‘As common as skincare’: in China, double-eyelid surgery and filler injections grow in popularity among graduates, with summer holidays the peak time for going under the surgeon’s knife
- People in China in their late teens and twenties think nothing of having double-eyelid surgery or filler injections
- The market for such light cosmetic procedures is expected to exceed US$46 billion in 2022
Light cosmetic procedures such as double-eyelid surgery and fillers are becoming more common among young people in China, and the summer holidays, when schools are out, are the peak season for getting them done.
Yang Lu, head nurse at CRT aesthetic medicine hospital in Tianjin, northern China, said the hospital receives dozens of graduates per week at the busiest time, and double-eyelid surgery is the most popular procedure.
“These operations have been popular in China for many years with mature techniques, and offer a significant boost to appearance,” said Yang, adding that there is a two-week waiting list to have the procedures done at her hospital.
Their popularity is an indication of the changing attitudes toward cosmetic surgery in China. A 2020 report by the Chinese Association of Plastics and Aesthetics showed the Chinese plastic surgery market is expected to hit 300 billion yuan (US$46.25 billion) in 2022.
Right after her college entrance exam, 18-year-old Deng Lin underwent a “double eyelid” operation, to create an eyelid crease and make the eyes appear larger.