Why do Koreans go under the knife so often?
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| Plastic Surgery Korea |
It is not a
secret that South Korea is famous for its cosmetic surgery procedures. Based on
a report from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic surgery,
South Korea had the most cosmetic surgical procedures performed for every 1,000
population in 2011.
Why does this
country in particular have such a high rate of cosmetic surgery compared to other
countries worldwide?
It is certainly
not linked to their cultural traditions: cosmetic surgery was once considered
taboo in traditional South Korea. Altering the body bestowed by a child’s
parents was a violation of Confucian precepts that also discouraged cremation
and, later, organ and blood donations.
Recent history
may have had something to do with their predisposition for cosmetic surgery –
throughout the past decades, South Korea’s economic prosperity has evolved at a
dizzying pace. Physical manifestations of wealth have become more important,
and one of the attributes at the top of the list is a perfect physical
appearance.
One of the other
driving factors is the ‘Korean Wave’ craze, made up of K-Pop, movie-making and
fashion. With celebrities plastered on every billboard looking ‘perfect’
through a blend of cosmetic surgery and photoshop, society has scrambled to
stay up to date with the latest trend.
Blepharoplasty
(eyelid surgery) has become such a norm that many women you see on the streets
of Seoul seem to be have been born naturally with a double fold eyelid, whilst
the truth is the opposite. School children are encouraged to get surgery whilst
still at high school, so that they can grow into it.
As cosmetic
surgery was originally associated with richer people in society, it is now
considered a must-do for anyone (men included) who wants to do well in her
career. The women, and their parents, believe that the prettier you are, the
more benefits you will reap. In fact, some Korean parents even promise their
daughters or sons an eye/nose job if they pass their college entrance exams.
With that kind of
pressure on young people everyday, it’s no wonder that cosmetic surgery has
become so accepted and rhinoplasty or blepharoplasty are considered
commonplace. Even extreme cosmetic surgery, such as double jaw surgery
originally developed to repair facial deformities, is undertaken lightly. In
recent decades, cosmetic surgery has become a weapon in Koreans’ efforts to
impress others, like buying a branded bag.
It has become so
common in South Korea that much of the stigma regarding having the procedure
done has slowly dissipated, while celebrities and beauty queens openly discuss
the procedures.
Cosmetic surgery
allows Koreans to transform themselves into business women or men set for
success and create their own identity. It is certainly easy to decry the
widespread popularity of the procedures, but another altogether to live there
and not fit in.
Bio: Charlie G. is a content editor for Beverly Wilshire Medical & Dental Centre,
based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is a contributor to Beverly Wilshire
Medical Centre's blog and passionate about advocating for cosmetic surgery.
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