My nose became black after a rhinoplasty went wrong: this is my warning to other people who have plastic surgery

A Chinese actress whose nose became black after a rhinoplasty caused her flesh to climb the frightening rise to abused processes in China.

Gao Liu is just one of the many women who have fallen victim to evolving beauty patterns in China, which puts them under pressure to have plastic surgery to enhance – and in some cases transform – their appearance.

Liu’s story is being explored in the BBC Eye Make Me Perfect: Manufacturing Beauty in China, after visiting a clinic called Times in Guangzhou in 2020 for a nose job.

The surgeon of Dr He Ming was charged with the “head surgeon” of the clinic and an expert surgery on the nose, however, the operation of the Liu resulted in the tip of her nose turning into black due to lack of traffic.

After seven days of deterioration of the symptoms, it was transferred to a top public hospital, but the damage was permanent. After four years and two repair work, her nose remains damaged.

The study found that, despite the Guangzhou Health Committee, which announces sanctions on the clinic and the surgeon, it still operates, but in a different name.

Liu’s story is one of the many explored in the documentary that deals with the alarming rise of abused businesses in China, as people choose more and more bolder processes in the name of beauty.

In China, good appearance is considered the key to career success, with videos promoting controversial beauty standards, such as extreme weight loss that floods social media and beauty applications that surgery a click of a button away.

China sees an explosion in cosmetic surgery, with 20 million people a year paying for cosmetic procedures in the world’s most populous country.

Of these people, 80 % are women and the average age of people looking for cosmetic improvements are 25 years old.

The industry was once considered taboo in Chinese society, but has increased popularity thanks to social media, a gradual change in attitude and people who have more available income.

With the changing attitudes changing beauty standards. With the features that once longed for less popular among customers.

However, in place of the previously sought after aesthetic that has been assigned symmetrical faces, a sculptural jaw and a prominent, sharp nose, some dark trends are opposed to rising.

Women are now hunting for the appearance of “supernatural”, until the point is childish, the documentary finds it.

Among the strange processes requested in China is Botox that is injected behind the ears to lean them forward – which creates the illusion of a smaller, weaker face.

Women also choose the lowest eyelid surgery to broaden the eyes, creating a childish look inspired by anime characters.

In the meantime, the upper lip shortens the space between the rim and the nose – which is believed to mark the youth.

And cosmetic surgery is easier than ever to have access to the rise of applications, such as soyoung (“New Oxygen) and Gengmei (” More Beautiful “).

Applications, which are now extremely popular, claim to analyze a person’s face to emphasize the “imperfections” they need to correct.

Gao Liu photos posted by her face show a clear piece of tanned flesh on the edge of her nose, as well as bandages and bruises

Gao said she hopes surgery will improve her career, but spent more than a year off work

The singer and actress Gao Liu, who has starred in multiple films and television programs in China, had a nose surgery in a Guangzhou clinic called Times (熙施时光) in 2020 in 2020

After seven days of deterioration of the symptoms, it was transferred to a top public hospital, but the damage was permanent. After four years and two repair work, her nose remains damaged

The singer and actress Gao Liu caused a heated internet debate after sharing the images that reveal the tip of her nose has been wasted and dropped

Gao said he ended up being hospitalized for two months and lost 400,000 yuan ($ 61,800, £ 45,200) at work

Gao stated that her mistreatment had left repeated infections as well as nose necrosis, which means that the tissue at her end died

After evaluating users’ faces, they provide surgery recommendations from nearby clinics, receiving a supply from each business.

As celebrities, such as Gao Liu, continue to undergo cosmetic procedures in their instructions, demand for such businesses has increased significantly.

However, this increase in demand has created a lack of skilled professionals to carry out procedures – resulting in increased accidents reported in Chinese clinics.

After Gao Liu posted photos of her rotten nose in the Chinese social information Weibo, viral and terrified people around the world – who pushed the authorities to act quickly.

Within a few weeks, the Guangzhou Health Committee announced sanctions at the GAO Liu clinic was also visited by the Dr He Ming surgeon.

It turned out to be the sixth time the clinic had been approved and, worryingly, revealed that Dr. He ming was not suitable for performing plastic surgery without supervision.

He got out of the exercise for six months and the clinic was closed shortly after the sanctions for the sixth time.

However, in a mysterious development, weeks before its doors officially closed, a new clinic called Qingya (轻雅 ‘Light and Elegant’) asked to register with the same address.

Dr He Ming’s surgeon was described as a “head surgeon” of the clinic and a nose surgery expert, but GAO’s surgery resulted in the edge of her nose turning black due to lack of traffic.

Investigation of the incident, the BBC Eye has revealed strong links between the two clinics, recorded in different legal representatives.

Journalists found that the Times’s Weibo account had changed and began to promote Qingya after opening, with similar approaches and styles of social media.

Dr. He Ming was also listed as a senior employee of the new clinic.

Archives on the national database of health professionals show that Dr. only received the authorized plastic surgeon in April 2024.

However, the qualifications should not have been granted to him in accordance with the rules of the Guangdong District Health Committee, who exclude surgeons who have been punished by any Health Committee from acquiring qualifications/condition for five years.

Dr. Ming was approved in 2021 – three years before gaining permission.

She shared her nightmare cosmetic with her 5 million fans in Weibo in China to warn them of the potential dangers of plastic surgery

The BBC Eye documentary reveals secretly recorded material from a consultation at Qingya Clinic, where an employee says Dr. He Ming works at the clinic for “seven, eight years” and was called “King of Guangzhou” to complete the highest number of surgery in 20.

While Dr. He Ming could only meet the patient for briefly between businesses, he said he had undergone nose surgery since 2012.

In November 2024, Dr. He Ming launched a social media account as a nose surgery expert. He claims to have almost 20 years of experience and has done 10,000 businesses.

Ever since it has opened, Qingya has expanded to operate 30 branches throughout the province now.

After the BBC Eye survey, neither the Qingya Clinic nor Dr. Ming responded to requests for comments.

Guangdong’s District Health Committee also did not answer questions about why Dr. He Ming was able to proceed with the authorized plastic surgeon for their rules.

The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom said in a statement: “The Chinese government consistently requires businesses to operate strictly with national laws, regulations and political provisions.”

BBC Eye Make Me Perfect: Beauty Production in China will be released on BBC two at 23:00 on April 23 or iT is available for flow on the iplayer.