Rhinoplasty explained after woman's nose turns black during procedure

Warning: This article contains graphic images and video which some readers may find distressing.

A Chinese actor and singer has opened up about 'breaking down' after undergoing a dodgy rhinoplasty surgery.

In October 2020, actor and singer Gao Liu underwent surgery on her nose.

Having dreamt of being an actor since the age of five, Gao Liu told the BBC she grew up believing an actor should 'look flawless from any camera angle'.

With her 'high standards' and hearing one of her friends had got 'an amazing nose job,' Liu decided to look into getting rhinoplasty surgery.

The actor chose a surgery 'popular with influencers,' explaining to the BBC her friend recommended a doctor too.

However, 'everything changed the moment [she] walked into the operating theatre,' and a week after the surgery, the tissue at the tip of Gao's nose had 'died'.

Actor and singer Gao Liu underwent rhinoplasty surgery (BBC World Service)

Definition of a rhinoplasty

A rhinoplasty is a 'surgery that changes the shape of the nose,' Mayo Clinic explains.

It continues: "The reason for rhinoplasty may be to change the appearance of the nose, improve breathing or both."

The site details risks as including 'bleeding, infection' and a 'bad reaction to the anaesthesia,' alongside 'problems breathing through the nose, permanent numbness in and around the nose, the possibility of an uneven-looking nose, pain, discoloration or swelling that may last, scarring, a hole in the wall between the left and right nostrils, a need for additional surgery [and] a change in the sense of smell'.

It's reported Liu's nose had become 'inflamed and necrotic' post surgery—necrotic referring to tissue that's dead or dying.

"The nasal base is still red," a doctor who took a look at Liu's nose told her.

She continued: "I broke down. I was so scared. I've always cared so much about my appearance. I thought my whole life was ruined."

"[...] Many specialists concluded that my nose couldn't be saved."

Liu later took to social media platform Weibo to speak out about her experience of her 'botched nose surgery'.

The end of Liu's nose had 'died' (BBC World Service)

An investigation is launched into Liu's 'botched nose surgery'

"My story was trending on Weibo soon after I posted it. It was viewed over a billion times across all platforms," she said. "There was so much attention. I felt overwhelmed and helpless."

Aided by the outrage stirred online, an investigation into Liu's surgery was later launched.

And within just two months, Guangzhou Health Commission revealed the results of its investigation.

The investigation revealed: "The surgeon didn't obtain the licensed plastic surgeon qualification to operate without supervision."

The doctor involved was subsequently banned from practising for six months by the district health commission and the clinic was fined $6,700 dollars alongside being issued a warning.

It's reported the clinic had already been fined five times previously since it first opened in 2019.

The surgery ultimately closed, however the doctor—who remained unnamed in the repor—allegedly continued to operate, according to Gao.