Woman Suffers Complications Following Eyelid Surgery

Botched Cosmetic Procedure Leaves Woman Unable to Close Her Eyes

A woman in eastern China has been left unable to fully close her eyes for years after a botched cosmetic procedure, significantly affecting her daily life and mental health. The case has sparked debate around safety standards in the country's medical beauty industry.

The woman, identified by her surname Wang, underwent a double eyelid surgery in June 2020 at a cosmetic clinic in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, paying around 12,000 yuan (approximately Rs 1.6 lakh). Double eyelid surgery is one of the most common aesthetic procedures in East Asia, but experts note that improper techniques can result in severe complications, including functional damage to the eyes.

The procedure quickly went wrong, with Wang experiencing severe pain and swelling immediately after the surgery. Her eyelids reportedly turned outward and fluid built up in her eyes, forcing her to seek emergency treatment at a major hospital. Doctors later found that her lacrimal gland or tear gland had been damaged and the surgery itself had been incorrectly performed.

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Despite undergoing corrective procedures, Wang was left unable to fully close her eyelids — even while sleeping — and has dealt with constant tearing since. The complications had a lasting impact on her physical and emotional well-being, with Wang reportedly feeling ashamed to work or meet anyone after the operation.

She later struggled with depression and insomnia, and in 2022, local authorities assessed her condition as a grade-nine disability, indicating partial loss of function. Wang's condition has been a result of the unlicensed clinic and unqualified practitioner who performed the surgery. The facility was shut down within months of the incident, and Wang later took legal action against the practitioner, with reports indicating attempts at a settlement before the case concluded in court.