National Health Commission: “Light medical beauty” is a medical act — a single injection can cause lifelong, irreversible harm

Regulator issues stark warning

The National Health Commission (国家卫生健康委员会, referred to hereafter as 国家卫健委) told the public at a Feb. 10 press briefing that so‑called “light medical beauty” (轻医美) — non‑surgical treatments such as injections, laser and other device‑based procedures — is essentially a medical activity and must be provided by qualified medical institutions and licensed physicians. The commission warned that unscrupulous operators and unqualified practitioners are exploiting “appearance anxiety,” hiding risks, and running “fast‑track” training that turns medical procedures into consumer services. One injection, it said, can lead to permanent, irreversible disability.

Problems on the ground: fake products, secretive operations, delayed rescue

Beijing medical mediator Liu Yang described the market as “crossing the line, distorted, and out of control” — no qualified sites doing medical work, unlicensed personnel doing injections, and products with unclear provenance. Common harms: allergic shock, infection and tissue necrosis, vascular embolism leading to blindness or stroke, and chronic scarring and deformation. It has been reported that Beijing Changping Court disclosed a case where an uncertified person injected hyaluronic acid and caused central retinal artery occlusion and permanent vision loss in one eye — a reminder that the consequences can be lifetime injuries. Who will treat you when the emergency happens? Many beauty salons lack the ability to identify complications or start lifesaving treatment in the golden window.

Why the problem persists — and how regulators are responding

Industry sources point to three drivers: supply (life‑beauty shops chasing higher spend and using cheaper, non‑medical supply chains), demand (consumers who conflate “light” with “safe”), and regulatory complexity (scattered shops, online sales and weak cross‑department coordination). Regulators are tightening. Since 2021 the 国家卫健委, the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局) and the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) have run joint crackdowns, pushed traceability for injectable products and explored unique device identifiers (UDI) to trace medical devices. In January 2023 the 国家药监局 and 国家卫健委 issued guidance to accelerate a traceability system for injectable botulinum toxin; enforcement and cross‑agency data sharing are being emphasized.

Clear guidance for consumers

The commission and experts urge simple precautions: if the procedure involves injections, skin‑breaking, or lasers, verify the facility has a medical cosmetic service license and that the operator is a registered physician. Don’t be seduced by “three‑day” courses that teach injections to novices. Cheap and convenient can cost you your health — and sometimes your sight. Is quick beauty worth lifelong harm?