Getting an Asian Nose Job to Look White or Peranakan?

Written by Chelsea Kim. Posted in Korean Plastic Surgery

These days, there is a strong association between Western culture and the popularity of double eyelid surgery among Asian women; many news and media sources claim that many Asians (especially South-east Asians) are getting Korean plastic surgery, to look more “White”.

See, everyone’s been talking about Korean celebrities and plastic surgery – associating Asia’s “cosmetic surgery obsession” to distaste for their own ethnicity. But how true is this? Do Asians really want to look like another race?

Today, we bring you a different perspective: What if, subconsciously, this has nothing to do with de-racialisation, but some just want to look Peranakan?

What is Peranakan? They are descendants of interracial marriages between immigrant Chinese men and the local Malay women in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. They were wealthy families and were called the “King’s Chinese”, as they were loyal to the British crown back then. After World War 2, many had lost their wealth – still, it is said that they have very distinct facial features that sets them apart from the regular “Chinese” look.

Some notable examples are celebrities who are of Peranakan descent:

 

Pierre Png - A Singaporean comedian and actor who in his younger years, had made many hearts flutter!

Godfrey Gao - The first Asian male model to serve as the face of Louis Vuitton.

Agnes Monica - A famous Indonesian singer.

Notice anything common among their faces? That’s right: All of them have double eyelids, a high nose bridge (no button nose), distinct jawlines, high cheekbones and pronounced brow bones!

Is it a coincidence that the beauty standard in South Korea includes these physical traits?

• Double eyelids
• V-shaped jawline
• A high nose bridge

The next time someone says that Asians who get double eyelid surgery or an Asian nose job, just want to look more “White” – feast their mind on this other fact, tell them about Peranakan!

Disclaimer: (The pictures above were derived from the blogosphere and are not associated with Seoul TouchUp)