The rise of DIY plastic surgery in Asia: from smile trainers to nose slimmers and lifters

According to industry app SoYoung, 14 million Chinese are expected to have cosmetic surgery this year, up 42 per cent from last year. The data comes from several sources including global consultancy giant, Deloitte.

In Hong Kong, a nose job costs about US$3,800. But one dubious way to cut costs is to go solo – yes, do-it-yourself. Beyond the Botox-filled syringe option, there’s a range of items reminiscent of torture devices: smile trainers, nose slimmers, scalp stretchers, nose lifters, and face slimmers.

Australian beauty blogger Kimberly Nissen, who has undergone plastic surgery herself, sees scant potential in these items. “Thankfully, a lot of these devices simply don’t work and aren’t going to do any damage. That’s the benefit,” says Nissen, whose runs the site, The Plastic Diaries.

Many devices promise fast results with little or no pain, but for the most part they are selling false hope, she says.

You are purposely making yourself uncomfortable every day for a never-ending period, in the hope of lasting results. If you are lucky enough to see any short-term signs of change, they will fade when you stop using the devices, she says.

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Her advice to anyone thinking of buying one is to look into the reviews and real results. But ultimately, as cosmetic enhancement procedures, they offer no solution. In fact, they are a waste of money, she says, adding that if a product sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

“Save the money you’d use on these devices and put them into a savings account. In a few years, you’ll be closer to affording the actual surgery.”