Nghe An people 'risk their lives' to get beauty treatments at underground beauty salons

(Baonghean) - Currently, in Nghe An, there are many unlicensed cosmetic surgery facilities that perform illegal procedures. In addition, there are many cosmetic beauty facilities that perform many tattooing and spraying services that pose a potential health risk.

Beauty salons operating illegally

In response to information reflecting on the complicated situation of the beauty and cosmetic surgery sector in the area, the Department of Health has coordinated with the Provincial Police to establish a team to suddenly inspect cosmetic facilities in Vinh City. After 3 days of inspection, the team discovered 1 facility that violated the law. That is the cosmetic surgery clinic of Dr. Vu Thai Hung, in Hung Loc Commune, Vinh City.

On Dr. Hung’s personal Facebook page, he regularly posts pictures of patients after he performed nose, eye, and chin cosmetic surgery. At the time of the surprise inspection, the cosmetic clinic was not performing any professional activities.

However, the clinic showed signs that a patient had just undergone cosmetic surgery. Upon inspection, the team found that many surgical instruments in the clinic were rusty, dirty, and unsanitary. In particular, the clinic had not been licensed by the Department of Health.

Dr. Vu Thai Hung's unlicensed cosmetic surgery clinic. Photo: Thanh Son

Doctor Vu Thai Hung admitted: “Currently, the clinic is in the process of changing its license, waiting for the decision of the Department of Health. At the clinic, I only perform minor surgeries to remove moles and cut eyelids; medium and major surgeries are performed at the hospital, ensuring hygiene. Actually, I have to wait for all the paperwork to be completed before I can do it.”

Dr. Hung added: "I have a master's degree in cosmetic surgery and participated in the drafting committee of the Cosmetic Surgery Law."

At this time, in the area there are a number of "fake" beauty salons operating and actively promoting cosmetic surgery services even though they are not licensed. According to information from the Nghe An Department of Health, currently in our province there is only 1 hospital and 1 clinic licensed to perform cosmetic surgery.

An inspection at a licensed hospital and clinic showed that all operating conditions were good: there was a place to receive patients and customers; there was a room for examination and treatment; a room for patient retention; a procedure room... The person in charge of technical expertise here was a doctor with a certificate to practice cosmetic surgery.

Sadly, both licensed establishments are rather “deserted” by customers. On the contrary, many unlicensed establishments attract customers, although the service costs are not much different.

Tattooing services are available at many beauty establishments on Nguyen Van Cua Street (Vinh City). Photo: Thanh Son

Beauty salon chaos

Currently, in Nghe An province, there are many beauty salons. On Nguyen Van Cu street alone, Vinh city, there are over 10 beauty salons, with names such as spa, beauty salon, skin care, massage...

Most of these stores advertise and perform services that sound very "grand" such as treating melasma with laser, whitening baths with phototherapy, tattooing, tattoo removal, and lip and eyebrow tattooing... However, most of the owners or beauty salon staff do not have recognized professional certificates.

If so, only the owner and manager of the facility has medical certificates, while the staff "pass on the profession" and practice directly on customers.

Mr. Truong Xuan Thinh, manager of Mailisa Beauty Salon on Ngu Hai Street, Vinh City, said: “I am a doctor and was trained in skin care, teeth and jaws at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City. The staff here were trained by me in their expertise. After training, with solid expertise, the staff will advise customers. The choice depends on the customer. Customers must be smart people.”

Rusty surgical instruments were discovered during an inspection. Photo: Thanh Son

Gaps in management

Cosmetic surgery is understood as scientific and intentional interventions using knives, rays, needles... on the body for the purpose of beautifying. For lip and eyebrow tattooing and spraying technology, it is essentially a method of using metal to inject a certain amount of coloring substance deep into the epidermis of the skin. The above services actually intervene in the human body, but are not included in the list of adjustments of the health sector. Because they are outside the scope of management, the inspection team has no basis for handling.

In the management of beauty establishments with laser, spraying and tattooing services, there are big loopholes causing confusion in management. According to current regulations, beauty establishments are in the business sector without conditions.

To operate, spas and beauty salons only need to apply for an operating license issued by the local finance and planning department, and when hanging advertising signs, they must ask for permission from the culture and information department... Many people still misunderstand that beauty salons are licensed by the health sector, so they can safely use services that are not harmful to the body. Meanwhile, most beauty tools in many facilities are very unsanitary.

Tattooing tools at a beauty salon are not hygienic. Photo: Thanh Son

In some provinces and cities in the country, there have also been unfortunate consequences due to the use of services at beauty establishments, typically the death at Linh Nhung Beauty Salon (Nam Dong Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi) due to scar removal; the death at Hanoi Beauty Salon (at B3 - 257 Giai Phong, Hanoi) due to eyelid surgery and breast augmentation; or the case of Ms. Nguyen Thi H, 23 years old in Quang Ninh using lip injection service at Yanhee Clinic Spa (Van Kiep Alley, Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi) leading to necrosis and having to amputate her lips at the end of April 2016...

Mr. Ho Son - Chief Inspector of the Department of Health suggested: "To do a good job of managing cosmetic facilities, all levels and sectors must get involved and clearly answer whether laser, spraying, and tattooing services affect health or not? If so, they must be included in the list of conditional management; if not, the facilities must also register the service for management by all levels and sectors. The Nghe An Health Department has repeatedly given opinions to the Ministry of Health on this issue. For people who want to beautify themselves with cosmetic surgery, they must be alert and choose to go to facilities licensed by the Health Department to ensure their health."

Thanh Son