By CGTN’s Brittyn Clennett
- China’s cosmetic surgery industry is now valued at 400bn yuan ($62.6bn)
- The market is expected to double by 2019, which would make it the world’s third largest cosmetic surgery market (after US & Brazil)
- Around 7 million Chinese people paid for cosmetic procedures in 2014.
Double eyelid surgery is by far the most common procedure in China. /CGTN
Twenty-four year-old Yang Dongyan lays down anxiously on the operating table. The surgeon tells her to keep her eyes completely shut during the procedure: "keep still...and don't worry". He reaches for the scalpel.
Yang is one of a growing number of Chinese opting to go under the knife in the name of beauty. In 2014 alone, seven million people in the country paid for cosmetic procedures, according to the China Association of Plastics and Aesthetics. Plastic surgery has become so popular that the association predicts rapid growth for the industry over the next few years. The market is now valued at 400 billion yuan (US$62.6bn) and is expected to double by 2019. That would make it the third largest market globally.
Technology has become a game-changer for the industry. This is a 3D print of Brittyn's skull and face so that she can then alter it to create her ideal features. /CGTN
Several factors have contributed to China's growing love for the nip and tuck. Analysts say rising income levels and the influence of South Korean pop culture have a role to play in fueling the trend. The advent of "the selfie" and social media, as well as beautifying photo apps, are also driving demand.
In this episode of Rediscovering China, we peer into the country's cosmetic surgery boom, speaking to a number of people who’ve altered their looks through surgery - some successfully, others who were left with more than physical scars. We also look at the challenges that lie ahead for an industry laden with risks.
Speaking to Vogue China Editor-In-Chief Angelica Cheung about the media's role in China's cosmetic surgery boom. /CGTN
