How to Safeguard Consumers Amid Rising Medical Aesthetic Incidents?

Meibei and Chengdu Badachu Jointly Launch the “Spring Breeze Initiative: Public Welfare Campaign for Eye and Nose Plastic Surgery Revision”

“Although my eyes and nose are artificial, my beauty is real.” This is becoming the beauty mantra of a growing number of trendsetters, reflecting the booming development of China’s medical aesthetics market.

As a rising star in the global medical aesthetics market, China has maintained a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20% in recent years. According to survey data from iiMedia Research, the global medical aesthetics market was valued at approximately $61.5 billion in 2018. During the same period, China’s medical aesthetics market exceeded RMB 200 billion, reaching RMB 224.5 billion. By the end of 2018, China had successfully become the third-largest medical aesthetics market globally, accounting for 10% of the worldwide market share.

However, alongside the rapid development of the medical aesthetics market, reports on “medical aesthetics accidents” have increasingly appeared in the media, unsettling the public. According to incomplete statistics from departments such as the China Consumers Association and the China Hairdressing and Beauty Association, hundreds of thousands of various medical aesthetics accidents have occurred across China over the past decade. Almost every day, individuals suffer disfigurement due to cosmetic surgery, with severe cases even resulting in loss of life.

To prevent similar tragedies from recurring, it is essential to first identify the root cause of the problem.

On June 14, Meibei Plastic Surgery Consultation Network, in collaboration with the Southwest Center of the Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences · Chengdu Badachu, jointly launched the “Spring Breeze Initiative: Public Welfare Campaign for Ocular and Nasal Plastic Surgery Revision.” Experts attending the press conference included Wang Hang, President of the Chengdu Medical Aesthetics Industry Association; Gong Liansheng, Founder of Meibei Plastic Surgery Consultation Network; and Jin Xuekun, Chairman of Sichuan Zhongke Xingmei Hospital Investment Co., Ltd., who engaged in in-depth discussions on the current state of the medical aesthetics industry.

Several experts agree that the primary reason for the frequent occurrence of medical aesthetic accidents in China is the proliferation of unlicensed clinics in the market, a fact that is hardly a secret within or outside the industry.

According to CCTV, 90% of accidents in medical aesthetics and plastic surgery stem from the "three illegals": unlicensed institutions, unqualified practitioners, and unauthorized drugs and devices. Furthermore, the *2017 Black Book of Medical Aesthetics* indicates that there are currently only over 9,500 licensed medical aesthetic clinics in China, whereas illegal clinics outnumber them by sixfold, totaling approximately 60,000. These illicit operations are typically small-scale and highly concealed, often hiding within lifestyle beauty salons, residential complexes, and hotels. The surgical volume at these illegal clinics is 2.5 times that of legitimate institutions, and the number of illegal practitioners is nine times that of compliant professionals, reaching 150,000 individuals.

Notably, Chinese aesthetic patients generally place greater trust in foreign plastic surgeons, perceiving them as offering greater safety and assurance. In reality, however, 90% of these so-called “foreign doctors” are practicing illegally. For instance, while Beijing is home to nearly 100 self-proclaimed “famous Korean specialists,” only a mere 10 are legally registered.

Meanwhile, as an emerging market, China’s regulatory framework and measures require urgent improvement. Although multiple government agencies have jointly launched special campaigns to crack down on illegal medical aesthetic practices, the enforcement intensity remains insufficient and lacks sustainability. According to industry insiders, criminal liability is typically imposed on practitioners of illegal medical aesthetics only when medical malpractice incidents occur. In most cases, penalties for illicit clinics discovered by authorities are lenient—confiscation of medical devices and fines capped at RMB 20,000. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to eradicate illegal medical aesthetic services.

Meanwhile, driven by substantial market dividends, many licensed private medical aesthetic institutions have accelerated their expansion. Notably, a significant portion of these newly expanded hospitals resulted from the acquisition and renovation of existing cosmetic outpatient clinics.

It is not uncommon for private medical aesthetic institutions to expand their network by acquiring cosmetic clinics or adopting authorized management models, all in pursuit of growth in the number of outlets. However, these institutions’ ability to control and oversee the services provided by their subsidiaries during rapid expansion raises significant concerns.

In the current market environment, as ordinary consumers, it is also extremely necessary to raise awareness of medical aesthetics and establish correct concepts regarding medical aesthetic procedures, in addition to calling on relevant authorities to promptly introduce and improve regulatory measures.

At the launch event for the “Spring Breeze Initiative,” several experts pointed out that many consumers of medical aesthetics still lack sufficient rationality, and the phenomenon of blindly following trends in undergoing cosmetic procedures is quite common. When consumers have insufficient understanding of medical aesthetics, they often tend to make unreasonable requests. Under commercial pressures, it is difficult for plastic surgeons to refuse such demands.

It must be acknowledged that, in the past, most ordinary consumers indeed lacked access to professional knowledge about medical aesthetics. Consequently, a large number of internet-based medical aesthetics platforms have emerged in recent years, aiming to help consumers gain a better understanding of medical aesthetics through community-driven knowledge sharing. Meibei, in particular, has established a specialized team of hundreds of professional consultants to provide expert guidance and advice to consumers of medical aesthetic services.

Nevertheless, countless consumers still experience botched cosmetic procedures for a variety of reasons. Once complications arise, recovery becomes exceedingly difficult. This is because revisionary cosmetic surgery differs from primary procedures; it must address the sequelae of failed interventions, restore normal anatomy, and achieve aesthetic enhancement.

Therefore, reconstructive plastic surgery requires longer consultation times to determine the optimal treatment plan. Meanwhile, the increased surgical complexity and higher demands on surgeons’ technical expertise and hospital equipment directly result in costs that are several times higher than those of routine cosmetic procedures. This imposes a dual burden of time and financial pressure on patients who have experienced unsuccessful cosmetic surgeries. Many individuals, unable to afford the exorbitant costs of reconstructive surgery, suffer shattered self-esteem and confidence, leaving them trapped in unrelenting physical and psychological distress with little hope for relief.

Accidents may be inevitable in the early stages of an industry’s development, but these unfortunate individuals should not be forgotten. To this end, on June 14, Meibei Plastic Surgery Consultation Network, in collaboration with the Southwest Center of the Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (Chengdu Badachu), jointly launched the “Spring Breeze Initiative: Public Welfare Campaign for Oculoplastic and Rhinoplasty Revision.” This initiative aims to promote positive values regarding aesthetic pursuits throughout society and help patients who have experienced unsuccessful plastic surgery regain a better quality of life.

It is understood that, as the initiator of this initiative, Meibei will leverage its team of experienced professional consultants and aesthetic design advisors to provide 24/7 one-on-one professional consultation, comprehensive pre- and post-operative care, and exclusive priority access for victims of medical aesthetics incidents. This support aims to help patients clearly and accurately understand their conditions and treatment plans, alleviate their doubts and fears, and actively cooperate with treatment to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.

As a subsidiary of the Southwest Center of the Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu Badachu Medical Aesthetic Hospital will seamlessly integrate the Academy’s robust physician resources. It has assembled an expert team comprising 11 renowned specialists with extensive clinical experience in oculoplastic and rhinoplasty revision, who will evaluate the specific conditions of patients with botched cosmetic surgeries and provide optimal reconstructive solutions by leveraging modern medical repair techniques.

It is reported that the “Spring Breeze Initiative: Public Welfare Campaign for Ocular and Nasal Plastic Surgery Revision” plans to offer 100 free revision surgery slots nationwide over the next five years, providing facial reconstructive assistance valued at RMB 10 million in total, with the aim of helping patients restore their physical and mental well-being.

In the current market environment, Meibei has joined forces with Chengdu Badachu to launch this public welfare initiative. This effort not only provides individuals who have experienced failed plastic surgeries with an opportunity for renewal but also serves as a wake-up call to the industry. By highlighting existing issues, it encourages practitioners and consumers alike to recognize these challenges, promotes the standardization of the sector, and helps more consumers develop a correct understanding of medical aesthetics. The significance of this initiative is profound.

Below is the on-site media interview with Gong Liansheng, founder of Meibei. The Q&A is as follows:

A:In the past, consumers had limited channels to access information about medical aesthetics, leading them to focus more on clinic décor and advertising rather than actual treatment outcomes. This allowed some institutions to exploit loopholes by attracting customers through aggressive marketing and luxurious interiors, while neglecting the quality of procedures and physicians’ professional expertise, thereby increasing the risk of customer complaints. To address this industry-wide information asymmetry,

Meibei integrates the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the industry and fully opens up its data to establish an effective market mechanism based on survival of the fittest. It comprehensively discloses information on the platform, including physicians’ specialties, postoperative outcomes, surgical details, device principles, recovery progress, and patient satisfaction. This enables users, with the assistance of professional consultants and aesthetic designers, to select suitable physicians and personalized aesthetic treatment plans based on their preferences and beauty enhancement needs. By leveraging positive word-of-mouth, the platform helps high-quality physicians increase their earnings while eliminating unqualified practitioners.

Answer:The broader health and wellness sector encompasses the entire medical services industry. As health awareness rises, consumers are placing greater emphasis on holistic, inside-out solutions—such as diet, sleep, and exercise—alongside external aesthetic improvements. Moving forward, Meibei will expand its service categories, transcending the boundaries of medical aesthetics to venture into extended areas of general health and wellness, including dentistry, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, and health screenings, thereby providing consumers with more comprehensive medical consultation services.

Answer:The core value of technology and the internet lies in unleashing high-quality medical productivity and enhancing the efficacy of teaching and learning. By leveraging artificial intelligence, expert experience can be efficiently shared with physicians in remote areas and young doctors, enabling them to simultaneously acquire the clinical expertise that specialists have accumulated over ten or even several decades.

The development of AI technology has laid a solid foundation for the advancement of medical aesthetics. At Meibei, we are leveraging AI to enhance our services, improve service efficiency, and provide physicians with auxiliary diagnostic and treatment support.

Artificial intelligence is deep learning. With its omniscient and omnipotent capabilities, as well as its ability to discern subtle details, AI is most likely to replace roles in radiology within the broader healthcare sector, particularly in diagnostic imaging. Furthermore, given the widespread adoption of facial recognition technology, it is not inconceivable that AI will next be applied to cancer screening.

A:Data indicates that second- and third-tier cities will emerge as key growth markets. Men account for over 10% of the customer base, with their average spending on aesthetic procedures being three times that of women; they show particular interest in skin treatments and hair transplantation. Across all categories, genital aesthetic surgery, rejuvenation treatments, cartilage rhinoplasty, and hairline restoration witnessed the fastest growth last year. Therefore, the key to success lies in integrating artificial intelligence and AI algorithms into medical aesthetics to enhance service capabilities, while simultaneously capturing these incremental markets, gaining insights into user preferences, and optimizing product offerings and design.