are used similarly to temporary tattoos, usually applied a few centimeters above the real navel to create the feeling of longer legs.

On Pinduoduo, one of China's largest online shopping platforms, the bestseller offers two 32-pack stickers for less than 4 yuan (about 13,000 dong) and receives 4,400 online orders.

Not only on e-commerce platforms, these fake navel belly buttons are also popular on many Chinese social networking sites.

A girl who uses a fake navel shared on Xiaohongshu: "I feel depressed and lack confidence every summer. I wanted to wear stylish and sexy outfits but was hampered by my physique.

It's lucky to have fake umbilical patches. They adhere well, are non-reflective and even waterproof. I'm willing to call this the most successful invention of 2023."

On Douyin, another woman stated, "This is not only a fake umbilical patch, it is also a tool to help me cheat my body proportions, become more confident."

Many people also shared tips for using makeup powder to even out the skin tone of the abdomen, making the sticker look more realistic.

Prosthetic umbilical patches aren't the only beauty tools popular on social media in China. Prosthetic breasts, fake buttocks, false shoulders, fake collarbones and even fake noses are also hot products, which many women are interested in.

Prosthetic buttocks are said to be able to create a lifted-up appearance for a person's back and compliment the natural curves of the body. While prosthetic shoulders can make narrow shoulders look wider, creating a "perpendicular shoulder" shape is now popular among online fashion and beauty circles.

According to the South China Morning Post, e-commerce platforms in the country of billions of people also sell fake shoulders, fake collarbones and even fake noses. The trend of using fake navels, breasts and buttocks by Chinese women has raised concerns about body image issues on social media in the country.

However, amid the wave of use of these prostheses by the younger generation, many people are also concerned that these "beautiful" parts may aggravate worries about a woman's appearance.

"I wonder how these women can come to terms with their real body shape after removing fake umbilical patches, breast pads, butt pads and other accessories," one person expressed.

Nan, a fashion influencer with more than 2 million followers on Weibo, said that for many women, these products give them confidence in the same way other beauty apps have done for years.

"The more functions these products have, the more popular they become. The underlying mentality is hard to ignore and the fact that beauty is of significant importance in people's lives," she said.

In response to concerns about anxiety related to appearance and the use of these products, Nan said that as women get older, their anxiety about their appearance will decrease.

"The joy and praise brought by physical beauty can be irresistible. As age increases, even the most advanced aesthetic technologies cannot stand the test of time. Women will definitely find other sources of happiness," Nan said.

The prevalence of prosthetic body parts products is not merely a beauty trend but also shows the changing perception of body image and confidence of Chinese women today.