In recent years, South Korea has experienced a tremendous boom in the influx of tourists coming into the country to have medical procedures done. Its top quality doctors, surgeons, hospitals, and clinics have placed the country as one of the top medical destinations in Asia. In the past five years, it has become the top medical destination for plastic surgery procedures in the entire world.
For many years, Plastic surgery has been very popular in the United States. Now, plastic surgery is becoming very trendy across Asia; Korean plastic surgery statistics have revealed that nearly 20% of women living in Seoul, who are between 19 and 49 years old, have admitted that they have had some type of cosmetic procedure done.
It is well known the world over that South Korea is a plastic surgery mecca. In the past few years, the country has established itself as the world's number one country with the most plastic surgery procedures done each year. In 2010 alone, around 4% of the world's cosmetic surgeries were done in the country.
Koreans have a different attitude towards beauty compared to other countries, and the high level of domestic cosmetic surgeries done sets the Korean medical community apart from the rest of the world. One in every five women has had at least one procedure done and it's highly unlikely to see Korean celebrities with looks that are purely natural. Because of the Korean Wave--a phenomenon that has exploded the Korean entertainment industry--many of its citizens and those of neighboring Asian countries have Korean plastic surgery in the attempts of looking like their favorite Korean idols.
Korean plastic surgeons are considered to be among the best in the world, with top notch facilities and expertise that are at par with practitioners in the United States. The Gangnam district of Seoul is most famous for being the "beauty belt" in South Korea. It houses over 400 Korean plastic surgery clinic in its Apgujeong area. Known as the Plastic Surgery Streets of Gangnam, the district is Korea's very own Beverly Hills, with its wealthy citizens and high standards of living. It is home to several chic boutiques and malls, and to many gorgeous Korean men and women. Koreans and even foreigners flock to this district of Seoul because of these, but mainly because of the proliferation of many Korean plastic surgery clinic.
Korea's Ministry of Health granted local Korean plastic surgery clinic to receive foreign patients and this has led to the international boom of the country's medical tourism. Many people from around the world travel to the country to get medical procedures done, but mostly for plastic surgeries. By 2011, South Korea's medical tourism industry achieved an income of over eleven million dollars. Not only are the clinics top notch, the prices are also highly competitive because competition is stiff. The medical community achieves excellence through competition and excellent surgeries that are done on a daily basis.
Today, the Beauty Belt of Korea has expanded its medical tourism industry with partnerships with luxury hotels where in-house clinics are already available in their hotels. You can get your eyelid surgery done in the clinic and head straight to your suite right after, eliminating the hassles of going out in the streets and having to get a taxi to get back to your hotel. Some Korean plastic surgery clinics even have their own lodging and amenities with hotel standards. Other clinics have one-stop services where patients are shuttled from the airport directly to the clinics for speed and convenience. Most of these services have multilingual staff that cater specifically to foreigners, to lower the language barriers and make them feel comfortable.
Indeed, medical tourism in Korea has become a lucrative national industry in the country and it looks as though it has no plans on waning. Hundreds of the plastic surgeons are board-certified, which will ensure customers of the best, safest, and most effective procedures at highly competitive prices. And these are what makes South Korea the plastic surgery mecca of the world.
Korea is experiencing an international tourism boom because of plastic surgery. More and more foreign patients are flooding in the country looking for clinics that offer Korean actress plastic surgery. They all want to achieve the doll-like feature so many Korean girls have after going under the knife. Plastic surgery has become a norm in the country and about one in five women have had a procedure or two. This does not mean that men are out of the picture. Male plastic surgery patients make up about thirty percent of the market in Korea. A lot of individuals are willing to undergo a procedure or two just to look like their favorite Korean actor or actress.
The reason why getting plastic surgery to look like a Korean actress is so popular is because of the high level of domestic surgeries. Patients get to experience exceptional service and hotel-like hospital stays. Korea is now known as the mecca for plastic surgery with highly qualified and experienced doctors, beautiful and pristine clinics as well as top-notch technology. Patients can benefit from travel plans that revolve around their treatments and procedures. This makes it more convenient for patients and allows ample time for recovery.
