De Bernardis Riccardo, Salzillo Rosa, Persichetti Paolo
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128, Rome, Italy.
Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025 Jan 22. doi: 10.1007/s00266-025-04694-2.
The proliferation of unlicensed aesthetic medical (UAE) practices in China's plastic surgery industry highlights a pressing global concern, amplified by the growing "beauty economy." Social media platforms perpetuate unattainable beauty standards through edited images and curated pre- and post-operative photos, fueling demand for aesthetic treatments and exacerbating body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Vulnerable individuals targeted by manipulative advertising often fall victim to unsafe UAE services. Generational differences further complicate this landscape: younger generations prioritize minimally invasive procedures for quick enhancements, while older individuals seek transformative surgeries, enabling UAE practitioners to exploit diverse preferences. The economic appeal of UAE services, particularly for middle- and lower-income consumers, underscores the need for democratized access to safe, reliable aesthetic treatments. Addressing these issues requires stricter regulation of digital advertising, public education on the psychological impacts of unrealistic beauty ideals, and subsidies or tiered pricing in licensed clinics. Broader multidisciplinary strategies, including collaborations with social media influencers and educators, are vital to promoting inclusive beauty standards and reducing demand for illicit procedures. By tackling the social, economic, and cultural drivers of UAE practices, policymakers can ensure a safer and more ethical aesthetic medicine industry, benefitting consumers and the broader market.Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors https://www.springer.com/00266 .
中国整形美容行业中非法医美行为的泛滥凸显了一个紧迫的全球问题，“美丽经济”的不断发展更是加剧了这一问题。社交媒体平台通过编辑后的图像以及精心挑选的术前和术后照片，使难以企及的美丽标准得以延续，刺激了对美容治疗的需求，并加剧了身体变形障碍（BDD）。受操纵性广告影响的易受伤害个体常常成为不安全非法医美服务的受害者。代际差异进一步使这一局面复杂化：年轻一代优先选择微创手术以实现快速改善，而年长个体则寻求变革性手术，这使得非法医美从业者能够利用不同的偏好。非法医美服务的经济吸引力，尤其对于中低收入消费者而言，凸显了实现安全、可靠美容治疗的普及化的必要性。解决这些问题需要更严格地监管数字广告，对不切实际的美丽理想所产生的心理影响进行公众教育，并在正规诊所提供补贴或分级定价。更广泛的多学科策略，包括与社交媒体有影响力的人和教育工作者合作，对于推广包容性的美丽标准以及减少对非法手术的需求至关重要。通过应对非法医美行为的社会、经济和文化驱动因素，政策制定者可以确保美容医学行业更加安全且符合道德规范，使消费者和更广泛的市场受益。证据级别V 本期刊要求作者为每篇文章指定证据级别。有关这些循证医学评级的完整描述，请参阅目录或在线作者指南https://www.springer.com/00266 。
