Every woman dreams of looking perfect, and in today’s world of cosmetic procedures, it seems that it is only a matter of money and time. Whether you want flawless skin, plump lips or a perfect nose, it’s all within reach! But what if this pursuit of beauty ends not with a dreamy reflection in the mirror, but with a horror that is difficult to hide? An injection that turns the face into someone else’s mask, an operation that leaves scars not only on the body, but also on the soul. Stories of unsuccessful cosmetic interventions show: the price of beauty can be much higher than we are willing to pay.
Today, in the era of unlimited beauty possibilities, everyone can get a “miracle” with the help of a botox injection or surgical correction. We see glossy faces on screens and in advertisements where every feature seems perfect. But behind the glitter of perfect images hides the dark side of the industry, which is rarely talked about. What happens when beauty becomes not a gift, but a real disaster?
Popularity of cosmetic procedures in the world
For data International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) in 2023, the number of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the world increased by 3.4% to 34.9 million. In total, including non-surgical procedures (such as Botox and fillers), about 25 million procedures.
The most popular surgical procedures remain:
- breast augmentation – 4.1 million procedures (53.7%);
- liposuction – 2.2 million procedures (26%);
- eyelid correction – 1.7 million procedures (24%);
- rhinoplasty (nose job) – 1.1 million procedures (21.6%).
Breast augmentation and rhinoplasty are most popular among people aged 18-34 (65.8%), while Batox injections are used by people aged 35-50 (49%).
Botox and filler injections, as well as laser hair removal, are leaders among non-surgical procedures. For example, more than 7 million cosmetic procedures are performed on average in the US in just 1 year, of which more than 15 million are non-surgical. Among the non-surgical procedures, the most popular are botulinum toxin injections (Botox) – over 4.4 million procedures per year, and hyaluronic acid injections (fillers) – over 2.6 million procedures. Spending on cosmetic services in the US exceeds 9 billion dollars each year.
In Europe, the demand for cosmetic procedures is constantly increasing, especially in countries such as Germany, Italy and France. According to ISAPS, in Europe, surgical procedures account for about 35% of the total number of procedures, with liposuction and breast augmentation being the most popular. The highest demand for non-surgical procedures is observed in France and Germany, in particular for Botox injections and facial contouring.
South Korea is one of the leaders in the world in terms of the number of cosmetic surgeries performed per capita. On average, 1 in 5 women in Seoul has undergone some kind of cosmetic procedure. The most popular procedures in South Korea are blepharoplasty (eyelid correction), rhinoplasty, and filler injections.
In Ukraine, there is a steady increase in the demand for cosmetology services, in particular for non-surgical procedures, such as Botox, facial contouring and hyaluronic acid injections. According to unofficial data, the number of cosmetic procedures in Ukraine increases by 10-15% every year.
Beauty is the price of life
Recently, the news about a death during a cosmetic procedure spread on the Internet, which was reported by the police of the Kharkiv region. As it became known from the case materials, the client came to the cosmetology salon for laser lipolysis (a non-surgical procedure aimed at reducing body volume and correcting the figure – ed.) As a rule, local anesthesia is used for this procedure. The cosmetologist gave the woman about 20 injections in a short period of time without conducting mandatory preliminary laboratory tests, which include determining the body weight to determine the dose, as well as an allergy test. As a result of incorrect actions of the beautician, the concentration of the drug was exceeded at least 15 times, which led to the death of the patient. The 33-year-old cosmetologist was informed of suspicion of murder due to carelessness. She faces 5 years in prison.
The news immediately caused a storm of emotions among Instagram users.
Sataichkina.e.a, Instagram user:
“They finish cosmetology courses in a week of classes, also online, and the test is like this, close your eyes and open them, yes, everything is fine, you are ready. My child’s skin was so damaged, because the dose was also calculated incorrectly”
Hubska_o_o, Instagram user:
“As long as five years of imprisonment are given for the murder of a person, nothing will change in Ukraine, unfortunately. Everywhere you look, there are Sunday course specialists in medical suits”
Bezypre4naya17, Instagram user:
“Because all cosmetologists must have a medical education, and we have them every second, they opened offices, it’s just terrible”
Almost every second comment under the post is about the availability of mandatory medical education for a cosmetologist. So, women know how it should be, but for some reason they forget about this important fact and, without checking the documents, undergo procedures at their own peril and risk. And there are many such terrible cases with mutilated destinies, or, in general, fatal consequences.
One of such victims of an unsuccessful cosmetic procedure was 22-year-old Marta from Lviv. The girl decided to make her lips plump and signed up for a simple procedure at one of the Lviv cosmetology salons. During the injection in the lips, the girl felt a strong burning sensation. The beautician reassured her, saying that the swelling would subside in an hour. But at home, the lips have increased in size.
“In about two weeks, when the swelling started to go down, the filler was removed from my lips with a special preparation in the same salon. I am still taking cosmetology and treatment courses. She paid 4,999 hryvnias for lip augmentation. The salon already paid for the liquidation of the consequences, because she threatened them with complaints and a lawsuit. They justified their mistake by the fact that I allegedly had a reaction to the drug, but I suspect that the substance that was injected into me was of dubious quality. I understand now that I had to insist that the cosmetologist unpack everything in my presence, show the expiration date of the drug”, – Marta shares her unpleasant experience.
