Among the growing number of Chinese people who are opting for plastic surgery, it is young women who form the largest group. Their desire to improve the way they look is fueled mainly by the need to gain recognition from their peers and to feel better about themselves. But there are other considerations, too. In some cases, going under the beautician’s knife is seen as a way of boosting work or marriage prospects.

Official statistics show that China ranks third in the world, behind the US and Brazil, in terms of the number of plastic surgery procedures carried out annually. 

However, one of the largest driving forces behind the plastic surgery boom is peer pressure, particularly from the Internet. Social media platforms are often blamed for making young people look at their appearance through a more critical lens. Combine this with the belief that life will improve with a few facial tweaks, and the reasons for changing your appearance can become compelling.

By far the most common procedure in China is double-eyelid surgery. As a female student told Rediscovering China: “I think I’ll be more confident after the surgery, so I can find a more handsome boyfriend… We Asians think double eyelids make the eyes sparkle.”

However, as with any medical procedure, there are inherent risks. Common complications of cosmetic surgery include hematoma, nerve damage, infection, scarring, implant failure, and even organ damage. Aspiring actress Jin Weikun recounted the nightmare she experienced, after undergoing breast enhancement surgery: “After the operation I had a big problem with my breasts. Doctors in China couldn’t fix it. So I decided to go to South Korea.”

With no legal recourse for compensation and not enough money to pay to correct the problem, Jin agreed to participate in a South Korean television show. The deal was that the bill for her breast surgery would be covered, but she’d also have an additional 12 operations on her face, but these procedures also ended badly. Her chin was left lopsided and her nose implant wasn’t fitted correctly. Although these issues were eventually resolved, Jin still regularly experiences numbness in her jaw.

American humorist Mark Twain wrote: “The offspring of riches: Pride, vanity, ostentation, arrogance, tyranny.” It’s hard to get away from the fact that the motivating factor for the vast majority of those undergoing cosmetic surgery is vanity. A simple enhancement procedure is tempting in an age when external appearance seems to matter more than internal beauty, and those with money to spend expect quick-fix solutions.

It’s natural for people to want to feel good about themselves. Yet, for this perfectly natural feeling, there’s a perfectly natural solution: Exercise, a healthy diet, and mental enrichment.