Gengmei Releases 2019 '520' Aesthetic Medicine Consumption Report: Beijing Men Lead in Hair Transplants, Chengdu Residents Favor Rhinoplasty

This “520,” Did You Find Love (or Become More Beautiful)? Gengmei APP, China’s Leading Professional Micro-Plastic Surgery Platform, Launched a High-Profile Medical Aesthetics Mega-Sale Campaign in May Called the “520 Mega Sale.”

During the 520 promotional period, Gengmei’s platform saw a 512% increase in sales revenue and a 426% rise in the number of customers placing orders. The top spender was a male consumer from Beijing, who spent a total of RMB 620,000. For this major promotion, Gengmei issued 80,000 coupons, saving users RMB 48 million—enough to create 24,000 pairs of captivating eyes designed to attract men!

Gengmei App Released the 520 Medical Aesthetics Consumption Ranking Based on Platform Data, Order Placements, and Surveys of Users and Institutions During the 520 Period.

Gengmei’s 520 Ranking data shows that the top ten most popular procedures for 520 are: hyaluronic acid rhinoplasty, double eyelid surgery, comprehensive rhinoplasty, hair removal, face-slimming injections (Botox), skin booster injections, clear aligners, thread lifting, facial fillers, and hair transplantation.

According to Gengmei, as summer approaches, the number of hair removal orders has reached 356,930, equivalent to the wool of 13,461 sheep, with 250,000 of these orders placed by individuals in relationships.

The number of dental aesthetic orders exceeded 79,000, with 52,712 orders placed by individuals in relationships. The fastest-growing procedures were: female intimate care, hair transplantation, orthodontics, neck wrinkle removal, and tear trough correction. Female intimate care services were predominantly purchased by women around the age of 25; hair transplantation and orthodontics saw higher order volumes from male users; while neck wrinkle removal and tear trough correction were primarily sought by individuals born in the 1970s and 1980s with anti-aging needs.

Amid the broader market environment of consumption upgrading, the demand for and spending power on medical aesthetics in new first-tier cities have surged, exerting a positive and healthy influence on the medical aesthetics market. Based on per capita spending on medical aesthetic procedures, Gengmei’s “520” major promotion identified the top ten cities with the strongest consumption in this sector. In addition to the first-tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, the new first-tier cities of Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Zhengzhou also made the ranking.

In categories such as nasal procedures and facial contouring, aesthetic medicine consumption in new first-tier cities has surpassed that in first-tier cities. Additionally, according to the rankings, we found that men in Beijing are most keen on hair transplants, while women in Chengdu are most fond of rhinoplasty. Double eyelid surgery and hyaluronic acid injections have become mainstream trends in aesthetic medicine.

The Younger, the More Beauty-Conscious: Since Last Year, Post-00s Adults Have Gradually Entered the Medical Aesthetics Market. According to publicly available ranking data from Gengmei, order volume among post-00s consumers has surged, accounting for 11.47% of total orders, with an average transaction value reaching RMB 3,000. Their preferred entry-level medical aesthetic procedures include double eyelid surgery, skin rejuvenation treatments, and orthodontics, positioning this cohort as a promising and growing mainstay of medical aesthetics consumption. Post-90s consumers remain the core demographic, representing 52.68% of total orders, with an average transaction value of RMB 6,000. Among them, those born between 1995 and 1999 favor surgical procedures such as rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery, while individuals aged 30–34 (born 1990–1994) tend to opt for maintenance treatments like mesotherapy injections. Post-80s consumers have an average transaction value exceeding RMB 8,000, accounting for 28.32% of total orders, and predominantly seek anti-aging treatments.

According to the “520” major promotional sales ranking disclosed by Gengmei, the number of non-single users placing orders was twice that of single users. This indicates that individuals in relationships pay greater attention to their appearance and are more willing to take action to enhance their beauty. The medical aesthetic procedures most frequently purchased by non-single individuals include hair removal, skin boosters (hydro-lifting injections), and hyaluronic acid rhinoplasty.

Regarding the "single elite," according to user research conducted by Gengmei, 70% of single elites stated that their primary motivation for pursuing aesthetic enhancements is not to find a desired partner, but rather to achieve self-perfection and personal happiness, thereby benefiting various aspects of their daily lives, including work and social interactions.

In recent years, Chinese consumers’ attitudes toward medical aesthetics have shifted from skepticism and fear to acceptance and proactive purchasing, a trend most pronounced among male consumers. Compared with women, male consumers exhibit higher average transaction values, shorter decision-making cycles, and greater satisfaction with outcomes. During the recent “520” promotional campaign, a male consumer based in Beijing placed seven orders totaling RMB 620,000, claiming the top spot for highest spending on the Gengmei platform. The top three male spenders collectively contributed over RMB 1.14 million in sales.

Among the aesthetic medicine procedures most frequently purchased by men, in addition to the recently surging popularity of hair transplantation, are orthodontics, teeth whitening, abdominal etching, and comprehensive rhinoplasty.

Observations of high-spending consumers reveal that hair transplantation, mandibular angle contouring, orthodontics, abdominal muscle sculpting, female intimate rejuvenation, comprehensive rhinoplasty, double eyelid surgery, and fat grafting are medical aesthetic procedures with high average transaction values. For institutions and physicians, these represent the most financially promising investment categories.

Gengmei App, established in 2013, is a leading consumer healthcare platform in China, offering services in plastic surgery, minimally invasive procedures, dentistry, ophthalmology, and anti-aging. Gengmei serves 36 million users, with nearly 20,000 professional doctors and over 8,000 institutions registered on the platform, featuring 4 million authentic cosmetic surgery diary cases.

In 2018, the Gengmei app completed a Series D financing round worth tens of millions of U.S. dollars. Over six years, Gengmei secured five rounds of funding. Its investors across these rounds have included Tencent, Sequoia China, CHJ Jewellery, Matrix Partners China, Vivo Capital, Meitu, Fosun Pharma, Legend Capital, and China Securities Co., Ltd., among other listed companies and renowned investment institutions.

Attached is the full version of Gengmei's 520 Consumer Ranking: