Wang Yafei, a 22-year-old transgender woman from Liaoning province in northeastern China, has issued a stark warning about the risks of cosmetic surgery after spending millions of yuan on procedures that left her with a deformed mouth. Known online as Meina, Wang has 2.2 million followers on Douyin. She initially turned to plastic surgery after facing online ridicule for her masculine features. However, after a jawbone reduction operation in January, her mother could not recognize her upon her return home.
On May 18, Meina posted a video revealing she had spent 1.3 million yuan (US$183,000) on plastic surgery, resulting in numerous complications. She stated, “Now when I smile, my mouth is crooked and my eyes are uneven.” Her friend, Taohua Baobao, also from Liaoning province and with 240,000 Douyin followers, shared similar issues after spending 2.4 million yuan on cosmetic procedures. Taohua Baobao suffers from constant twitching in her left eye due to excessive hyaluronic acid injections, which have compressed a nerve.
Both women have warned others about the dangers of unnecessary plastic surgery. Taohua Baobao, who has undergone more than 400 hyaluronic acid injections over eight years, experienced severe complications after a recent buttock enhancement procedure in Thailand. The injections led to an infection due to the interaction with previously administered substances. This incident highlights the risks associated with frequent and excessive cosmetic treatments.
Plastic surgery is rapidly growing in popularity in China, with an estimated 23.5 million patients undergoing procedures in 2023, according to Chinese market research firm MobTech. Many patients are young women influenced by celebrities and internet personalities’ often unattainable beauty standards. One such example is He Chengxi from Guangdong province, who spent 8 million yuan (US$1.1 million) over eight years to look like her idol, actress Fan Bingbing.
The cosmetic industry in China is rife with medical disputes, with only 12 per cent of the 13,000 beauty clinics complying with legal regulations, according to iResearch. In February 2021, actress Gao Liu posted photos of her face on Weibo after cosmetic surgery left her with necrosis on part of her nose. Similarly, in January of the previous year, a 43-year-old woman from Anhui province died during a cosmetic fat-removal operation due to medical negligence.
These cases underscore the potential dangers of cosmetic surgery and the importance of considering the risks before undergoing such procedures. Wang Yafei’s and Taohua Baobao’s experiences serve as cautionary tales for anyone contemplating cosmetic enhancements.
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