Famous Plastic Surgery in Korea: 4 Quintessential Procedures

Written by Chelsea Kim. Posted in Korean Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery can no longer be said to be a luxury for many in developed countries such as Singapore, America and the United Kingdom, to name a few. People still come from all walks of life, but in general, it can no longer be said to be a pursuit only for the well-off; the number of tourists entering Korea for plastic surgery has soared since the onset of the popular Korean Wave.

Still, different procedures are trending towards different crowds. In the US, influenced by Hollywood and Western media, muscular, alpha-male men are stereotypically seen as desirable. This is in stark contrast to how it is in Asia: feminine, flower-boys that have a resemblance to K-POP stars are the desirable ones.

For instance, UK cosmetic surgery statistics show that the most popular procedures for women in the UK are breast augmentation and blepharoplasty. As for the men, rhinoplasty as well as blepharoplasty n are the most commonly requested procedures. The procedure with the biggest increase in demand was liposuction!

But, even with these figures, it does not tell what the “trending look” is! Those who are not into the whole K-POP scene, Korean drama or their culture, may have no idea what this trend is, either. They may ask, “What is the famous plastic surgery in Korea?”

With plastic surgery in Korea, in general, it is these facial traits (that are so frequently seen in K-POP stars and Korean media) , and their respective procedures:

1. Big double-lidded eyes from double eyelid surgery
2. V-shaped jawline from jawbone surgery
3. Fair skin from non-invasive skin treatments such as Ultherapy
4. Raising nose bridge through rhinoplasty

These are considered to be the ideal look. A few decades ago, a large, poofy “lion-mane” styled hair and a roundish face was said to be beautiful. For one thing, fair skin has always been considered beautiful for a long time now, even before the Korean Wave. But for the most part, times change, and perhaps in a few decades, the trends will be re-invented, or reestablished!

Knowing what is trending is one thing, but what about the lessons and cautionary tales on cosmetic surgery that have happened throughout history? To end off, here are 3 lessons to learn from extreme plastic surgery in Korea that went wrong. Better to be well-informed before making a decision as big as going under the knife!