In Hanoi, Vietnam, police have charged two people with conducting illegal plastic surgery after one of their ‘patient’s died. A police statement said, “We arrested Junynh Trung Hien and charged him and his girlfriend Hand Thien Kim on Sunday on charges of violating medical regulations.”

The couple, both 23, confessed that they had been doing illegal nose and eyelid surgeries, and that about 10 people had been operated on in total. Unfortunately, one of these died in November last year thanks to anaesthesia shock after her eyelid surgery. Neither Hien or Kim had attended medical school and were therefore unprepared for the complication.

Unforunately, illegal surgery is a common problem in Vietnam. People accept that surgery is illegal but still choose to undergo the cosmetic surgery procedures because it is cheap and convenient for them. Nose and eye cosmetic surgery procedures are the most popular because it makes the face look more ‘Western’ – one of the latest beauty trends.

Police are attempting to crack down on illegal salons and clinics in a bid to clean up the industry in their country. If convicted, Kim and Hien will face up to 15 years in prison. It is hoped that long sentences such as this will deter any other wannabe-surgeons from setting up shop without the necessary qualifications.