With a compound annual growth rate of over 20 percent in recent years, China's medical cosmetic market has become the second largest in the world. Although it is booming, the market is chaotic and disordered. For example, many practitioners were informally trained and some products meet no standards.

The root problem is that the medical nature of this sector is diluted. For many people, there is no difference between a hair transplant and a manicure. Generally speaking, the beauty industry is divided into two categories, life cosmetology and medical cosmetology. The former consists of procedures like improving the skin by moisturizing or water-locking techniques and is not traumatic or invasive. The latter is traumatic and invasive, and includes double eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty.

It is clear that medical cosmetology procedures must be under the supervision of medical departments. That means these organizations should not operate without medical license and people without qualifications should not be allowed to engage in the industry. Hence, the medical nature of medical cosmetics should be emphasized and made clear. Only by doing so will people understand which procedures can be done in cosmetic salons and which cannot.

Going forward, the number of medical cosmetic institutions will continue to grow due to brisk demand. Promoting high-quality development and protecting people's legal rights will test the management ability of relevant departments.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Nanfang Weekly on November 20)