Problems show the ugly face of the beauty industry

Demand for cosmetic surgery is surging in China as a result of people's growing anxiety about their appearance and the pursuit of beauty. That's despite the high number of illegally performed operations and a lack of official supervision that have sparked widespread controversy, experts said.

In one high-profile case, "Dai", an online celebrity with about 13,000 followers on Weibo, China's Twitter-like service, and her own fashion brand, died after a simple procedure to deal with fatty tissue.

On May 2, she underwent body-shaping surgery－liposuction and lipofilling－at the Hangzhou Huayan Beauty Art Center in Zhejiang province. However, according to a report by the facility, after the five-hour procedure, the 33-year-old told nurses that she was in pain and her chest felt tight, causing shortness of breath and palpitations. Despite her complaints, Dai's distress apparently didn't prompt too much attention from the nurses or doctors.

On May 4, she dialed 120, China's medical emergency number, and asked for an ambulance. Complaining of agonizing pain, she was transferred to a regular hospital.

She died on July 13 as a result of bacterial infection and organ failure.

Two days after Dai's death, the Hangzhou health commission released a statement saying that its investigations showed that the center had been medically negligent and was responsible for the patient's demise. It immediately suspended the center's activities.

Dai is not the only victim of botched cosmetic surgery. An illegal operation not only temporarily disfigured actress Gao Liu, but also caused mental problems that led to suicidal thoughts, she said.

In February, the 25-year-old published a post on Weibo in which she wrote that she had undergone a cosmetic procedure at a clinic in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in October to alter the shape of her nose. However, the operation site became infected during the postoperative period, and Gao had to have extensive treatment at a regular hospital to correct the problem.

The lengthy recovery process left Gao facing a severe financial penalty as she had been unable to attend filming of a TV series in which she had a role. She later discovered that the center was not licensed to perform the procedure she had. She is now awaiting the results of negotiations with the clinic about compensation for her losses.