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Let’s Get Down to Business

The rise of the cosmetic surgery industry in South Korea proceeds to feed into the economy of the country. These “surgery tourists,” or people who visit South Korea for the purpose of going under the knife, make up about a third of business in South Korea. Although many people of different nationalities come for this purpose, most of these tourists come from China.

South Korea has the highest rate of plastic surgery per capita in the world. Because it has become so casual in this environment, it is estimated that between ⅕ and ⅓ of women in Seoul, South Korea have gotten some form of cosmetic surgery. Although the numbers are high for women, men are definitely not excluded– men contribute 15% of the market. However, all of these statistics may not be accurately representative of the actual numbers due to many unreported businesses. Despite the large growing industry, it is not regulated and not all places collect official records.

As we explore this major business, we need to consider the reasons to why it’s particularly big in South Korea. The rise of plastic surgery can be attributed to the Korean wave of pop culture, otherwise known as “hallyu.” Because so many people are fans of these music and media entertainers who have gone under the knife to portray a specific image, it creates a domino effect in that it encourages everyone else to follow their footsteps. By focusing on the images celebrities portray through media, it motivates the thought that external aspects of self matter more than inner aspects. In other words, it encourages people to believe that social status and appearance is more important than personality and thoughts. This also connects to Confucian foundations and mindset, which values a conformist society. In Korean (or Asian in general) society, the notion of “we,” “us,” or a collective “I” is idealized, pressuring everyone to want to be part of the in-group. In order to fit into the group, people need to look like the group.

The rise of plastic surgery is mostly attributed to the events that occurred post Korean War. The American occupational forces offered free reconstructive surgery to support wounded war victims. One of the most popular requests were to change “Asian” eyes to Occidental ones by double eyelid surgery– David Ralph Millard, the chief plastic surgeon for US marine corps, did this procedure [blepharoplasty] so much that he perfected it. In Millard’s 1955 monograph, he characterized “Asian” eyes as the “absence of the palpebral fold produces a passive expression which seems to epitomize the stoical and unemotional manner of the Oriental.”

By understanding the context behind how plastic surgery has come to grow in South Korea, we can understand the extent of effort people put into their own bodies just to fit into this competitive society. Because more and more people are going under the knife at younger ages, this business is only going to expand from here.

Sources:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/668_194496.html

https://www.koreaexpose.com/plastic-surgery-popular-south-korea-history

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Under the Knife

As we discuss more concepts linked to the prevailing trend of cosmetic surgery, focusing on the perspective of patients who seek these transformative procedures will help us gain more knowledge on their intentions. Many people mostly go under the knife because of the negative traits associated with Asian facial characteristics. The associations that people (Asian specifically) make between their features and personality characteristics originate from the stereotypes that dominant Western culture create. In this post, we look into the perspectives of two women who have interests in cosmetic surgeries.

Seventeen year old Hailey Kim thinks her face is too round, lips too thin, and nose just not right. She compiled a cosmetic surgery wishlist: bigger lips, higher cheeks, and a more delicate chin. Kim had already gotten double eyelid surgery and a nose job. Kim reveals that she had been exposed to plastic surgery at a young age because her mom and aunts have had similar operations done.

“My cousin had her nose and eyes done, my mom had her eyes done, and my aunts had noses and eyes done, all in Korea," she says. "I found out about this when I was in elementary school."

She further discusses her goal of getting V-line surgery in the near future.

"I hope to achieve a slimmer, oval face from the procedure," Kim says. "I just want to better myself. My wants may be drastic, but I'm not trying to look exactly like someone else."

This gives us insight on how many young girls are exposed to plastic surgery. As it becomes more normalized, people grow desensitized to the reality of pain from surgery just to achieve the end result.

Kang NaYeon is another young, hopeful student who is being gifted double eyelid surgery from her parents once she finishes her high school exams. Her motivations are primarily focused on the concern of attaining a job following her educational career.

"Companies don't like to hire people who have had eye and nose surgery," she said. "There's a small backlash against it now, but they still only hire pretty people. Because of this, parents let children have surgery even younger so it looks more natural as they mature."

Kang NaYeon admitted that she is a "little scared" about having surgery. "They use a knife or scissors. A cut here and here and then stitches," she gestures.

Although these patients are aware of the realities of surgeries, they are still motivated to go under the knife as they believe the results would significantly improve their circumstances. These two young women are common examples of typical teens and adolescents living in South Korea today.

Sources:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/05/the-k-pop-plastic-surgery-obsession/276215/ 

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Behind the Knife

Since plastic surgery constantly follows those who have had work done, or those who seek it out, the ones who actually make it all possible are slightly neglected.

In Eugenia Kaw’s academic article, “Medicalization of Racial Features: Asian American and Cosmetic Surgery,” Kaw interviews patients and surgeons to investigate how the Western medical system perpetuates racial stereotypes that influence Asian American women in believing that their physical differences are problematic. This prompts many to seek out procedures to alter their Asian features in order to feel better assimilated into Western society. Although this article focuses on Asian Americans and plastic surgery, the perspectives of these surgeons still provide great insight on how they run their businesses and cater to their clients.

In many cases, surgeons would use medical terms to somewhat problematize the shape of Asian eyes to consider it as a medical condition. This is accomplished by using specific language, like “excess fat on their eyelids,” or that it was “normal” for people to be dissatisfied with their appearances. Dr. Smith, a surgeon Kaw interviewed, stated “The social reasons [for Asian Americans to want double eyelids and nose bridges] are undoubtedly continued exposure to Western culture and the realization that the upper eyelid without a fold tends to give a sleepy appearance, and therefore a more dull look to the patient. Likewise, the flat nasal bridge and lack of nasal projection can signify weakness in one’s personality and by lack of extension, a lack of force in one’s character.” In this statement, Dr. Smith uses particular language to subtly encourage the patient to believe that surgery is necessary. By using words such as “without,” “lack of,” “flat,” “dull,” or “sleepy,” encourages the idea that Asian features are inadequate.

