Seoul warns of plastic surgery risks

• Source: Global Times
• [02:20 March 11 2010]
• Comments

By Li Qian

The Chinese embassy in Seoul warned Chinese visitors of the medical risks involved in plastic surgery in South Korea Wednesday, as complaints over surgery disputes by Chinese visitors noticeably increased over Spring Festival.

The embassy's consul general He Ying issued the warning Wednesday at a time when many Chinese beauty chasers are preparing to go to South Korea for plastic surgery. "We received a lot more complaints during the festival, though I cannot publish the exact number," He told the Legal Mirror Wednesday.

The embassy recorded a growing number of Chinese going to South Korea to undergo facial surgery, but He Ying said there have been frequent media reports in South Korea about failed operations and even disfigurement.

A number of Chinese health companies have organized trips through the Internet and recently received more applications.

"Most of our clients would have liposuction and breast augmentation operations," a salesperson for the Meile company told the Global Times.

Another company guaranteed they would help their clients go through customs after the surgery. It had been reported that some people were stopped at the checkpoint after getting a face lift, including a Chinese singer Wang Rong.

Previous disputes involving Chinese patients were mainly focused on medical fees, according to the embassy, because many people would get more surgery than their original plan following the doctors' suggestions. Some have regretted their hasty decisions afterwards and felt the charges were too high.

He Ying said they have not received reports on failed operations, but it would be difficult for Chinese patients to protect their rights after returning to China if the surgery failed.

A spokesperson for the Beijing Consumers' Association said they would help with the disputes but legal procedure involving foreign companies would be very complicated.

Zhu Yifeng contributed to the story