[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, regarding institutions and scenarios: If a regular medical beauty institution damages a person's face, the institution shall compensate for the medical damage liability (based on fault, causation, and degree of participation), and the victim can claim compensation for repair costs, loss of income, and mental distress; if unlicensed studios or beauty salons administer injections, it constitutes illegal medical practice, with heavier compensation liability and potential criminal charges; if the injections are counterfeit or smuggled products, the victim can claim product liability against the producers and sellers and demand punitive damages. The first step is always to secure evidence: medical records, drug and medical device packaging, payment and chat records, and injury images.

1. Problem background and typical scenarios

The "Korean doctors consulting" in WeChat Moments, the "injection training" in hotel rooms, and the Botox injections at beauty salons—most of these beauty injection incidents occur in the gray area. The face is a woman's calling card and a man's calling card. If something goes wrong, who should be held responsible and according to what standards? The first thing to do is to figure out which pitfall you've fallen into.

II. Key points of contention

First, the liability structure: a three-tier distinction between medical malpractice liability, illegal medical practice, and product liability. Second, quantification of damages: assessment of disability caused by facial disfigurement and compensation for mental harm. Third, a list of evidence preservation measures and statutes of limitations. Fourth, the applicable conditions for punitive damages.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Law Firm

The first layer concerns the hierarchical structure of liability: Injections performed by institutions with medical cosmetology licenses constitute medical cosmetology services. If the medical party operates improperly (e.g., incorrect injection levels, excessive drug dosage, or vascular embolism) and causes harm, the case shall be handled in accordance with medical liability rules—the institution shall bear compensation liability for the actions of its medical staff, and the fault of the treatment shall be determined through medical liability appraisal. Injections administered in unqualified studios or beauty salons constitute illegal medical practices—in civil law, the determination of fault shall be strictly applied (the lack of qualifications itself constitutes a major fault, resulting in a high liability ratio). Administratively, such establishments may be shut down and punished, and serious cases may constitute the crime of illegal medical practice. If the injected drugs are counterfeit or smuggled, product liability shall also apply—producers and sellers shall bear no-fault liability for defective products, and consumers may claim punitive damages of ten times the purchase price or three times the actual loss. The second layer concerns damage quantification: The value of facial damage must be assessed through appraisal—medical liability appraisal determines fault and causality, while disability appraisal evaluates the level of facial damage (e.g., scars affecting facial appearance or contour changes according to standard disability grading). Compensation items include repair treatment costs (including multiple follow-up repairs), loss of income, nursing care costs, disability compensation, and mental distress compensation—in facial disfigurement cases, the amount of mental distress compensation in judicial practice is significantly higher than that for general personal injury cases. When claiming compensation, full evidence of the social impact of facial disfigurement (e.g., professional requirements and social impact) should be provided. The third layer concerns evidence and legal procedures: Original medical records (or WeChat chat records, transfer receipts, pre- and post-operative photos, and drug box and needle packaging in unlicensed institutions) constitute the core of the evidence chain—the approval number on the drug box can verify its authenticity. First, negotiate with the institution and simultaneously file complaints with the health and market supervision authorities (to promote the closure of unlicensed institutions). If negotiations fail, initiate legal action, with the statute of limitations being three years from the date of discovering the harm. In Beijing, while there are many legitimate medical cosmetology institutions, there are also many unregulated studios. Before seeking legal protection, it is essential to verify the institution's qualifications (which can be checked on the health commission's official website). This step serves both as evidence collection and the basis for determining liability.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The first step is to verify qualifications: check the institution and physician's practice information on the official website of the National Health Commission; the second step is to preserve evidence: complete and fix four types of materials including medical records, drugs and medical devices, transfer records, and imaging reports; the third step is to proceed with appraisal: determine liability through medical damage appraisal and quantify disability through appraisal; the fourth step is to take different approaches: advance through negotiation, complaint, and litigation in combination, and simultaneously transfer clues of counterfeit drugs. The main legal basis: Articles 121 and 1203 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, Article 144 of the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, and Article 336 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China; the specific application shall be subject to the currently effective provisions.

5. Henglue Law Firm's Reminder

Three tips for cosmetic injections: First, check the qualifications of the institution, and then look at the needles used. Unlicensed institutions bear greater responsibility; Don't throw away the packaging of medicine boxes, as the approval number can determine the authenticity; For cases of disfigurement caused by cosmetic procedures, it's important to loudly assert one's rights. Compensation amounts will be determined based on appraisal reports and imaging evidence. For claims involving cosmetic damage, you can seek legal assistance through the following channels:Personal injury and medical disputesThe service provides a comprehensive solution, and those involved in criminal issues related to counterfeit drugs and illegal medical practices can seek assistance through it.Criminal defense and criminal case filingFor consultation on plate issues, those involving compensation for consumer fraud can be combined together.Business and contract disputes in enterprisesFor more information on litigation and enforcement related to intellectual property rights, please refer to the relevant sections.Creditor's rights and debts, and enforcement cases板块。

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who should I contact if there's a problem with the hyaluronic acid treatment at the studio?

If you claim compensation from the operator himself, his responsibility for illegal medical practice will be even greater. If there are problems with the injections, the producers and sellers will also be held accountable, and a report will be made to the health and market supervision authorities at the same time.

Q2: Can I request emotional compensation if my medical beauty treatment fails?

Yes. In practice, the amount of compensation for mental distress caused by facial disfigurement is higher than that for general personal injury, and it requires evidence to support the disability and its impact.

Q3: What should I do if the injection I used is a counterfeit product?

Keep the packaging and batch number for inspection. Products without an approval number will be treated as counterfeit or substandard drugs. You can claim product liability and punitive damages, and report the case to the relevant authorities.

Q4: What is the statute of limitations for medical beauty disputes?

Three years, starting from the date when the right holder becomes aware or should have become aware of the infringement of his rights and the obligations of the other party; the statute of limitations for damages that continue to appear will be postponed accordingly.

Q5: How to determine whether an institution has the necessary qualifications?

Check whether the "Medical Institution Practice License" and the treatment items include medical cosmetology. Physicians can check their "Physician Qualification Certificate" and practice registration on the official website of the National Health Commission, where all these information can be verified.

The above answer is based on the judicial practice in the Beijing area. The judicial interpretation in other provinces and cities may vary. For specific cases, please refer to the local rules and evidence situation.

If you are currently facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the relevant evidence materials, so as to avoid missing the statutory time limit.Personal injury legal services·Beijing Henglue Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and publicly available adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If a dispute arises, please consult a practicing lawyer in a timely manner.