China today is home to over 1.3 billion people—or 20 percent of the world's population. In recent years, the country has undergone many changes and its culture is rapidly expanding into new and different avenues of interest, including cosmetic surgery.
Only 20 years ago, plastic surgery was restricted to a small number of doctors. Two decades later, figures provided by the Chinese government show that the Chinese spend $2.4 billion a year on cosmetic surgery with an estimated 1 million operations performed annually.
Cosmetic Surgery Poster Child
In 2003, CNN did a segment on a young Chinese woman named Lucy Hao. Hao, who underwent 12 operations in 4 months to achieve a higher nose, larger eyes, bigger breasts, and slimmer figure, became a living billboard for cosmetic procedures in China.
She became the spokesperson for the hospital where the work was completed and set a kind of precedent for the country's plastic surgery industry.
“Lucy will become a public image and make people realize that she has become more beautiful because of surgeries performed by Chinese doctors,” a doctor in the hospital said.
Power in Beauty
According to China Daily , a survey conducted on China's university graduates found that 54.3 percent of new job seekers felt that physical appearance was a defining factor in securing a viable position.
Li Fei, a young college student who underwent eyelid reconstruction, feels that the creased eyelids will improve her chances of securing a good job and husband after she graduates.
“Liposuctions and eyelid surgery are among our most popular procedures,” commented Belinda Wang, Marketing Manager at Beijings VIV International Medical Beauty Clinic.
Wang, who is optimistic about the future of plastic surgery in her country, said there is a rapidly developing “beauty” economy in China.
Increase in Demand
A ccording to the Chinese government statistics, the country has more then 10,000 medical facilities that perform cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures. The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences said that in Beijing, the number of licensed plastic surgery centers jumped from 57 in mid-2003 to more then 100 in 2007.
At Beijing's Plastic Surgery Hospital, the country's largest facility, plastic surgeons perform 50 procedures a day—double what it was three years ago.
Cao Yilin, head of plastic surgery unit at Shanghai's Ninth People's Hospital states that "young people today accept Western culture. They think the breast is a symbol of the woman so a woman without a breast is not really a woman."
The cost of plastic surgery varies according to where it is done, but the most inexpensive procedure is usually an eyelid enlargement, which averages about $300, and the most expensive is facial reconstruction, which costs about $7,500.
Miss Plastic Surgery
In October 2004, China held a beauty contest for so-called “man-made” beauties. The idea for the contest came after a woman in China was banned from traditional beauty contests because she had spent $13,000 on 11 cosmetic procedures.
Feng Qian, 22 beat out nearly two dozen other contestants including a transsexual and a 62 year old pensioner. Ms Feng stated that she had surgery to enhance her beauty, but she also acknowledged what it would do for her career.
“Natural beauty and cosmetic surgery beauty are the same and they should be recognized as that,” said Ms. Feng, who studied at Jilin Plastic Surgery Hospital and who has certificates showing she had 4 operations.
Implications for the U.S.
As the beauty market booms, China is able to develop and provide more up-to-date beauty enhancement technologies—technologies that can be shared with patients and surgeons the world over.
Those interested in the latest procedures in cosmetic surgery should consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. To find a qualified surgeon in your area, please contact us today.
(Article by: Donna Corrado)