Cosmetic surgery in China has grown recently. According to the Sichuan Cosmetic Surgeons Association, there has been growth of around 20% in the number of women opting for plastic surgery over the last few years. Nose-jobs appear to be the major operation.

What is driving this growth rate?

In one corner of the country, namely Chengdu in Sichuan Province, growing numbers of women are turning to plastic surgery to try and improve their job prospects.

Since the collapse of Communism in China and the development of a State sanctioned market economy, there is growing disparity between rich and poor along with greater competition for jobs.

The more prosperous Chinese believe that one way of securing that all important job is to look as appealing as possible to potential employers.

One senior executive of a private company recently told reporters that getting rhinoplasty work done has improved her confidence in both her work and life.

Another woman, Ms Yang who is a saleswoman also believes that her personal sales growth is down to having cosmetic surgery.

Cosmetic surgery covers a wide range of procedures but China’s love of the medical procedure is still in its infancy. As such, it is not surprising that the focus is mainly on improving facial appearance.

What’s more, the technology being used is increasing non-invasive giving people more confidence in the profession as a whole.

Such technologies include non-ablative lasers, radio frequency and acoustic waves.

Interestingly, it is also older people as well as young women in China who are opting to get work done.

In the West it is said that growth or decline in cosmetic surgery is aligned with the economy of the country. If this is correct, then growth in China is likely to soar over the next few years.