Woman regrets coming to Australia to perform fatal breast job

Jie Shao was convicted of manslaughter after a Sydney jury found she illegally injected Jean Huang with a dangerous dosage of anaesthetic.

A woman convicted of manslaughter over a fatal breast augmentation surgery wishes she never came to Australia, a court has been told.

Jie Shao, who was not registered as a medical practitioner in Australia or China, flew from China to perform an illegal - and ultimately fatal - breast augmentation surgery blames herself and says she was not familiar with “Australian ways”.

Jean Huang, 35, died after the September 2017 procedure that involved hyaluronic acid being injected into her breasts as filler.

Jean Huang died after she was allegedly administered a local anaesthetic and breast fillers by Chinese tourist Jie Shao.

The procedure was carried out at the Medi Beauty Clinic which Huang operated at Chippendale, in inner-city Sydney.

Paramedics attended the scene after an emergency call and were able to restart Huang’s heart. But she was pronounced brain dead in hospital and her life support was turned off.

Shao was convicted of manslaughter in March, after a Sydney jury found she engaged in the unlawful act of injecting Huang with a dangerous dosage of anaesthetic.

Shao had flown from China to Australia roughly a day before the surgery and now faces the prospect of a lengthy jail sentence.

Reading from sections of a psychological report during a sentencing hearing in Downing Centre District Court on Friday, Shao’s barrister Winston Terracini SC quoted her as saying, “I blame myself”.

“Her passing will stay with me throughout my life,” Terracini quoted his client as saying.

“It may not have happened if I had not come to Australia.

“I’m not familiar with Australian ways, and shouldn’t have agreed. I really regret coming to Australia.”

Statements from Huang’s husband and mother read to the court spoke of their immense grief.

“Jean was not just my daughter - she was the light of our family - smart, beautiful, kind, generous and funny,” her mother said.

Jean Huang died after a boob job went wrong. Photo / Facebook

“When I arrived at the hospital, the doctor told me she was dying. My memories are haunted by this moment.

“I lost my precious daughter without any preparation and never had the chance to say goodbye.”

Huang’s husband said the pain of losing his wife feels as though it happened yesterday.

“Every late night the quiet of darkness outside prevents me from falling asleep,” his statement read.

“I can’t help but think of everything about my wife and me at any moment.

“There was no winner between the two parties, but this did not mean that Jie Shao could escape law.”

A sentencing date has been set for July 4.