A logo sign outside of the headquarters of Allergan in Irvine, California, on Dec 10, 2017. [Photo/IC]

Ireland-based pharmaceutical giant Allergan announced on Sunday that its medical aesthetics product, Volux, was approved by Boao Super Hospital at the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone as the first medical aesthetics product to enter the pilot zone.

The approval enables beauty seekers in China to get access to the product, which has not come to the Chinese market, at Boao Lecheng in advance.

Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone is the only one of its kind in China that enjoys nine preferential policies, such as special permission in importing medical technology, medical equipment and medicine.

Specifically, the policies allow medical institutions in the zone to import and use badly-needed drugs and medical equipment from overseas that are not yet approved by the top drug authority in China.

However, this is the first time for the pilot zone to receive approval for a medical aesthetics product.

"The reason why we introduced a medical aesthetics product into the pilot zone is that we see constantly surging needs. Every year, 600,000 Chinese go abroad to see a doctor, among which 20 percent are seeking medical aesthetics services," said Liu Zhefeng, deputy head of Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration "We hope that Chinese residents can enjoy international-standard medical products without the need to go abroad," he said.

Chen Kai'an, deputy head of Boao Super Hospital, noted that the pursuit for beauty has become a manifestation of national progress.

"In the future, we will work with Allergan on the clinical research and application of medical aesthetics products, and fulfill the demand of domestic beauty seekers, " Chen said.

According to Allergan, its training center will cooperate with Boao Super Hospital to train local doctors in medical aesthetics operation to benefit more Chinese consumers.

"The introduction of Volux also will contribute to clinical research, and the research results can be applied in the optimization of medical aesthetics solutions. As a medical aesthetics leader, we hope to bring more innovative products and solutions to China, integrating domestic medical resources to benefit more patients," said Qiu Hanhua, Allergan China's general manager of the medical aesthetics business unit.