Many cosmetic facilities operate "underground": Potential risks to public health

Faced with the increasing demand for beauty among people, especially young people, a series of cosmetic establishments have sprung up in Dak Lak province. However, among them, many establishments operate without a license, performing many services beyond the scope of registration, posing many potential risks to public health.

This situation is posing an urgent need for increased inspection, testing and strict handling by authorities.

Risk of complications from "underground" beauty services

In Buon Ma Thuot city and many other localities in Dak Lak province, it is not difficult to see cosmetic facilities advertising loudly on social networks with commitments of "immediate effectiveness," "no pain, no scars."

In fact, many of them are beauty care facilities "disguised" as spas, hair salons, tattoo parlors, individual businesses... to perform invasive services such as filler injections, botox, eyelid surgery, nose lifts, and high-tech skin rejuvenation treatments without a license to practice.

According to statistics from the Dak Lak Provincial Department of Health, to date, the province has more than 1,200 licensed medical examination and treatment facilities and only 5 licensed cosmetic surgery clinics.

Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Thi Quynh Mi, Head of Dermatology - Skin Aesthetics Unit, Buon Ma Thuot University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital (Buon Ma Thuot city) said that recently, people's demand for beauty has increased quite high.

In the past, only older women were interested in beauty, but now, men, especially young people such as students, even high school students, are also interested. Most people are interested in skin care and treatment. In addition, there are also high-tech skin rejuvenation services, minimally invasive rejuvenation such as filler injection, botox, meso... performed at the unit a lot.

According to Dr. Quynh Mi, when demand increases, people will be attracted and enticed by false and unrealistic advertisements. Cosmetic facilities "hide" under the activities of spas, tattooing, business households... but perform treatments such as filler injections, botox, even eyelid surgery, nose lifts... These types of services fall under the scope of the medical industry and must be performed by specialized doctors with the corresponding practice certificates (doctors of other departments cannot do it either).

When performed at unsafe, unprofessional facilities, it will lead to many consequences and complications for patients such as anaphylactic shock, infection, chronic inflammation, burns causing scarring on the skin surface... Especially in the case of filler injections. If the person performing the procedure is not professional, if injected into the blood vessels, the thick gel will flow in the blood vessels, causing vascular occlusion leading to skin necrosis, causing complications of blindness or even leading to stroke.

“People get beauty treatments at untrustworthy establishments, performed by unprofessional people, without knowledge, without understanding of anatomy, and if done wrong, it will lead to complications. Products and drugs used of unknown origin also cause risks.

In addition, the location and environment of the procedure are not guaranteed, which can lead to infectious complications. In particular, in case of complications, if the facility does not have the expertise and the conditions to handle the situation promptly, it will be very dangerous," Dr. Quynh Mi emphasized.

Ms. Tran Thi Dao (in Dak Song district, Dak Nong province) said that as a woman, she has a great need for beauty. In the current situation where many spas and beauty salons are springing up, as a consumer, Ms. Dao believes that establishments must ensure product quality and service safety. She hopes that the authorities will take measures to handle unlicensed establishments that cause dangerous complications and are unsafe for people.

Increased control

Faced with the above situation, the Dak Lak Provincial Health Department coordinated with relevant agencies to step up inspections and resolutely handle violating establishments. According to statistics, from the beginning of 2025 to present, the Provincial Health Department Inspectorate has inspected 13 medical establishments (including cosmetic and dental), of which 9 establishments were discovered and administratively fined with a total amount of 324 million VND.

Dak Lak Provincial Police have transferred the case files of 8 other violating establishments to the Department of Health, with the fine amounting to 360 million VND. Some of the establishments that were fined include: Huyen Bela Beauty Center, Huyen Smile Beauty & Academy, Thao Xinh 2 Beauty Salon, Lami Beauty Center, Mai Ca Spa, Doctor Help Family Doctor Clinic, Di Di Beauty & Academy...

Mr. Cao Van Thanh, Deputy Chief Inspector of Dak Lak Province's Department of Health, informed about the coordination with relevant agencies to step up inspection and examination work, and resolutely handle violating establishments. (Photo: Nguyen Dung/VNA)

Mr. Cao Van Thanh, Deputy Chief Inspector of Dak Lak Province Department of Health, said that the inspection team will examine legal documents related to the operating conditions of the facility; the reality of human resources, degrees, certificates, expertise, etc. The licensing of facilities is established by the Appraisal Council under the Department of Health. When qualified, it will advise on licensing.

However, through inspection, most of the penalized establishments did not have a practice license issued by the competent authority. The staff at these establishments mainly only had tattoo and embroidery certificates issued by vocational training centers and establishments. For cosmetic activities (filler injection, botox, eyelid surgery, nose lift...), according to regulations, they must be performed by a specialized cosmetic surgery clinic. The above certificates do not meet the conditions for performing techniques of a medical intervention nature.

According to Mr. Cao Van Thanh, handling unlicensed beauty establishments in the province is facing many difficulties. Most of the violating establishments operate in a sophisticated manner, "hiding" under the name of spas, hair salons, shampoo shops or business households to "blindly" provide unauthorized services to the authorities; the owners of the establishments have unstable addresses, are from other localities, do not register temporary residence or temporary absence... leading to difficulties in verifying, sanctioning and urging compliance with decisions on administrative sanctions.

Some facilities, after being handled, changed their names, locations, and business forms to continue operating. The medical force is thin, while the area is large, making it difficult to grasp the situation and organize regular inspections...

Mr. Cao Van Thanh said that in the coming time, the Department will strengthen coordination with relevant authorities to inspect and examine facilities in a synchronous manner. If any facility is found to be in violation, it will be strictly handled in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Facilities that do not meet the legal requirements, people do not know the professional qualifications of the medical team, doctors, and staff, when they come to use the service, it will cause unpredictable consequences. Therefore, people who need medical examination, treatment, and beauty services should choose, check information on the website of the Department of Health, find licensed facilities, reputable services to ensure health, avoid risks - Mr. Thanh recommended.

Obviously, as the demand for beauty is increasing, the control of the operation of cosmetic facilities needs to be tightened. We cannot allow illegal, unlicensed, unprofessional facilities to continue to exist and cause serious consequences for public health.

In addition to the drastic intervention of the authorities, each citizen needs to be alert, proactively equip themselves with knowledge, choose reputable, licensed addresses and have specialized doctors in charge. Beauty is a legitimate need but only truly meaningful when accompanied by safety./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nhieu-co-so-tham-my-hoat-dong-chui-tiem-an-rui-ro-suc-khoe-cong-dong-post1026915.vnp