In recent years, many college students have sought cosmetic procedures before graduation—such as hyaluronic acid injections or double eyelid surgery—to enhance their appearance and gain a competitive edge. While personal choice is valid, two male students recently faced a different predicament: employers demanded they undergo hyaluronic acid injections, leaving them with 30,000 yuan in debt.
Male College Students Forced to Get Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Job, Left with ¥30,000 Debt
Xiao Bao and Xiao Ru, both 19-year-old sophomore students at Taizhou Open University, were seeking internships when they found an administrative assistant job posting on a website and went for an interview.
Upon arriving at the company, they were instead suggested to become game streamers and taken to a cosmetic surgery clinic where each received nine injections of hyaluronic acid. Initially, the company claimed it would cover the costs, but after a round of registration procedures, the expenses unexpectedly became installment loans that Xiao Bao and Xiao Ru had to shoulder.
After leaving the clinic, Xiao Bao and Xiao Ru sensed something was amiss. Their families also suspected the company had used the job offer as a pretext to lure the students into cosmetic procedures.
Company representatives countered that minor cosmetic procedures are essential for streamers to build their image, though not mandatory. They claimed the injections were administered only after the two signed consent forms. The company stated that if Xiaobao and Xiaoru wished to terminate their contracts, they could do so without penalty, but they would be responsible for the cost of the injections.
What are the cosmetic benefits of hyaluronic acid?Are there risks associated with hyaluronic acid injections?
Hyaluronic acid has become a highly popular cosmetic material in recent years. Professor Jiang Ping, Chief Physician of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery at Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, previously explained: "Hyaluronic acid, commonly known as hyaluronan, is a polysaccharide widely present in the connective tissue of vertebrates. Its primary functions include moisture retention and increasing skin volume, resulting in a plump, full, and elastic appearance."
Therefore, Professor Jiang Ping noted that hyaluronic acid is a common dermal filler in cosmetic procedures. "Hyaluronic acid possesses six key characteristics: moisture retention, non-antigenicity, antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, viscoelasticity, and high biocompatibility. It can be used for injectable wrinkle reduction, effectively treating tear troughs, nasolabial folds, and other facial lines that appear with age.It also serves for contouring and shaping, including rhinoplasty, chin augmentation, filling sunken temples, flattening foreheads, and addressing hollow cheeks, providing sculpting effects; and enhancing individual features like lip plumping and apple cheek augmentation."
From the above examples, both young men are precisely at the age of being "young heartthrobs." The company likely brought them in for hyaluronic acid injections primarily for facial contouring and shaping procedures, such as rhinoplasty or chin augmentation.
Hyaluronic acid offers powerful functionality in cosmetic procedures. While its effects are not permanent, Professor Jiang Ping informed the editor of Public Health Network that hyaluronic acid injections are generally safe. Seekers of beauty need only choose doctors from reputable institutions and need not worry about toxicity from repeated injections. "The safety of hyaluronic acid injections largely depends on the doctor. Improper technique may cause the needle tip to puncture a blood vessel, leading to retrograde flow and blockage, which could result in blindness or other complications."Hyaluronic acid and the frequency of injections are unrelated to facial paralysis concerns. However, facial swelling may occur post-injection. Patients need not worry, as this swelling often indicates the treatment is taking effect and does not require resolution."