"Without hyaluronic acid, female celebrities couldn't survive!" declared S in her early book Beauty Queen. Today, following celebrity endorsements, hyaluronic acid has become the gold standard in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, widely used for wrinkle reduction, nose augmentation, lip enhancement, and chin contouring. However, some women who chose the wrong places for injections ended up spending a lot of money and suffering physical consequences.
Case 1: Woman Spends 80,000 Yuan on "Hyaluronic Acid" Injections, Ends Up with Health Issues
In February this year, Ms. Wang from Foshan received eight injections of so-called "imported hyaluronic acid" at a beauty salon in Nanhai. That same evening, she felt unwell all over. Salon staff explained that such reactions were normal for first-time users due to individual differences. Persuaded by this, Ms. Wang spent nearly 80,000 yuan over multiple sessions, receiving a total of 27 hyaluronic acid injections in her face.Unexpectedly, her headaches intensified, and her neck lymph nodes became severely swollen.
During an investigation, reporters discovered the salon's promotional brochure prominently displayed a beauty price list offering "Hyaluronic Acid Hydration" treatments at 3,000 yuan per session. However, according to regulations, any business performing cosmetic procedures must hold a Medical Practice License. This salon displayed no such certification.The so-called "genuine imported hyaluronic acid" injected by the salon featured blurred scale markings on the syringe, lacked a needle, and exhibited extremely crude craftsmanship.Professional analysis confirmed Ms. Wang received counterfeit hyaluronic acid. Genuine hyaluronic acid is colorless, odorless, and water-like in consistency—never oily or sticky.
The image shows the counterfeit hyaluronic acid injected into Ms. Wang, which is visibly oily and viscous.
A professional cosmetic surgeon warned that counterfeit injections can cause inflammation and fever at best, and may even lead to cancer in severe cases.
The so-called "imported hyaluronic acid" actually originates like this:
It is understood that currently, only one type of imported hyaluronic acid is approved by China's State Food and Drug Administration: Restylane 2, produced by Sweden's Q-med. Kemei International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. is its sole authorized distributor in China. Furthermore, to ensure the safety and efficacy for consumers seeking beauty treatments, Restylane 2 employs a unique authorization system in China. This means that the general public can only receive legitimate Restylane injections at authorized medical aesthetic institutions.Non-medical beauty salons lack the necessary medical aesthetics credentials and cannot obtain Restylane® through legitimate channels.
Furthermore, genuine Restylane® comes in sealed packaging. The 1ml package contains one disposable glass syringe and two 30G needles, with clear, standard graduations visible on the syringe. The 0.5ml package contains one disposable glass syringe and one 30G needle.
The "imported hyaluronic acid" injected into Ms. Wang by the beauty salon didn't even come with a needle.
So how do some beauty salons claiming to offer "imported hyaluronic acid" actually obtain their "hyaluronic acid"?Investigations reveal two primary scenarios:
1. Substituting counterfeits for genuine products
Unable to source hyaluronic acid through legitimate channels, salons facing high demand resort to risky substitutions. They pass off other injectable materials—such as hyaluronic acid injections used for arthritis treatment—as authentic hyaluronic acid. These substitutes offer only one week of efficacy but do not cause disfigurement.More dangerously, unscrupulous salons prioritize profit over consumer safety, illegally using banned substances like "Omedin," liquid silicone, or even unidentified materials as counterfeit hyaluronic acid. This causes consumers immense suffering, often resulting in disfigurement and lifelong complications.Doctors Bringing Their Own Supplies
Some salons lacking the capability to provide or administer hyaluronic acid hire doctors from legitimate hospitals to perform procedures off-site. Unscrupulous doctors with no sense of medical ethics or responsibility may reuse leftover hyaluronic acid from one client, simply changing the needle before injecting it into another. This practice significantly increases the risk of indirect viral transmission. Furthermore, once opened, hyaluronic acid exposed to air for extended periods can deteriorate, leading to various complications when injected into the body.
Case 2: Woman Develops Complications After Breast Augmentation with Omedin Passed Off as Hyaluronic Acid
Three years ago, Ms. Yang from Nanjing underwent breast augmentation injections at a beauty salon. While the initial results were satisfactory, she began experiencing frequent sharp pains in her breasts over the years, accompanied by abnormal lumps around the breast area. This left Ms. Yang anxious and unable to eat or sleep, fearing her breast augmentation procedure might be the cause.She mustered the courage to undergo a thorough examination at a local licensed plastic surgery hospital. The results confirmed her fears: the complications stemmed from the breast augmentation material. Doctors revealed that the "hyaluronic acid" injected by the beauty salon was not genuine hyaluronic acid, but rather Omedin—a substance long banned internationally. Fortunately, Ms. Yang's symptoms appeared early, and with timely intervention, the Omedin could be largely removed.
Risks of Hyaluronic Acid Breast Augmentation: Not Approved in China
As cosmetic surgery knowledge becomes more widespread, many beauty-conscious women have a basic understanding of hyaluronic acid, commonly used for wrinkle reduction, nose augmentation, and lip enhancement. However, few are aware of its potential for breast augmentation. In fact, China has not approved hyaluronic acid for breast augmentation purposes. Only a few countries, such as the UK and the US, have authorized its injection for this specific cosmetic goal.
Previous reports indicate that the hyaluronic acid used for this purpose, named Macrolane, is a larger-molecule filler introduced in 2008 by Q-med, the manufacturer of Restylane 2. It is designed to augment areas like the breasts and buttocks. During Macrolane breast augmentation, local anesthesia is administered to the chest, followed by multiple injections of Macrolane using a thick needle.During the procedure, patients experience only mild discomfort, followed by several days of soreness in the breast area. Additionally, the breasts may feel firm initially, but within weeks, the hyaluronic acid begins absorbing moisture and softening, gradually achieving a more natural feel.
Data indicates that Macrolane breast augmentation results last 12-18 months before the filler gradually breaks down completely into carbon dioxide and water, which are then excreted from the body.To maintain the augmentation effect, repeated injections are required. Due to the large volume needed, hyaluronic acid breast augmentation is costly, and frequent injections are often unaffordable for the average household. Regarding potential risks and side effects, some international plastic surgeons have noted that women who undergo Macrolane breast augmentation may experience reduced visibility of glandular tissue during mammograms. This could potentially obscure the detection of cancerous tumors and may cause the formation of lumps and pain in the treated women.
Currently, the hyaluronic acid products Restylane 2 and EME approved for use in China are typically reserved for applications like wrinkle reduction, rhinoplasty, and lip augmentation. Reputable plastic surgery hospitals generally do not offer hyaluronic acid injections for breast augmentation, instead relying on implant placement or autologous fat transfer for breast enhancement.Some lifestyle beauty salons exploit women's fear of surgery by promoting so-called "hyaluronic acid breast augmentation" procedures. In reality, they use counterfeit hyaluronic acid—often substituting banned substances like "Omedin"—with potentially catastrophic consequences.