Some say beauty is a mindset; others say it's a posture; some claim it's authenticity; still others define it as transformation.
So what exactly is beauty?
Philosophers say: Beauty is an attribute that evokes pleasant emotions in people.
Thus women declare to the world with self-sacrificing spirit: For beauty, I'd gladly die.
Truly, this is no exaggeration.
More and more women are seeking beauty at perilous cost!
Readily available counterfeit drugs—unscrupulous fake doctors offering door-to-door services—smooth-talking "medical touts"—together form a complete illegal beauty injection industry chain. One beautiful trap after another lures beauty seekers into dangerous territory.The rampant practice of illegal cosmetic injections is creating a vast number of victims, most of whom refuse to disclose their plight. Precisely because of this, even more beauty seekers, lured by various lies, are stepping into a dangerous abyss.
The price of beauty may well be a face riddled with holes, a tortured, mangled body, and a spirit on the verge of collapse.
Wake up, women seeking beauty.
Stay away from underground cosmetic injections—just as you would drugs—with absolute resolve!
Dangerous Beauty Pursuits
Illegal cosmetic injections are creating a large number of victims, most of whom are unwilling to publicly disclose their suffering. Precisely because of this, even more beauty seekers are being lured by various lies into stepping into a dangerous abyss.
An Endless Stream of "Messes"
Thursday morning, another clinic day.
Just past 11 a.m., Dr. Li Qingfeng had already seen his second patient disfigured by illegal injections. Over the past two to three years, Li has encountered two or three victims of illegal cosmetic injections every clinic week—amounting to hundreds annually.As Director of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital—a major institution renowned for reconstructive procedures—Dr. Li spends significant effort cleaning up the "mess" left by illegal cosmetic injections.
Cosmetic injections emerged as a medical aesthetic technique over the past decade, primarily using injected drugs or fillers to reduce wrinkles and reshape facial or body contours.Compared to traditional surgical cosmetic procedures, injectable treatments are less invasive, making them highly sought after by those pursuing beauty.
As a medical procedure, injectable cosmetic treatments should only be performed in healthcare facilities approved by health authorities. However, over the past decade, illegal injectable cosmetic practices have proliferated, developing into a mature industry chain. Countless individuals seeking beauty have undergone these procedures at the hands of unlicensed practitioners, with many suffering disfiguring injuries.
Xiao Peng, a well-educated professional sitting before her doctor, had a red and swollen nose bridge—the result of an illegal rhinoplasty injection she received last April. Before becoming a victim, she never imagined "unlicensed medical practice" would intersect with her life.
Xiao Peng had many beauty-conscious female friends, many of whom had undergone injectable cosmetic procedures.Xiao Peng was dissatisfied with her nose bridge. A friend recommended a "doctor" who could perform rhinoplasty at her home. According to this "doctor," the material used for augmentation was "hyaluronic acid."
Hyaluronic acid is a filler material used in medical aesthetics. If it is a legitimate product approved by the national drug regulatory authorities, it is generally absorbed by the body within a few months after injection, and the filling effect disappears after absorption.It is precisely because of this characteristic that hyaluronic acid is considered a relatively safe injectable cosmetic material in medical practice.
However, this "doctor" told Xiao Peng that his "hyaluronic acid" lasted for two to three years, priced at 3,000 yuan per injection—slightly cheaper than at a formal hospital. Xiao Peng quietly calculated: if the price was reasonable, the results lasted longer, and the injections could be done at home, sparing her the hassle of queuing and registering at a hospital—why not?
So, an appointment was made, and the "doctor" arrived with an assistant for the home visit. The injection took place in Xiaopeng's bedroom. The process seemed quite "mysterious"—even Xiaopeng's friend wasn't allowed to stay in the room to watch. Lying on the bed, Xiaopeng never saw the packaging of the drug before the "hyaluronic acid" was injected into her nose bridge.
Looking back now, what was injected into her nose was a "time bomb." Ten months later, Xiao Peng noticed her nose bridge becoming red and swollen, with the swelling refusing to subside. Only then did she seek treatment at a legitimate hospital.Xiao Peng hoped doctors could remove the "bomb," but the situation proved far more complicated than she imagined. Like sand seeping into a sponge, extracting these pervasive particles was no easy task, and treatment costs could potentially reach tens of thousands of yuan.
