Straightening 'flat' nose gains popularity in China

[Photo: from VCG]

Nasal pegs, which push out the nostrils to create a wider nose, have become the new secret weapon for Chinese women in search of the perfect face.

But a medical expert at a top Beijing hospital warns that the trend comes with serious health risks.

The pegs - which are thin strips of silicone bent into a "U" shape and placed in the nasal cavity - have become big sellers on Taobao, the online marketplace, where they are advertised as a "miracle" solution for women looking for nonsurgical beauty enhancements.

Wu Meng, 25, a kindergarten teacher from Tongliao, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, first tried nasal pegs two years ago.

"It was actually very uncomfortable when I wore them the first time," she said, explaining that she uses them to take "more beautiful selfies".

"Only the smallest size fit my nose, and it slipped a lot when my nose was runny," she added.

Unsatisfied with her "flat" nose, Wu had surgery this year to add a piece of bone to make her nose more straight. She has since gained more than 80,000 followers on Soyoung, a cosmetic surgery social networking app with 20 million users.

"It's not a big deal," Wu said. "More and more young Chinese women have tried hard to pursue beauty every day and not be afraid of pain."

[The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI.]