Passengers approaching airport security are often asked to remove their hat or a pair of glasses in order to make sure they are who their passport says.

But a trio of Chinese women have faced a major headache when trying to prove they were the women in their passport photos after undergoing plastic surgery on their trip.

The women had travelled to South Korea for facial reconstruction during China's week-long national holiday in October, but struggled to make their way back home.

Chinese TV personality Jian HuaHua spotted the women in an airport waiting area and posted their image to Weibo, a popular Chinese social media site.

With severe swelling around their faces and bandages wrapped around their heads, she claims they weren't allowed to board their flight home, The Shanghaiist reported.

• WATCH: Man gets stuck on telephone wire trying to get out of paying hotel bill

• Is that a UFO? Mystery hovering black ring baffles beach goers

• WATCH: Woman faints in shock after breaking $57K bracelet

According to Jian, the women were detained by security after being unable to prove their identity.

It is unknown whether the women have since returned to China.