Vietnamese beauty centre closed over illegal plastic surgery
HANOI - Health officials in Vietnam have closed down a Ho Chi Minh City beauty centre for performing unlicensed plastic surgeries after a woman complained she was injured during a tummy tuck, local media reported on Saturday.
The closure was the latest in a series of controversies over plastic surgery in Vietnam, which is becoming increasingly popular among the nouveau riche.
The clinic, operated by Nguyen Xuan Ai, was licensed only for minor facial procedures but had been advertising itself as a full- range plastic surgery centre, according to Thanh Nien newspaper.
It was unclear whether the doctor or his staff would face criminal charges.
Ai’s clinic came under investigation after a 32-year-old woman who asked for a tummy tuck was hospitalized with a deep cut into her abdomen. She was reportedly recovering in hospital over the weekend.
Health officials told the paper that the doctor had been operating up to seven clinics when he was only authorized for one and that his medical license had also expired.
Plastic surgery has been under increasing scrutiny after two deaths earlier this year related to unlicensed breast implants.
Despite annual per-capita income of 640 dollars, Vietnam has seen an increase in plastic surgery, especially in booming Ho Chi Minh City, which alone has more than 40 clinics licensed to perform nose jobs, chin implants and lip enhancement.
Deutsche Presse Agentur - October 7, 2006.
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