Hang Mioku was determined to maintain her appearance, but her pursuit of cosmetic perfection eventually led to life-changing consequences. The South Korean model began undergoing cosmetic procedures at just 28, gradually seeking more treatments to achieve smoother-looking skin. After moving to Japan to continue her career, she continued having procedures until doctors eventually refused to operate on her. One physician reportedly suggested that she might be struggling with a psychological disorder. Although Mioku briefly received support for her compulsive pursuit of surgery, she later returned to self-injections, obtaining silicone and injecting it into her face. When that supply ran out, she made a dangerous decision that would have devastating effects: she began injecting cooking oil into her skin. Her face became severely swollen and distorted, eventually making her nearly unrecognizable. The situation drew widespread attention in South Korea, where television programs helped bring her story to a much larger audience.
Medical reports have documented serious complications associated with injecting oils into the body, including inflammation, abscesses, ulcers, and hard lumps beneath the skin. These substances can damage tissue and leave lasting changes that are difficult to correct. Mioku’s condition became so pronounced that people in her hometown reportedly gave her an unkind nickname because of the disproportion between her face and body. After her story appeared on television, donations from concerned viewers helped her obtain corrective operations. Surgeons removed hundreds of grams of oil and other material, reducing some of the swelling, but the damage could not be completely reversed. Her experience also echoes the case of Mexican entertainer Lyn May, who has said she believed she was receiving legitimate cosmetic fillers before discovering that a mixture involving baby oil, cooking oil, and water had been injected into her face. May later described the emotional distress caused by her changed appearance and credited her mother with helping her find the strength to continue. Both stories highlight the lasting risks of unregulated cosmetic procedures and self-injection. Medical professionals warn that cooking oil is not a safe cosmetic treatment, and anyone considering fillers should seek qualified medical care rather than risk permanent injury through unverified substances or procedures.