Chinese man spends over Rs 4.9 crore on salon treatments, suffers diarrhoea and needle wounds
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), it all began in April 2023 when Cheng visited a new salon branch in Hefei, the provincial capital. During the launch event, a salon manager invited Cheng inside, where another staff member encouraged him to try a 'beautician's massage.'
Cheng told the South China Morning Post that the session turned out to be the start of a persistent and high-pressure sales campaign. He said he was regularly forced to top up his salon account through emotional manipulation.
'They were all young boys and girls, kneeling and saying they were poor and couldn't even afford rent, relying on customers to help support their parents. Older beauticians nearby would consistently urge customers to top up, stating that the staff earned commissions based on performance,' the SCMP quoted Cheng as saying.
The salon's offerings included a range of unverified treatments, such as 'skin-breaking needle detox', massages costing 500–600 yuan per body part, and 'belly dampness removal' sessions priced at up to 2,000 yuan. Cheng also underwent multiple enema procedures, marketed as 'bowel cleansing', with one course reportedly priced at 300,000 yuan (Rs 36.2 lakh).
While promised results included weight loss and a youthful glow, Cheng said the treatments left him with chronic diarrhoea and unhealed needle wounds. When he discovered that the salon was not licensed to perform medical procedures, he demanded a refund. However, he was turned down.
Cheng has since filed a complaint with local authorities. According to SCMP, the Hefei police confirmed on July 9 that a joint investigation with market supervision officials is now underway to probe the salon's alleged illegal medical practices.
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