After undergoing double eyelid surgery, the patient still had single eyelids and was denied a refund. On October 7th, 23-year-old Xiao Wang tearfully recounted her ordeal. Undercover investigations revealed that many street-side nail and hair salons advertise double eyelid procedures. Once customers arrive, they are often "referred" to beauty salons for commissions.These salons operate covertly, some hiding in office buildings or residential complexes, setting up just a few beds to perform surgeries. Officials from the Municipal Health Supervision Bureau stated that invasive procedures involving scalpels or needles constitute medical acts. When non-medical beauty salons offer such services, it constitutes illegal medical practice.
Case 1
Double Eyelid Surgery That Fails to Deliver Visible Results
"I had double eyelid surgery at a beauty salon, but over the past few months, the crease has become increasingly faint—my friends can't even tell it's there," shared 23-year-old Ms. Wang with our reporter.
On May 21 this year, Ms. Wang visited the Ma Guiying Beauty and Body Care Center on Zhangzhou 2nd Road for consultation. The front desk staff assured her that the doctor would design the procedure based on her eye shape, guaranteeing excellent results. Eager to enhance her appearance, Ms. Wang immediately paid a 500 yuan deposit and booked her surgery date.
On May 27th, at the Taidong branch of Ma Guiying Beauty and Body Care, she underwent a procedure called "high-molecular positioning" double eyelid surgery. Ms. Wang told the reporter that she felt a sharp sting when the anesthetic was injected, but then lost sensation. However, during the surgery on her right eye, there seemed to be significant bleeding, and someone kept pressing a cotton ball against her eyelid.
After the surgery, she did indeed develop double eyelids and was initially satisfied with the shape. However, shortly thereafter, she noticed the creases gradually fading. By October, the double eyelids were barely visible.
On October 7, the reporter met with Ms. Wang. Due to the liposuction performed on her eyelids, her eye area showed noticeable skin laxity, giving the appearance of triple eyelids.Ms. Wang stated that post-surgery, she experienced persistent dryness and discomfort in her eyes. She contacted the beauty salon twice demanding a refund, but both requests were denied.
The reporter accompanied Ms. Wang to Ma Guiying Beauty & Body Care. A staff member surnamed Yu responded that they could only offer further corrective procedures until she was satisfied. "We run a business. Once the procedure is complete, refunds are impossible."
Case Two
Two Revisions to "Fix" Double Eyelids
Ms. Li, 23, recently entered the workforce. Recalling the double eyelid surgeries she underwent three years ago, she still feels regret. Though she naturally had double eyelids while in school, she felt they weren't attractive enough. To enhance her appearance, she opted for a double eyelid suture procedure."I figured since I already had double eyelids, it would be simple. I just picked a random place," Ms. Li said. In late 2009, she paid 800 yuan for the procedure at a small beauty salon in Licang District, but the results were far from ideal."My eyes felt uncomfortable when open, with a wide gap between the two folds that looked worse than my natural appearance." The salon insisted this was the intended result, leaving Ms. Li helpless.
In 2010, through a friend's recommendation, she underwent another double eyelid procedure at a different salon in Licang District. "I knew nothing about it then. The salon staff redrew my eye shape and reinserted another suture line."With two sutures suddenly embedded in her eyelids, Ms. Li discovered post-surgery that not only did it fail to correct the issue, but the two sutures made her eyes look unnatural. What began as a pursuit of beauty unexpectedly led her further away from her goal, leaving her deeply insecure for a time.
Out of desperation, Ms. Li finally went to a large cosmetic surgery institution to have the sutures removed and underwent another procedure. After three surgeries, she finally felt "presentable again.". Investigation Street Nail Salons Lure Customers for Commissions On October 7th, a reporter visited the area near the Weihai Road overpass. Outside a tiny nail salon—barely three or four square meters—stood an advertisement board bearing the words "Double Eyelids." When asked if they performed double eyelid surgery, the shop owner replied affirmatively, though not at the salon itself.The owner confirmed it was possible but stated the procedure wouldn't be performed at the nail salon; she could arrange for it elsewhere.
"We have a beauty salon. If you're certain about getting double eyelids, I'll take you there," a woman surnamed Ma at Fu'er Nail Salon on Taidong 8th Road told the reporter. She explained she personally performs the surgeries. "If you go to other nail salons, they also send customers to me for the procedure, and their prices are higher. We all have cooperative arrangements."The woman explained.
At New Sensation Hair Salon on Xiazhuang Road in Licang District, advertisements for double eyelid surgery were also displayed. Staff mentioned they partner with several beauty salons, allowing customers to choose their preferred salon while the salon arranges transportation for the procedure.
In a row of storefronts beneath the Women and Children's Products Wholesale Market on Weihai Road, a salon named "Lady's House Nail Salon" stood out prominently. Outside its entrance, a sign displayed advertisements for "Double Eyelid Surgery," "Nose Augmentation," and "Permanent Makeup." Staff informed the reporter that double eyelid procedures were performed at their affiliated beauty salon.
Guided by staff, the reporter arrived at an office building near the wholesale market. A woman led them into a small room near the balcony. Introducing herself as Zhao, she explained she performed double eyelid surgeries. "I used to be a nurse. This procedure is simple—we do it right here. Don't worry. Sometimes I do seven or eight surgeries a day."
The reporter then visited Fu'er Nail Salon on Taidong 8th Road. After examining the reporter's eyes, a woman surnamed Ma at the salon stated that surgical incisions were too painful. She claimed the most popular method now was physical positioning—after designing the double eyelid, just one injection around the eye was needed.When the reporter expressed unfamiliarity with physical positioning, Ma dismissed it with disdain, noting she'd been performing double eyelid procedures for eight years. She claimed the suture method was outdated, having been obsolete for years. "The suture method is on special for over 300 yuan, but physical positioning is quick, simple, and requires no incisions. The pure imported medication costs 1,980 yuan."
At a beauty salon on the eighth floor of the Women and Children's Products Wholesale Market, a woman surnamed Zhao also recommended PC positioning and polymer positioning techniques. She explained that physical positioning originated in South Korea several years ago, using drug injections to fix the eye shape. Prices range from 980 to 3000 yuan, though like surgical methods, it requires anesthesia.
During interviews, the reporter observed that these nail salons and beauty parlors all claim to be non-surgical, promoting concepts like physical positioning, PC positioning, and polymer methods that confuse customers.
Statement
Any surgical procedure performed by a beauty salon constitutes illegal medical practice.
"Drug injections require piercing the skin, which is an unambiguous medical procedure."On October 7, a representative from the Municipal Health Supervision Bureau stated that lifestyle beauty salons lack the qualifications to perform such procedures, making their practice illegal. "Many salons administer anesthetics during procedures like permanent makeup—this is a classic medical act and absolutely prohibited. Administering any medication to customers is also forbidden."
According to the official, regulations stipulate that any procedure involving skin penetration constitutes medical practice and must be performed in licensed medical facilities. "Even qualified doctors must operate within their licensed scope and registered practice locations. Beauty salons lack surgical qualifications; performing procedures there remains illegal even if conducted by licensed doctors."
Health inspectors caution consumers to distinguish between lifestyle beauty services and medical aesthetics. Any procedure involving skin penetration falls under medical aesthetics and must be performed at licensed medical facilities. "Lifestyle beauty salons often lack adequate sterilization equipment and employ unqualified staff. This not only compromises customers' beauty and appearance but also poses serious risks of disease transmission."