"It's all because I didn't know back then. I thought injections were simple and doing them at home was fine." Peng regretted her past ignorance of the dangers of illegal injections and her gullibility toward the scammer's lies. Speaking to reporters, she repeatedly insisted her story must reach more people. Peng plans to file a police report, hoping to catch the fake doctor practicing medicine illegally. "If we can catch one, it might prevent more people from falling victim."
Yet victims like Xiao Peng who are willing to expose their experiences are far too few. Dr. Sun Baoshan from the Plastic Surgery Department at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital explained that victims remain silent for two main reasons: first, concerns about losing face, facing criticism, and causing family conflicts; second, the high cost and lengthy treatment required for disfigurement often lead victims who have reached "private settlements" with illegal practitioners to remain silent as long as they receive compensation.For illegal clinics, the enormous profits from unauthorized injections far outweigh the risk of compensating disfigurement victims, making them willing to pay to silence complaints.
Silent Victims
Victims of illegal cosmetic injections thus remain hidden in every corner, their numbers impossible to quantify.Yet it is certain that this is a vast group, especially in the past decade as injectable cosmetics have surged in popularity. Illegal underground injectable cosmetic practices have evolved into a mature industrial chain, and the number of victims is rapidly increasing. Infections caused by illegal injectable cosmetics often present complex conditions, forcing victims to seek treatment at legitimate medical institutions. Consequently, victims of illegal injectable cosmetics only surface in the plastic surgery departments of large hospitals.Beyond seeking medical help, these victims rarely file complaints with any institutions. Health department complaint centers also seldom receive reports related to injectable cosmetic procedures. During interviews, journalists faced significant challenges locating victims. One victim refused to meet in person, stating over the phone: "I can't meet you. This matter must remain private. My husband is already having issues with me. If others find out, he'll definitely divorce me."The reporter located the sole victim who had sued an illegal cosmetic clinic, which had just been ordered by the court to pay her compensation. However, the compensation had not yet been received, and this victim declined media coverage of her case, fearing it might anger the clinic and jeopardize her ability to collect the funds. Among those interviewed, Li Shuhua suffered the most severe consequences.At the salon, Li Shuhua underwent breast augmentation injections. Months later, her breasts became infected and necrotic. The resulting inflammation and high fever nearly killed her. It took six months of hospitalization to control the infection. Today, her breasts are completely deformed and covered in scars. Yet as the wife of a successful businessman, Li Shuhua cannot publicly share her story of being deceived in pursuit of beauty, as it would damage her own and her family's reputation.
Dr. Xie Ting, who treated Li Shuhua, told reporters that the vast majority of disfigured patients he encounters are victims of illegal cosmetic injections. Almost none of these patients pursue legal action against the unlicensed clinics or practitioners. They accept their misfortune silently, enduring the disfigurement. To them, seeking beauty only to be disfigured is a scandal too shameful to publicize.
Qi Fazhi, a plastic surgeon at Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital, has also encountered such patients. One middle-aged Shanghai woman underwent a so-called "nano-material" nose augmentation injection at a beauty salon, resulting in multiple areas of necrosis on her nasal bridge and tip.Photographs reveal infection had eaten away at her nasal tip, leaving it appearing as if a piece had been sliced off. To this day, the patient continues to tell friends and colleagues she was injured in a car accident. Like Li Shuhua, Dr. Qi's patient ultimately did not pursue legal action against the beauty salon, unwilling to make a scene or provoke further discontent from her husband.
Victims' silence emboldened underground injectable cosmetic practitioners, who grew increasingly brazen. More and more beauty seekers unwittingly fell into the carefully woven web of lies spun by these illegal practitioners.
The 140,000 Yuan "Breast Ruin"
What troubles doctors most is the difficulty in cleaning up the mess left by illegal cosmetic injections. The primary reason is the bizarre array of materials injected by these practitioners. Once these illegal substances enter the body, they are often extremely difficult to remove. Some are even toxic, complicating treatment.
Dr. Xie Ting vividly recalls the moment Li Shuhua entered his clinic. The woman before him was pale, listless, and feverish, her eyes reflecting the despair born of prolonged pain. She later confided to Dr. Xie that if the infection couldn't be controlled, she intended to take her own life.