Medical Safety Gaps Behind the Rapidly Growing Market
Serious Issues with Evasion of Responsibility and Unlicensed Procedures
As appearance-based values have become deeply rooted in China, the plastic surgery market is expanding rapidly, and there has been a surge in cases of patients reporting severe side effects after procedures.
A woman who underwent plastic surgery in China revealed her face altered by side effects. Photo by Global Times
On September 18, local media outlet Jimu News reported that a woman in Shanghai, identified as Ms. A (58), revealed the condition of her face just 10 days after undergoing plastic surgery. In the video, Ms. A's entire face is wrapped in bandages, and the areas around her eyes and mouth are deeply discolored in a dark purple hue. Although it is unclear whether she is experiencing pain or inflammation, her appearance appears to be in a serious state.
As the surgical areas turned dark and the swelling did not subside, she described herself as "looking like a panda" and warned about the dangers of plastic surgery. Ms. A said, "It's been quite some time since the procedure, but instead of the swelling going down, the bruising is getting worse," adding, "I made the decision out of a desire to look prettier, but now I regret it. I urge everyone to think carefully before making such a choice."
Similar cases of faces turning "panda-like" after surgery have been reported in the past. In 2022, Ms. B (in her 50s), who lived in Changsha, Hunan Province, suffered side effects such as widespread bruising and swelling across her entire face after undergoing eye surgery, including fat grafting. When she sought treatment at the hospital, the facility had already changed its name and refused to take responsibility, claiming it had no connection to the past.
Ultimately, Ms. B pursued legal action through the Medical Dispute Mediation Committee, but it is reported that the case remains unresolved. She lamented that her quality of life had significantly deteriorated, saying, "I can't go outside, and even at home, I have no choice but to wear sunglasses."
Chinese actress Gao Lu has been suffering from severe side effects since immediately after undergoing nose plastic surgery in 2020. Screenshot from Gao Lu's Weibo
Even Celebrities Are Not Exempt... Reports of Severe Aftereffects
In China, plastic surgery is no longer exclusive to a particular social class. As popular influencers openly share their pre- and post-surgery experiences with the public, not only young women but also middle-aged and older adults are increasingly seeking cosmetic procedures. As a result, the Chinese plastic surgery industry is experiencing rapid growth, to the extent that it is now referred to as the "appearance economy."
According to China Industry Research Network, the Chinese medical beauty market is expected to exceed 410 billion yuan (approximately 80 trillion won) this year, representing a growth of more than 15% compared to the previous year.
However, experts point out that the growth of this market does not correspond to improvements in medical safety. There is still a shortage of properly licensed medical institutions, and unauthorized procedures, exaggerated advertising, and evasion of responsibility are widespread.
Singer and actress Gao Lu (31) also suffered a severe complication after rhinoplasty in 2020, developing an infection that led to necrosis of the skin at the tip of her nose. She confessed, "The skin turned black and began to rot," and revealed that she even had suicidal thoughts due to the psychological distress. As a result, she had to withdraw from a scheduled drama and was forced to pay hundreds of millions of won in penalty fees. Since then, she has been actively raising awareness about the risks of plastic surgery.
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