"Black injections" have caused blindness in many! Amid the rampant proliferation of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, the injectable treatments pursued by countless beauty-conscious women carry significant risks!
In recent years, clinical settings frequently encounter cases of complications from "injections" and "minimally invasive procedures."
One office worker had her forehead and temples augmented at a beauty salon using fillers claimed to be "imported from Hong Kong," resulting in blindness in one eye.A director-level woman underwent Botox injections for wrinkle reduction at a beauty salon, only to suffer necrosis around her eyes and near-blindness in her right eye. Her younger sister, impressed by her colleague's hyaluronic acid results, purchased several vials from a salon to perform a nose augmentation on her older sister. The procedure resulted in hardened lumps and necrosis and occlusion of blood vessels around the eyes and nose.
According to the latest statistics, there are currently over 10,000 beauty institutions nationwide, with a conservative estimate of more than 100,000 practitioners and an annual output value exceeding 10 billion yuan. However, the industry is rife with chaos, with the most significant issues being "unlicensed medical practice" and "practice outside licensed specialties." It is crucial to restore "cosmetic surgery" to its essence as "medical aesthetics."
Medical aesthetics encompasses cosmetic surgery, dermatology, dentistry, and traditional Chinese medicine. Yet today, many equate "aesthetics" solely with cosmetic procedures like injections or minimally invasive surgery. Even within the medical field, surgeons perform cheek reduction surgeries—a clear case of "non-specialist practice." Surgeons are undertaking work belonging to maxillofacial or oral surgery, despite "many facial deformities stemming from bite issues."
Many experts acknowledge that the misuse of terms like "plastic surgery" or "cosmetic surgery" is the root cause of public confusion about "medical aesthetics." Numerous establishments authorized only for non-medical cosmetic services exploit this confusion to engage in illegal medical aesthetics practices.
Three Major Risks of "Black Market Injections"
What dangers do individuals face when receiving injectable treatments at non-medical spas or salons?
1. Technical Risks
Injectable procedures—such as hyaluronic acid nose augmentation—require precise placement near the periosteum to avoid nodule formation or hardening. Proper skin tension must be maintained to prevent compromised blood supply, which could lead to necrosis of the injected area's skin and tissue.How can non-medical professionals achieve such precision?
The primary issue is technical expertise. Medical aesthetics differs from lifestyle beauty treatments, requiring specialized knowledge in dermatology, surgery, dentistry, oral medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine. For instance, laser treatments demand more than a "laser aesthetician" title—practitioners must hold a clinical physician license, complete over three years of dermatology clinical work, and pass specialized medical aesthetics training before operating lasers.
"In reality, a certain well-known beauty institution claims to have a 200-person professional team, but only a handful actually possess medical backgrounds," experts state. Under such circumstances, it's no wonder that "beauty treatments end up disfiguring instead of enhancing."
II. Material Risks
Upon incision, doctors discovered that the so-called "protein nutrient" fillers were actually obsolete silicone oil or paraffin oil—or even "Omedin" disguised as hyaluronic acid!
The second major risk stems from materials of unknown origin or substandard quality.Women who undergo breast augmentation or rhinoplasty injections at beauty salons or high-end spas often experience persistent redness, swelling, pain, and hardness at the injection sites for two to three months, or even up to half a year.
Experts emphasize that when undergoing injectable cosmetic procedures at non-medical facilities, it is crucial to scrutinize the materials used. Verify the manufacturer and product identification by checking the National Medical Products Administration website to confirm legality. Furthermore, do not be deceived by so-called "nutritional supplements," "human placenta extracts," or "stem cell" cosmetic products.
III. Risks of Unlicensed Practice
The third major risk of "black market injections" lies in institutional violations. Medical aesthetics cannot be performed simply by opening a beauty salon; it requires registration with health authorities. Otherwise, while no issues may arise initially, complications later would constitute patronizing unlicensed practitioners, leaving victims with no avenue for compensation. This is especially true for "office lunch beauty" services that "deliver treatments to your doorstep," which may not even have a fixed business location.