Shady lip service: experts warn against illicit beauty treatments in Hong Kong

Beauticians from outside city offer illegal procedures, with clients seeking services through chat groups formed by middlemen

Beauticians from outside Hong Kong are performing illegal cosmetic procedures such as botulinum toxin and filler injections in the city, with middlemen setting up online “secret societies” or chat groups for customers to share information, industry experts have revealed.

A beauty industry expert and a plastic surgeon said they had seen or received reports of botched procedures by beauty practitioners allegedly from mainland China or overseas.

The industry insider said these beauticians did not proactively seek clients, but were instead approached by self-organised groups of customers brought together by word of mouth.

Under the law, only licensed doctors can perform procedures involving injections, while beauty salons providing such services are also required to obtain a clinic licence.

The South China Morning Post found an advertisement on Instagram offering Russian-style lip filler treatments for Hong Kong customers, with sessions available on Thursday and Friday.

Responding to inquiries, a Russian-speaking woman who claimed to be a cosmetologist offered to provide lip injections with fillers ranging from HK$2,000 (US$255) to HK$3,000 for 1ml, depending on the brand used.