The China Association of Plastics and Aesthetics (CAPA) under the National Health and Family Planning Commission said Thursday at a press briefing that it has reached an agreement with the South Korean side to jointly set up a qualifications accreditation platform for South Korean plastic surgeons.

Three women experience failed cosmetic surgeries in South Korea. [File photo/cnr.cn]

South Korea is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Chinese seeking cosmetic surgery, though failed operations and related disputes are increasing by 10 to 15 percent annually, according to an industry watchdog statement released in Beijing on Thursday.

In 2014 alone, 56,000 Chinese had plastic surgery while 70,000 underwent medical examinations in South Korea, with the latter opening around 30 new aesthetic and medical clinics in China, according to official statistics released by South Korea.

Zhang Bin, president of the CAPA, said some unsatisfied patients lacked knowledge about the medical competencies of South Korean hospitals as well as the qualifications of their cosmetic surgeons. There are tens of thousands of plastic surgeons in South Korea, but only about 1,500 are legally registered, meaning qualifications vary greatly, according to a report by the Chinese-language newspaper Beijing Times on Friday, citing Zhang.

Language barriers and illegal intermediaries in the grey area of the law are also to blame, Zhang commented. He is calling on business and police authorities to step up the crackdown on illegal organizations in this field.

Judicial procedures make medical misadventure cases extremely complicated while it can be very hard and expensive for victims to have their ruined faces fixed or seek compensation, it was added. Zhang advised caution and research into potential medical institutions and plastic surgeons before making any final decisions.

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