China’s ‘elf ear’ cosmetic surgery increasingly sought by young people seeking a thinner, slimmer face

China’s cosmetic surgery market climbed from about 64.8 billion yuan (US$10.1 billion) in 2015 to nearly 177 billion (US$27.7 billion) in 2019

Doctors warn the risks include infection, cicatrices, asymmetrical ears, infection, allergic reactions, blood clots and skin necrosis

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‘Elf ears’ are a new fad among young Chinese who hope it will make their faces appear slimmer. Photo: Artwork

Published: 9:00am, 11 Jun 2021Updated: 9:25am, 11 Jun 2021

An “elf ear” usually refers to a birth defect that results in a pointed ear shape, but it’s now the latest fad among young Chinese people amid a rapidly growing cosmetic surgery market.

Turning their ears into those that look like an elf’s has become one of the most sought-after procedures among China’s post-2000s generation recently as it’s believed to be able to make their faces look slimmer, and even younger.

Chinese social media is awash with people enthusiastically promoting the results of the ear procedure.

“It is magic! I haven’t changed anything on my face and yet all my friends said I look different the day I got it done. (My face looked smaller, and I looked smarter etc,)” one user said of the procedure on lifestyle sharing platform Xiaohongshu over the weekend.

“Oh I want it too”, “definitely worth it”, “so unbelievable”, others commented.

Beauty seekers, both male and female, have flocked to hospitals seeking the procedure.