Professional cosmetologists, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons unanimously claim that so-called beauty injections are safe only when they are performed by certified specialists. The rules of drug storage, sterility and administration must be observed. Before getting a beauty injection, you need to make sure of the doctor’s qualifications, as well as read the reviews left by clients about him. At the same time, you should look for reviews not on the clinic’s website, but on independent specialized forums. Also, don’t be fooled by discounts or ads like “I’m looking for a model.” Usually they are placed by people who do not have much experience, but they can cause a lot of damage.
As noted by dermatologists, most often, young people ask for lip augmentation (an injection procedure that corrects and increases the volume and shape of the lips – ed.). But it is still too early to inject beauty into the forehead of young patients. However, very often irresponsible cosmetologists are ready to perform such procedures on 20- or 30-year-olds. The consequences of an incorrectly performed procedure are very unpleasant: bruises, scars, abscesses, overhanging eyebrows, etc.
“Girls and women come to the appointment every week, for whom the drug was chosen incorrectly, injected into the wrong part of the face, or the dose was not calculated. This is usually done by unqualified doctors or people who have no connection to medicine, use uncertified drugs. And we are forced to deal with hypercorrection or complications with residual phenomena.” – explains Yaryna Yaremchuk, dermatologist and dermatovenerologist of the Lviv City Cosmetology Hospital.
According to specialists, there are cases when unqualified people injected the filler into the tip of the nose, as a result of which necrosis ensued and the patient had to undergo surgery. Necrosis of the interbrow area may occur after improperly administered injections. If the area is periorbital, a person may lose vision.
“Conscious use of uncertified drugs, including implants for breast enlargement, is a gross violation that exposes the patient, first of all, to various problems. Most often, the consequence of this is the desire of the body to get rid of the foreign body, which it successfully does. Infectious complications, displacement or migration of the drug, and allergic reactions can also occur. – plastic surgeon Nazar Kalinovich explains the danger of the situation.
Dangers hidden behind injections and scalpel
The dream of a perfect appearance has turned into a mass fever. Every day, thousands of people go under the scalpel or for procedures with injections, wanting to “adjust” themselves for the sake of the dream ideal. But what happens when this dream turns into a nightmare? As it turned out, the price of beauty can be much higher than you imagine – and not only in monetary terms.
Every cosmetic procedure, even at first glance simple, carries the risk of infections. Unqualified cosmetologists can use non-sterile tools or low-quality drugs. This can lead to inflammation, abscess formation or even tissue necrosis. Complications after injections of fillers or Botox are especially dangerous. Improperly performed injections can block vessels, which will lead to tissue death, and it will be almost impossible to correct such a problem. The composition of preparations for cosmetology procedures may contain components to which the body reacts unpredictably. Sometimes the allergy manifests itself only the next day or several weeks after the procedure, causing swelling, severe redness or scarring. Fillers and Botox can dramatically change facial features. However, an unsuccessful procedure can turn your face into a real “mask”. Exaggerated cheekbones, asymmetric lips or a “frozen” look – these are the irreparable consequences that clients may face due to the low qualification of the cosmetologist or incorrect administration of the drug.
There are many uncertified drugs on the market that cosmetologists can use because of their cheapness. These can be fakes of well-known brands or drugs of dubious origin that have not undergone proper research. The use of such products can lead to long-term skin problems, including allergies, deformities and permanent swelling.
Plastic surgery, such as liposuction, breast augmentation or rhinoplasty, carries significantly more risks. Incorrect work of the surgeon can end with scars, asymmetry or even complete deformation of the body part. Moreover, there is a risk of nerve damage, which can lead to loss of sensation or even mobility in some parts of the body.
Liability for unsuccessful cosmetic procedures
Is a cosmetologist or surgeon responsible for unsuccessful procedures? From a legal point of view, the situation is not so unambiguous. Many believe that signing a contract or agreeing to a procedure removes responsibility from the clinic or doctor, but this is not always the case.
In developed countries such as the United States or the European Union, patients have the right to legal action in the event of a botched or harmful procedure. Lawsuits against plastic surgeons are common, and in many cases, patients are awarded damages for moral and physical damages. However, even in these countries, legal proceedings can drag on for years, and the outcome of the case depends on the evidence that the patient can provide.
In most countries, cosmetologists must have appropriate licenses and certificates that confirm their qualifications. If the procedure is carried out by an unqualified person or using non-certified means, this may become grounds for a lawsuit. However, in many countries, including Ukraine, licensing and control of cosmetology services are not always strict enough. This creates enormous risks for patients.
Small beauty salons and cosmetologists operating without proper licenses or outside official clinics often avoid liability. Many of them have no legal obligations to customers at all. In such cases, patients are often left alone with their problems, with no opportunity to receive compensation or re-treatment.
Anyone thinking about cosmetic procedures should consider not only the promises of quick results, but also the possible consequences. A botched injection or surgery can turn your life into a nightmare, leaving not only physical but also psychological scars. In the pursuit of perfection, it is important to remember: true beauty is not in perfect features, but in your health and harmony with yourself.
Beauty may be an attractive dream, but its true value is often hidden behind advertising promises and glossy covers. For some, a failed injection or surgery is just a disappointment that can be fixed, for others, it is a terrible consequence that they will live with for the rest of their lives. Traumatized faces, ruined health and psychological wounds are the terrible realities that are rarely talked about in the world of the beauty industry. In the pursuit of perfection, we forget that the most important beauty is not the one that can be “fixed” with a scalpel, but the one that has no price.
