Chinese Woman Loses Life Savings in Wrinkle-Removal Scam

New Delhi, 26 August 2025

A 58-year-old woman in China, identified by her surname Cui, lost her life savings, including money set aside for her grandson’s tuition, after falling victim to a deceptive wrinkle-removal treatment. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the incident began when the owner of a therapy centre in her residential complex took her to a nearby plastic surgery clinic. There, a surgeon told Cui that she had too many wrinkles, warning her that they would bring her bad luck. He further claimed that the crow’s feet around her eyes meant her husband was cheating on her and convinced her that removing them would improve his fortune. Additionally, she was persuaded into believing that erasing the wrinkles between her brows would bring good luck to her children. Under pressure, Cui was rushed into making an online payment after the clinic staff took her phone, leading her to unknowingly pay around $8,600 for multiple procedures.

The matter came to light when Cui developed severe headaches, nausea, and difficulty opening her mouth after the treatment. Her daughter later discovered that Cui had been injected with hyaluronic acid filler and had undergone as many as 10 procedures in a single sitting. When she demanded a refund, the clinic refused and suggested taking legal action instead.

The case drew widespread criticism on social media, with some users noting that the procedures had not improved her appearance, while others pointed out that plastic surgery clinics often exploit superstitions to trick people. Since 2019, China has been cracking down on false advertising and unfair charges in the medical industry, even penalising several hospitals and suspending their operations.