Illustration: Lu Ting/GT

Last week in the Global Times Metro Shanghai, Uncle Wang explained how an increasing number of students in Shanghai are getting cosmetic surgery, as their parents believe that an improved appearance will guarantee a better future.

According to Wang, summer holiday is "the peak time for students undergoing plastic surgery," and Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital receives "at least 60 consultations every day." The students are "recent gaokao grads, university students and overseas returnees" who want to start the next chapter of their life "looking their best."

Not but last decade plastic surgery was still taboo in Chinese culture, in that it conveyed dishonesty by altering one's appearance. Back in 2005, only 1 million people in China had ever undergone such operations. Today, however, more Chinese of all ages and backgrounds regard surgical enhancement as a slightly more expensive equivalent of getting a haircut or manicure.

China has now emerged as the world's third-largest market for the plastic surgery industry. An analysis conducted by the Forward Industry Research Institute revealed that in 2012 there were 175 plastic surgery hospitals in China. By 2015, 7.43 million people had received plastic surgery and 2016 is expected to see 8.5 million patients. According to statistics by All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, China's plastic surgery industry increases 20 percent year on year, with the market profit overtaking 450 billion yuan ($67.4 billion).

Such a boost in this industry, however, doesn't mean plastic surgery is less risky. Research shows that in the past decade over 200,000 people have been disfigured after their plastic surgery. Among failed cases, 90 percent were done at unlicensed clinics in Shanghai, South Korea and other popular "medical tourism" destinations.

Moreover, up to 10 percent of all worldwide plastic surgery patients eventually suffer from severe regret while 20 percent become addicted to surgical alterations, especially because their physical modifications require continual improvement, or else their altered skin will simply fall apart. Remember Micheal Jackson's gaping nose-hole? As Uncle Wang pointed out, "Patients will have to keep going back for maintenance and repairs the rest of their life."

Thirty-three-year-old Hongfen Baobao from Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, who has become Internet-famous for spending over 4 million yuan in hundreds of operations on herself, is a well-known "disasterpiece" of Chinese plastic surgery. Ever since her first operation for double-fold eyelids at the tender age of 16, Hongfen has become mentally and physically addicted to cosmetic alterations. By her early 20s she had already undergone operations for almost every part of her body, from nose and jaw jobs to breast enlargements, fat extractions and even leg lengthening, which requires grafting bone onto bone.

With such crazy surgery experiences, in 2012 she was invited to A Date with Luyu, a popular talk show, where she said that among her 200 operations, a majority were just for upkeep. By the time she appeared on TV, Hongfen's appearance and health had deteriorated. She had to wear a mask out of shame.

Poor Hongfen made the news again recently after announcing she had to literally cut off her breasts in order to remove the toxic Amazingel injected into her bosom seven years ago. Her tragic case is proof positive that plastic surgery is never as safe and permanent as patients are led to believe by profiteering doctors.

As a Chinese university girl who cares about my appearance and also invests money in makeup and manicures to make me feel pretty, I understand that looks matter. Especially in Shanghai's superficial society where many employers only give their attentions to the most beautiful females, it's become necessary for us to develop not only our brains but also our bodies if we ever want to get ahead in the job market.

However, undergoing facial and body surgery, especially students whose faces and bodies have not even matured, just seems insane. For any females out there who are that dissatisfied with your appearance, I'd suggest self-improvement. You'd never believe how far a little confidence and charm will take you. Makeup gets washed off at the end of the night, and plastic surgery will melt after a few years. But inner beauty is forever, and, unlike our skin, personality gets finer with age.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Global Times.