A Chinese woman was left with a serious disability when she underwent a costly breast enhancement surgery that proved to be a fraud. Lingling, a Jiangxi province resident, paid almost 2.4 million yuan (approximately Rs 2.84 crore) for the surgery, only to find out afterwards that the implants had animal DNA, as per a report from the South China Morning Post (SCMP). 

Lingling was told about the procedure in 2017 through a local salon. The salon owner brought her to Beijing Creating Medical Cosmetic Clinic, where she met with head surgeon Bai Jin, who explained to her that the procedure was safe. 

The clinic said that it would take out and harvest her own collagen and then re-inject it into her breasts to produce a "self-derived, self-used" effect, which would allegedly be free from being rejected by her body.

Following the operation, Lingling started feeling pain and an unusual sensation in her chest. She underwent nine more operations, including corrective procedures and implant replacements, over the course of six years, which cost her nearly 2.39 million yuan.

By 2023, it had deteriorated. She could feel the implants leaking, and her breasts had deformed badly. “There were two lumps on my chest that reached my stomach,” Lingling told the outlet.

When Lingling asked the Beijing clinic for corrective treatment, they demanded a medical report. In October 2024, she visited a hospital in Shanghai, where doctors removed the implants and conducted tests. The results were alarming – the implants contained DNA from moose and cattle, contradicting the clinic’s promise of “self-derived” implants.

The damage to Lingling's body was severe, and her breast deformity was assessed as a severe disability, making her suffer from tremendous physical and emotional agony.

Other affected patients due to non-human implants

As per SCMP, a beauty industry insider shared that other patients too faced similar issues. Tests on previous cases found animal DNA from camels, bats, and gorillas in the implants. “These non-human materials can cause adverse reactions, like immune rejection,” the insider explained.

When Lingling attempted to claim compensation, she discovered that the beauty salon and the Beijing clinic were closed. The clinic's business license had been revoked after being responsible for 398 cases of medical malpractice. Furthermore, the head surgeon, Bai Jin, was not registered with the national medical authorities.

On March 1, Lingling lodged a complaint with the Beijing Municipal Health Commission. But as the clinic and salon were no longer in business, Lingling has serious difficulties pursuing justice. The market regulation department is carrying out more investigations into the case.

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