Another doctor, noted as Dr. Gee, further supports that Asian features are associated with negative personality traits by physicians during consultations can subconsciously affirm a patient’s sense of dissatisfaction toward their own features. Dr. Gee claims, ““I would say 90% of people look better with double eyelids. It makes the eye look more spiritually alive… with a single eyelid frequently they would have a little fat pad underneath [which] can half bury the eye and so the eye looks small and unenergetic.”

The common goal of all these doctors is to not make the patients feel “strange” or “abnormal” for wanting to go under the knife. They aim to provide the best technical skills possible for whatever their patients request and demand. In the end of the day, surgeons are still workers and need to find ways to keep their businesses running. Though there are many problematic aspects within the industry, these surgeons do their best to ensure that people are satisfied by the operations they want or need.

Sources:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/649247?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

https://www.seoultouchup.com/meet-seoul-touchup-doctors/

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Familiar Faces

As we dive deeper into the culture of plastic surgery in South Korea, we need a basic knowledge of the most common procedures. Plastic surgery has become so prevalent in South Korea that the typical high school graduation gift is either a nose job or double eyelid surgery. Since these surgeries are done so frequently, clinics and hospitals have developed certain procedures to maximize efficiency for customer satisfaction. Upon walking into a clinic, you would be directed to a consultant to discuss interests and goals. Then, you would meet a doctor who would map all the lines out on your face, to show exactly where the work would be done. The final step is a final consultation to confirm that the planned procedures would be optimal for your appearance. Many people speculate that these procedures often emulate Western aesthetic, which stems from the trend of double eyelid surgeries. Many of these clients desire the appearance of enlarged eyes and pale skin, which are features of Western beauty standards. To understand the extremities of the demand for  plastic surgery in South Korea, we will focus on the most popular requests. The first and most popular procedure is blepharoplasty (double eyelid surgery). This procedure entails inserting a crease into the eyelid to make the eyes appear bigger. It’s done so often and casually that people consider it to be “less serious than getting a tooth pulled” and can take as little as 15 minutes.

The next most common surgery is the “V-line surgery,” or jaw slimming surgery. This was popularized because many Asians in general are self conscious about having big heads, which led to the “Small Face” trend. This surgery entails shaving the mandible using oscillating saws or by breaking and then re-aligning both jaws. This operation originated as a treatment for severe congenital deformities. 

As the trend toward baby-faced features grew, people began labeling these soft appearances as “The Bagel Girl” look (short for “baby-faced and glamorous). This look often took form of a voluptuous body with a schoolgirl face. Another popular look is the “aegyo sal,” meaning “eye smiles” or “cute skin.” This involved injecting fat under the eyes, giving the person a mug of an innocent toddler. 

Recently, body contouring procedures have gained popularity. Although not as common, waist slimming operations and breast augmentations have become more requested compared to past years. Along with body contouring, anti-aging surgeries, including face lifts and hair rejuvenation, have also been more popular. 

All of these procedures are the most requested at every clinic, and we will further explicate the reasons for this and how plastic surgery has become such a prominent business in South Korea. 

Sources: 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/03/23/about-face

http://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-is-the-plastic-surgery-capital-of-the-world-2015-9#half-of-them-are-international-3

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Through Ji Yeo’s Lens

Ji Yeo, a New York-based photographer, grew up harboring a complicated relationship with plastic surgery. She has dedicated an exhibition in New York that showcases images that entails the experienced of plastic surgery in South Korea. Because of the high numbers of women going through these procedures, she wanted to highlight the prevalence of beauty standards and its effects on a society. In South Korea, 20% of women have had some form of cosmetic work, compared to 5% of American women, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. 

Yeo considered plastic surgery herself, but upon meeting doctors for consultations, she realized that she romanticized the idea of plastic surgery in terms of the amazing results, neglecting the actual surgery and process. 

“During the consultation, I realized that all along, I was only thinking of plastic surgery as some kind of magic tool," she says. "From the media, and from my friends, not many people were talking about how plastic surgery was surgery.” 

Although she chose to not get the surgery, she was still determined to focus on the subject. In her photography, she aims to capture the beauty and reality of plastic surgery. She features the healing process through images of women wrapped in bloody bandages. Yeo’s photography aims to unravel the fantasy of plastic surgery as “magical,” and instead, shows the reality of what is meant when they say, “beauty is pain.” 

WARNING: The photo attached may be considered too graphic. May contain images that are not appropriate for everyone to view. 

From “Beauty Recovery Room,” by Ji Yeo

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/05/16/stunning-photos-show-why-south-korea-is-the-plastic-surgery-capital-of-the-world/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.bd25a3c0c91c

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Culture of Beauty

Full of culture, traditions, and beauty, South Korea is full of many different sights to see and things to do for tourists and locals alike. One thing you might notice upon visiting South Korea is the frequency of plastic surgery advertisements popping up every corner you turn. Whether it be on buses, subway stations, or billboards, plastic surgery advertisements are a huge part of daily life in South Korea. 

In South Korea, plastic surgery has become so normalized that parents would often “gift” their kids surgery upon completing national college entrance exams, or when they become legal adults. Some people go under the knife to increase their chances of getting hired for jobs. Another reason people commit to these surgeries is from the discrimination they face for looking (or not looking) a certain way. Because of this discrimination they face all their lives, people are generally unhappy with their appearances and choose to alter them according to the standardized image of beauty. 

This page aims to educate the public on the common procedures done in South Korea, the pros and cons of these surgeries, and even investigate people’s stories or experiences with plastic surgery.