Most Chinese Celebrities Already Used Plastic Surgery

With China’s rapid growth and rising incomes, Chinese people are increasingly using plastic surgery to enhance their beauty and feel better. With the rise of social media and KOLs use in China, some problems can appear as young people consume a lot of digital content. Some can imagine that their celebrities are really naturally beautiful and could take examples of them to be put in a box, fearing to never be pretty enough comparing to this fake “norm”.

The Plastic Surgery Market in China

The plastic surgery market in China is growing very fast. In just two decades, plastic surgery has become the fourth most popular way to spend money in China. There are no official figures, but the International Society of Plastic Surgery estimated in 2009 that China was the third country behind the United States and Brazil with more than two million operations annually. And the number of operations doubles each year.

In 2010, According to data collected by the China Women’s Federation, plastic surgery reported nearly 300 billion yuan (US$ 4.8 billion). Plastic surgery is an industry of 2.5 billion dollars a year in China, and it is growing at a rate of 20% per year according to the official Xinhua news agency. Plastic surgery clinics with names like Dreaming Girl’s Fantasy appear everywhere, with more than 10,000 medical facilities offering surgical .

What are the most common surgeries?

The most services used are: dual eyelid surgery, nose surgery, facial lift, and anti-wrinkle treatments are the most performed surgeries in China. Operation #1 is surgery of the double eyelid, which can make the eyes bigger by adding folds; it makes the eyes larger and more “western”. The second most popular operation is nose surgery. Usually, the face of the Chinese is flat compared to the Europeans. By putting an implant, it makes the nose more important. In fact, double eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty using a silicone implant to increase the bridge of the nose.

Plastic surgery

Many women also underwent V-surgery, a popular jawline bypass procedure in South Korea that gives the face a narrower, heart-shaped appearance. Wide eyes, high nose bridges, and narrow faces with pointed chins are coveted features among many Asian women, and a number of Chinese women (and men) are flocking to South Korea in the hopes of ” Achieve this look at the hands of qualified surgeons. The market of plastic surgery in South Korea is very much sought after by the Chinese. Thanks to easy-to-get medical tourism visas, the Chinese can easily take advantage of South Korea’s high-end surgical care and its well-trained doctors.

More and more Chinese people go under the knife

Many young Chinese, especially women, who seek fame and fortune online, end up passing under the bistoury of plastic surgeons. Indeed, for these, becoming an online star requires having good plastic. Recently, we can see many people; more of them are Chinese women, who decide to do surgery. Many of them face problems of dependency, disfigurement, and lack of self-esteem.

South Korea quickly became the world leader in plastic surgery, with more surgical operations performed than any other nation, according to global figures released last year by the “International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons”. Approximately 20% of women aged 19 to 49 in the capital city of Seoul admit they have already undergone cosmetic surgery.

Why are Chinese so obsessed with plastic surgery?

The Chinese of the “new generation”, list three important reasons why they like so much surgery: work, boyfriend, and self-image. Other reasons also involve China’s changing socio-economic margin. The clientele also varies according to occupation and age. In the beginning, actors, dancers, and other members of the performing arts were the main consumers of plastic surgery. But in recent years, celebrities have also entered the game.

Plastic surgery

Who is the target of plastic surgery in China?

Now, there are also many students who decide to do plastic surgery. It is now so simple to do surgery because many Chinese people receive plastic surgery as a gift (graduation, Valentine’s Day or Women’s Day). Special cases of plastic surgery include couples who want to look alike, the elderly to avoid physical examinations at airport security and disfigured “heroes” honored.

This is the case of Xiaoqing, a young Chinese woman, working in internet business in Shanghai. She confessed to using plastic surgery to look like Jessica Alba because her boyfriend was a big fan of Alba.

 In the plastic surgery market, women far exceed their male counterparts. Male surgeries are now experiencing a huge rise. In recent years, male statistics have doubled and now account for 10% of the plastic surgery market. Most are jobseekers and middle-aged men.

Plastic surgery

What is the real cost of plastic surgery in China?

There are more than 34,000 plastics surgery establishments in China, including hospitals, clinics and beauty salons. The quality of service is both high-end and low-end. Private clinics are generally more expensive than public hospitals. Risk factors definitely add to costs. The plastic surgery industry in China is growing at an impressive rate. Celebrities are strong examples that plastic surgery can go wrong. The singer Wang Bei died during a plastic surgery operation.

Former dancer Wang Baobao did not know when to stop and suffered more than 170 operations. We also note the Chinese star of the net Pink Baby, who wears a surgical mask when she appears on television, not only to protect her identity but also because she claims to have been disfigured by more than 200 plastic surgeries since the age of 16 years. As more and more doctors want to become plastic surgeons, it is very important to choose a surgeon with good qualifications and clinical experience. 

We can help you enter the Chinese plastic surgery market

  1. Most of Potential customers will search online first 
  2. They prefer to choose a place far from their Home 
  3. They would like to pay more for good services 
  4. Social media and word of Mouth are important 
  5. Reputation is the key, every Chinese Double check all information 

Don’t hesitate to contact us on our website for further information, our team of China experts will be happy to help you create your tailor-made digital marketing strategy in China. Advantages can be numerous: brand awareness, e-reputation, positive buzz, followers, and engagement increase…

Read more about plastic surgery in China:

5 comments

  • Carmencita

    When I want to see a Chinese movie or drama I want to feel that they are Chinese in their country. Since some years ago, I don’t know if the a todas are real Chinese. They look coreana and also, some of the, almost Occidental’s. That rest the feeling of what I want to see. Please, reconsider that culture of plastic surgeries. People should look like what they are. Beautiful oriental people.

  • Where the Chinees actors and actrice get the Plastic surgery in their own country ( China ) or in Korea ??
    Likes Dilraba have such a big eyes and Cheng Yi have such a beautiful lips , they do it in China or Korea and if in China what’s the name of the Clinic ?

    I think US is still the best for the Facelift and the rest it’s number 1 is Korea.

  • Chanthira

    So what would be the best way to start advertising a clinic to potential chinese customers ?

    I’ve read in your other post that e-reputaton is the most important aspect to gain customer trust. I’m guessing you are talking about building awareness and ORM.

    As we are not so aware of how the chinese internet works, could you explain how to improve e-reputation in China?
    We are a plastic surgery clinic based in Thailand.

    Thanks for your answer

  • I confirm, plastic surgery is well developped in China, and it is a big industry for many clinic in China but specially outside of China that use agressive online Marketing to target Chinese girls, and it works.
    Korea is specialized on that …

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