BEIJING | The photos of the disfigured nose of an actress after a failed cosmetic surgery on Friday sparked a torrent of indignant reactions in China on social networks, in a country where candidates are however legion.
The cosmetic surgery sector is booming in China, fueled by rising incomes, the westernization of society and the desire to increase one’s chances of getting a job.
Chinese actress and singer Gao Liu hoped that rhinoplasty would boost her career.
But the operation at the end of October turned out to be “nightmarish”, she wrote this week to her five million subscribers on the social network Weibo, photos in support.
The young woman in her twenties appears there with bandages and bruises on her nose, the tip of which, visibly infected, is blackened. These images contrast with other shots that show the actress posing, smiling with a youthful face.
“I thought that four hours [d’opération] would make me more beautiful, but I did not imagine that they would be the beginning of a nightmare ”which would require additional interventions, regrets Ms. Gao.
The actress says she was hospitalized for 61 days and lost some 400,000 yuan (CAD $ 79) by not being able to work.
His post sparked strong reactions on social media in China and the hashtag “why cosmetic surgery is becoming more common” had more than 330 million views on the Weibo platform on Friday.
“I feel so bad for Gao Liu. Everyone should take this as a warning and be aware of the risks of cosmetic surgery, ”wrote one user whose comment was“ liked ”over 100,000 times.
“This hospital is a real scam!” Railed another, calling for the establishment to be denounced.
Cabinets and specialized clinics have flourished in recent years in China, especially in the country’s major cities.
Some 15.2 million patients went under the knife last year, according to a study by Chinese firm iiMedia.