Local medical associations are urging the government to tighten regulation of cosmetic surgery amid an increase in complaints about surgical laser and injection therapy.
Dr Chan Wai-man, president of the Hong Kong Surgical Laser Association, said: 'The current regulation is so lax ... that anyone can buy, operate and repair a laser machine. People are not protected by the law if something happens.'
Chan said that a technician, in his 30s, lost 90 per cent of the sight in his left eye when he was fixing a laser machine about three to four years ago. His retina was damaged by the laser as he was not provided with protective wear at work.
Another case involved a 40-year-old housewife who was scarred on her eyebrow after receiving laser treatment at a beauty parlour to remove an eyebrow tattoo.
Quoting figures from the Consumer Council, the Hong Kong Association of Cosmetic Surgery said there were 48 complaints about cosmetic surgery in the first four months of this year, nearly 40 per cent of the full-year figures in 2008 and last year.
More than half of the complaints were about laser treatments, and about a quarter were related to injection therapy - such as the injection of Botox and placenta extract - to remove wrinkles or to improve the skin's appearance.