In recent years, with the upgrading of consumption and the diversification of aesthetic demand, China's medical beauty industry has developed from a “niche choice” to a “popular life scene”. According to the data, in 2023, China's medical beauty market scale exceeded 300 billion yuan, the compound annual growth rate of more than 15% for five consecutive years, covering the two core areas of surgery and non-surgical procedures, forming a pattern of development of “technical refinement, personalized service, institutional specialization”.
the treatment mode
China's medical aesthetics treatments can be divided into surgical medical aesthetics and non-surgical medical aesthetics (light medical aesthetics), which complement each other in terms of trauma, recovery cycle, and continuity of effect, and cover the needs of the whole scenario, ranging from “reshaping of the contour” to “optimization of details”.
1. Surgery: precise contouring, long-lasting change
Surgical programs are centered on “structural adjustment” and are commonly used in the fields of facial contouring and body sculpting, etc. They have a high technical threshold and significant effects, but need to be rigorously evaluated.
. Eye and nose surgery: double eyelid surgery has developed from the traditional incision method to the “buried line + small incision” (park method), “park + z-flap” and other refined surgical styles, which can accurately control the height and curvature of the blepharoplasty line; rhinoplasty is performed through the “rib cartilage / ear cartilage” method, and the “rib cartilage / ear flap” method. “Rib cartilage / ear cartilage + prosthesis” combination, to solve the problems of hump nose, collapsed nose, etc., to realize the three-dimensional effect of “natural root of the mountain + exquisite tip”.
. Breast Plastic Surgery: Breast implant augmentation takes “dual-plane technology” as the mainstream, placing the implant between the back of the pectoralis major muscle and the back of the mammary gland, reducing the risk of contracture of the peritoneum; breast augmentation with autologous fat improves the survival rate of the fat through “hydrodynamic liposuction+gradient injection” to achieve “Soft touch + natural shape”.
. Liposuction: The traditional negative pressure liposuction is upgraded to “golden micro-sculpting” (Body-jet), through the synchronization of hydrodynamic layered liposuction + radiofrequency skin tightening, to tighten the skin while reducing the fat, especially suitable for waist, abdomen, thighs and other parts of the body prone to the accumulation of fat.
2. Non-surgical: minimally invasive and highly effective, ready to go
Characterized by “minimally invasive, no recovery period, repeatable”, light medical aesthetics has become the “daily beauty needs” of young groups, mainly including injection, energy and skin management.
Injectable: Hyaluronic acid filler Injections: Hyaluronic acid fillers cover “contour support” (such as temples, apple muscle) and “wrinkle repair” (such as lines, marionette lines), with differentiated competition between national brands (such as Avelai, Faslite) and imported brands (Joe Arden, Rylan); Botulinum toxin focuses on dynamic lines (crow's feet, forehead lines) and bite muscle hypertrophy, with Botox and Heng Li occupying the main market.
. Energy: Thermage penetrates the dermis through unipolar radiofrequency, stimulates collagen regeneration, and realizes “skin tightening + lifting”; ultrasonic cannon (Dual) uses ultrasonic focusing technology to accurately act on the SMAS fascia layer to improve facial sagging; photon rejuvenation (IPL), through the broad-spectrum photothermal effect, lightens pigmentation, redness and skin pigmentation, and reduces the appearance of redness. lighten pigmentation, red blood spots and even skin tone.
. Skin management: fruit acid/salicylic acid resurfacing for acne and enlarged pores; supramolecular salicylic acid resurfacing for deep pore dissolution of oil; Fotona 4D Pro through the “layered anti-aging” (epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, fascial layer) to achieve whole-layer rejuvenation.
Recommended Hospitals
Choosing a regular medical institution is the core premise of guaranteeing safety and effect. China's medical institutions can be divided into two categories of public three plastic surgery and chain specialized medical institutions, both have their own advantages, need to be combined with the needs of choice.
1. Public three A plastic surgery: deep technical heritage, suitable for complex surgery
Beijing Badachu Plastic Surgery Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ninth People's Hospital Plastic Surgery Department, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Plastic Surgery Hospital (Badachu) as On behalf of the public institutions, relying on the resources of the three hospitals, in the difficult repair surgery (such as failed breast augmentation repair, maxillofacial deformity correction) and basic plastic surgery field occupies an authoritative position. Its advantages are:
. The team of doctors is mostly of the “clinical + scientific research” amphibious type, and participates in the formulation of industry standards (e.g., “Medical Beauty Project Classification and Management Catalog”);
. Advanced and up-to-date equipment (e.g. the introduction of German Body-jet hydrodynamic liposuction system, the U.S. medical science multi-wavelength laser platform);
. Transparent cost, no hidden consumption (but popular experts need to be booked in advance).
