Anyone who’s looking for a smile lift or a good, proper head-rounding operation knows that South Korea is a mecca for surgeons of the plastically enhanced. Doctors in China, however, are warning patients to be cautious when opting for a plastic surgeon practicing overseas, after reports coming out of Liaoning province revealed that an increasing number of Korean cosmetic surgeons have been operating without licenses, and patients have complained of botched procedures.
A report by China View tells the story of one woman in Shenyang who chose to get eyelid surgery done by a Korean surgeon. A month after the operation, she was having difficulties blinking. Doctors told her that a muscle controlling her upper eyelid had been damaged during the operation.
When she went back to the clinic to talk to her plastic surgeon, she said that the staff wouldn’t even allow her to see him.
Current regulations state that foreign doctors who wish to practice in China on a short-term basis must register with the government. It’s estimated that at least 20 Korean cosmetic doctors come to practice in Shenyang each month, and while there are 56 cosmetic surgery organizations in Shenyang, only two foreign cosmetic surgeons have actually obtained certification.