When Chinese Tourists Don’t Get the Facelifts They’re Looking For

Thousands of Chinese tourists going to South Korea for facelifts and plastic surgery are suffering from botched jobs.
When Chinese Tourists Don’t Get the Facelifts They’re Looking For
A pedestrian walks past an advertisement for plastic surgery clinic at a subway station in Seoul on March 26, 2014. Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images
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Chinese people have been going to South Korea in increasing numbers for plastic surgery and facelifts in recent years, but thousands are finding that they may have been better off not going at all.

Highlighting the controversial trend is the recent case of a 15-year-old girl from Henan Province. Posting photos showing the results of her makeover on Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese microblogging service, the teenager was bombarded with critical and sarcastic comments about her excessive cosmetic surgeries.

Common points of discussion and mockery focused on the mask-like appearance of her heavily-altered eyelids, snow-white skin, and drastically reduced chin, as well as her overly-augmented bust.

Under the username of “Li Enxi Danae,” the girl, whose Weibo account is full of selfies showing off her new look and luxury goods, struck back by flaunting her wealth.

“How much of the world did you see when you were 15? Did you receive 500,000 yuan [about $80,000] in pocket money every month? If not, you are in no position to criticize me. You can’t catch up in society these days if you fail at the starting line. Got it?”

15-year-old "Li Enxi Danae" prior to surgery (Screenshot/Sina Weibo)
15-year-old "Li Enxi Danae" prior to surgery Screenshot/Sina Weibo