Woman in China dies after undergoing multiple cosmetic procedures to remove freckles

Woman dies after receiving laser treatments to remove freckles on skin

A woman in China lost her life after undergoing a series of cosmetic procedures to remove her freckles.

27-year-old Ms Liu had a history of neurofibromatosis and café-au-lait spots, and her treatments had been ongoing for some time without any significant health concerns.

However, she reportedly died on 31 Oct 2023 after receiving her 10th laser treatment at Jinmen Dermatology Hospital in Tianjin. This happened months after her last session on 23 May 2023.

Suffered cardiac arrest after receiving anaesthetic cream on birthmark

According to Chinese news outlet Sohu, Ms Liu suffered dizziness and shortly fell into a coma after a doctor had applied anaesthetic cream on her birthmark on 21 Oct.

She reportedly went into shock and experienced cardiac arrest.

Source: Freepik, for illustrative purposes only

Ms Liu was later sent to the intensive care unit at Tianjin Medical University for emergency care, where she passed away 10 days later.

The medical university announced that her death resulted from brain herniation, a condition resulting from increased pressure in the skull that causes brain tissue to protrude.

Family seeking explanation regarding Ms Liu’s death

Liu’s husband said his wife had many birthmarks on her body, and she had spent over RMB100,000 (S$18,600) for treatment to remove them, reports the Straits Times (ST).

He suspected a possible link between the dose of anaesthesia given to her and her death.

“We cannot let her die without an explanation. We need to find out her cause of death, and we hope that our loss serves as a warning to others,” he said.

Source: Clifford Clinic

Ms Liu’s mother, who accompanied her to the treatment, shared that she had to stop the sessions several times because of unbearable pain.

Following the incident, Ms Liu’s body was sent for a forensic examination to determine the cause of death, and authorities are investigating the case.

Hospital willing to take responsibility if found at fault

The hospital’s deputy director offered his condolences for Ms Liu’s death and stated that the hospital would accept liability if proven to be at fault, based on ST.

In China, healthcare professionals can be sentenced to three years in prison and fined if their negligence results in a patient’s death.

The case has sparked widespread discussion online, with many questioning the safety of cosmetic procedures.

Experts urge consumers to be more cautious, emphasising the importance of choosing certified medical providers with proper qualifications.

Also read: Boy in India dies after doctor allegedly relied on YouTube tutorials to perform surgery

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Featured image adapted from Clifford Clinic & Freepik, for illustrative purposes only.