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Make me perfect: Manufacturing beauty in China

China’s cosmetic surgery industry is booming, but the demand has led to a shortage of qualified practitioners. Hundreds of accidents are happening inside clinics every day.

In China today, looking good is seen as key to career success. With beauty videos promoting extreme weight-loss flooding social media, beauty apps making booking surgery click of a button away, China’s cosmetic surgery industry is booming. But the surge in demand has led to a shortage of qualified practitioners and licensed clinics. Hundreds of accidents are happening inside Chinese clinics every day. We talk to young women pressured into cosmetic procedures and expose the surgeon behind one of China’s most notorious botched surgeries.

Presenter: Natalia Zuo
Produce: Ly Truong
Editors: Rebecca Henschke and Monica Garnsey
Mixed by Gareth Jones
This episode features a clip from The Most Beautiful You in the World (世界上最动听的你), aired on WeTV

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 27 Apr 2025 22:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 24 Apr 2025 01:32GMT
  • Thu 24 Apr 2025 08:32GMT
  • Thu 24 Apr 2025 19:06GMT
  • Sat 26 Apr 2025 16:32GMT
  • Sat 26 Apr 2025 23:32GMT
  • Sun 27 Apr 2025 04:32GMT
  • Sun 27 Apr 2025 04:32GMT
  • Sun 27 Apr 2025 13:06GMT
  • Sun 27 Apr 2025 22:32GMT