South Korean Cosmetic Culture

by Gregory Stall

Feelings of social awkwardness and overall insecurity as a catalyst towards receiving plastic surgery is not limited to the United States. In South Korea, according to a recent survey, one in five women in Seoul (the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea) have had some type of cosmetic surgery procedure. A large percentage of these surgeries are performed on teenagers.

Cultural Emphasis

What contributes to this growing trend in plastic surgery? In South Korea, the pressure to conform to certain ideals is a major issue. The cultural emphasis is to maintain excellence intellectually as well as physically. For young people, plastic surgery options avail personal insecurities and improve perceptions of self-worth.

As plastic surgery becomes more popular, the acceptance of cosmetic surgery is becoming more common as well. The stigma that had once been placed on individuals receiving plastic surgery in South Korea has now been replaced with understanding and even acceptance.

Historical Background

Historically, the most common procedure for most Koreans is blepharoplasty, a plastic surgery operation used for aesthetically modifying the eye region of the face. This particular type of cosmetic surgery creates an extra fold of skin above the eye that is visible when the eyes are open. Only about 50 percent of the East Asian population is naturally born with a "double lid."

There is no stigma attached to Blepharoplasty and many other plastic surgery options, partly because it is becoming so common. For example, eyelid surgery has become widespread enough in South Korea that is often deemed as comparable to beauty treatments, not surgery. For many natives of the country, eyelid surgery is considered so minimally invasive that they rarely take off work or studies to convalesce.

In fact, the practice of eyelid surgery for Eastern peoples dates back to the 19th century. Documentation of blepharoplasty has been traced as early as 1896, where a Japanese physician known only as Mikamo performed the first recorded double-eyelid surgery in Japan.

Are We All That Different?

These historical attitudes and ideology may seem somewhat remarkable by our American standards but then again, plastic surgery has been widely available in Westernized countries since around the turn of the 20th century. Even once experimental and protracted procedures such Botox injections are now accepted as routine treatments, with minimal downtime required for recovery, and available at beauty spas across the country.

Acceptance

As technology in the field improves, plastic surgery is steadily becoming safer and increasingly cost-efficient. As more celebrities and models reveal their plastic surgeries and treatments, the stigma that once tabooed plastic surgery will slowly give way to support and acceptance. Plastic surgery is not for everyone, and nobody should feel they have to receive treatments. However, plastic surgery should also remain available for everybody without a person feeling embarrassed or ashamed about receiving consultation and treatment. The choice is up to you.

If you are interested in receiving plastic surgery and would like to know more about your options, contact one of our representatives today. We can arrange for you to meet with a board-certified specialist uniquely qualified to your needs and expectations. Call or contact us today to get started!