2. Chain specialized medical beauty institutions: service refinement, suitable for light medical beauty and daily projects
Chain brands represented by “Huahan Plastic Surgery”, “Yixing Medical Beauty” and “Meilai Medical Beauty” focus on light medical aesthetics and standardized services, with the following advantages:
The organization covers the core cities of the country (such as the first tier and the new first tier), so it is convenient to go to the nearest medical center;
The doctor team has a clear division of labor (e.g., specializing in injection, specializing in photoelectricity) and a mature technical training system;
Provide “consulting - treatment - post-operative care” full-process services (such as post-operative exclusive customer service follow-up, repair product delivery).
the treatment method
China's medical beauty has shifted from the early “template operation” to “face customization”, the core of which lies in accurate diagnosis + layered treatment. Take popular projects as an example:
1. Double eyelid surgery: “three courts and five eyes” combined with “eye shape features” design
Before surgery, we analyze the golden ratio of the face (such as the length of the eyelid slit, the distance between the eyebrows and the eyes) and evaluate the eye shape (single eyelid type: puffy eyes, medial double, ptosis), and choose the surgery: puffy eyes need to remove excess fat and shorten the levator muscle; medial doubles can be adjusted through the submerged thread and small incision to adjust the arc of the eyelid line; and ptosis needs to be combined with a levator muscle surgery, to avoid “turning into a pair of eyes” after the surgery. The upper eyelid ptosis should be combined with muscle lift surgery to avoid “internal double after surgery”.
2. Hyaluronic acid filler: “dynamic aesthetics” instead of “filler”.
Doctors will be based on the distribution of facial mechanics (such as the apple muscle needs strong support Joyalden Voluma, tear trough needs to be soft Rilan Viti) and the skin state (dry muscle needs to be hydrated before filling) to design a program. For example, when young candidates fill the temples, the “fan injection method” is used to avoid the “birthday boy forehead”; mature groups combined with radiofrequency skin tightening (e.g. Thermage) to enhance the deep support, to achieve the "filler + tightening Filling + firming" double effect.
3.Thermage treatment: “energy parameters” match “skin tolerance”.
Before the treatment, the degree of collagen loss and elasticity value are evaluated by Visia skin test, and the energy parameters are customized (e.g., low energy high-density mode is used around the eyes, and medium-high energy is used on the face). At the same time, the doctor will adjust the anesthesia program (surface anesthesia + ice) according to the candidate's pain threshold to avoid excessive pain or risk of burns.
Core advantage
China's medical aesthetics can stand out in the global market because of the following four major advantages:
1. Fast technology iteration: introduction and absorption + independent innovation dual-track parallel
Chinese medical aesthetics institutions follow the international frontier while promoting localized innovation. For example, after Thermage has entered China, some institutions have joined hands with equipment manufacturers to optimize the probe design and enhance the adaptability of Asian skin; domestic hyaluronic acid brands (such as “Hi-Body” of Aimer and “Runbayan” of Huaxi Bio) have improved cross-linking technology to reduce cross-linking. Domestic hyaluronic acid brands (such as “Hi Body” of Aimer and “Runbayan” of Huaxi Bio) have passed FDA and CE certifications to go overseas by improving cross-linking technology and reducing the risk of cross-linking agent residue.
2. Outstanding cost-effectiveness: the price of the same effect is only 1/3-1/2 of the price in Europe and the United States.
Influenced by the cost structure (site, labor) and market competition, the price of Chinese medical beauty projects is generally lower than that of Europe, America, Japan and South Korea. For example, Joyalden Voluma filler temples in China is about 15,000 yuan, while in the United States need 3,000 U.S. dollars (about 21,000 yuan); Thermage full treatment in China is about 18,000 yuan, and about 25,000 yuan in South Korea.
3. Perfect service system: from “treatment” to “long-term management”.
The leading organizations have established a full-cycle service system of “pre-operative evaluation - intra-operative monitoring - post-operative repair - long-term follow-up”. For example, they provide postoperative care packages such as medical masks and restorative essences; regularly track the results through skin tests; and remind candidates of the “replenishment cycle” for injectable products (e.g., hyaluronic acid is replenished in small quantities in 6-12 months for maintenance).
4.Experienced Doctors: Global Leader in Clinical Case Volume
As the second largest medical aesthetic market in the world, China's doctors' annual surgery volume far exceeds that of other countries. In the case of double eyelid surgery, for example, senior doctors perform more than 1,000 cases per year, and are able to quickly identify “hidden problems” (e.g., the thickness of the tissue in front of the lid affects the shape of the eyelid) and adjust the program. Some of these doctors have also introduced new international technologies through academic exchanges (e.g., attending the ISAPS annual meeting).
Summing up: rational choice, embracing the beauty of science
China's medical aesthetics industry is moving from “barbaric growth” to “standardized development”, with technological innovations and service upgrades providing consumers with safer and more diversified choices. Whether it's a surgical program that seeks to make a long-lasting change, or a light medical aesthetic that focuses on convenience, the core principles are always: choose a formal institution, confirm the doctor's qualifications, and define your own needs. There is no standard answer for beauty, and what suits you is the best.