The types of procedures that can be done are according to the patients needs and desires. When it comes to Korean stars plastic surgery, anything can be achieved. Many Korean actresses have beautiful wide eyes, pointed noses, chiseled chins and high cheekbones. This look is popular among Asians and is possible through simple procedures, depending on the patient. The surgery can involve different stages, if the patients wishes to have more than one treatment done. The most popular is breast augmentation, double-eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty and jaw reconstruction. Body contouring and liposuction procedures are also popular among patients who wish to look like their favorite Korean actress.
During 2009, Seoul opened its doors to foreign patients who wished to go under the knife. Many tourists acknowledge that Korea is one of the best places to go if they wanted to undergo plastic surgery. The international success of K-Pop, K-Movies and K-Drama has changed what the world thinks of Korea itself. More tourists, whether from around Asia, Europe, America or anywhere in the world, desire to achieve the doll-like features many Korean actresses have. Seoul's "Beauty Belt", which has over 400 plastic surgery clinics, is proof of the high demand of plastic surgery in the country and the professionalism of Korean doctors.
Deciding to undergo plastic surgery is a personal choice that should be done if the patient is ready and comfortable with the idea of altering their image. Improving one's self through Korean plastic surgery is a very tough decision, especially if it involves peer pressure. If the patient believes that she can benefit personally from the surgery, then going under the knife can be a very courageous decision. Korean actress plastic surgery is no cookie-cutter procedure. The results depend on the patient's personal wants and needs.
The world today is becoming increasingly focused on physical appearance. There are millions and millions of cosmetic surgeries that are done every year around the world--a true testament of society's increasing fixation on visual image. And this trend and culture phenomenon cannot be more evident than what is seen in Korean stars plastic surgery.
The K-pop, K-drama, and K-movies phenomenon has taken over not only South Korea, but the world as well. While Korean stars become famous for their quirky acting and catchy tunes, they are also very distinct because of their physical appearances. Females have flawless white porcelain skin, large round eyes, and tiny rounded chins. Korean male stars usually have rock solid abs, smooth skin, and boyish features--the perfect combination of masculinity and youthfulness.
With more and more groups and TV shows popping out of the entertainment industry, more Korean stars are being produced every day. And since beauty serves as a social barometer of success in the country, many of these stars have to compete for the limelight. Natural beauty and talent are no longer enough to make them stand out among a sea of celebrities. Thus, the proliferation of Korean stars plastic surgery has become commonplace. It is actually considered newsworthy if you hear of a Korean celebrity who has not had any Korean plastic surgery done. Top Korean stars plastic surgery are double eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty or nose surgery, and jaw reduction surgery.
In previous years, many Korean stars have denied getting work done on them, even until today. However, more and more Korean celebrities have admitted to medically enhancing their looks. Even 2012's Miss Korea Kim Yu-Mi has admitted that her looks aren't 100% natural. She admits that she wasn't born beautiful and had to resort to Korean plastic surgery on a few of her features to achieve her flawless face and body.
Other Korean stars that openly admit to having something done is actress Park Min Young who admitted to having double eyelid surgery in junior high and nose surgery thereafter. She is known for her goddess like beauty and although this has disappointed some of her fans, celebrities like her have contributed to the rise of plastic surgery in Korea. Girl group Brown Eyed Girls have also admitted to having plastic surgery and they are proud of Korean stars that are honest about it.
These admissions by famous Korean celebrities have influenced and encouraged their fans to undergo the knife in the hopes of looking like their famous idols. Korean celebrities and plastic surgery go hand in hand and it has become something that fans have embraced. Flocks of men and women head to surgeons, carrying with them photos of their favorite celebrities, wanting to have their features.
Since most K-pop fans are in their teens, many teenagers in Korea, both girls and boys, have had some form of cosmetic surgery or would like to have them, if they had the money. When they see their classmates come to school with enhanced features and looking like their idols, it entices them to follow the same path. Because of this, more and more young individuals have fallen into the promise and hopes of looking like their famous Korean star idols through cosmetic surgeries.