Becoming ‘Miss Korea’: Plastic Surgery and Self esteem

Written by Chelsea Kim. Posted in Korean Plastic Surgery

Many fans remember Lee Hyori through her previous work; intense hip-hop and dance sounds in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Get Ya”. Now, the K-diva has released her new, hot single, “Miss Korea” – written by the veteran herself. The song’s Chorus, “Because I’m a Miss Korea! I’m the best girl in the world!” hints at a positive message; that everyone is good enough as they already are and anyone can be 'Miss Korea'. Tinged with melancholy, the song empathizes with your average South Korean or any girl in the world for that matter whom understands the suffering of alienation and inferiority that arises when regarded as not aesthetically pleasing enough by society’s standards.

South Korea is infamous for its Korean Plastic Surgery craze, and further emphasizing the fact - it has been reported that one in five women in Seoul have gone under the knife. Countless of K-POP stars have admitted to undergoing plastic surgery, but this controversial topic between South Korea’s celebrities and Plastic Surgery comes as little surprise; in a highly competitive society such as South Korea, others may judge you on appearances alone. This simple belief is held by most locals, who opt for plastic surgery in order to get ahead in their lives. For them, Plastic Surgery and Self esteem are inextricably linked.

Perhaps not to such an extreme but If society were to turn a blind eye to your talent due to your not having the perfect nose or double-lidded eyes, what would you do? Admit defeat, slunk in a dark, seemingly safe corner or make a risky but challenging decision? Plastic Surgery may very much not be a medical necessity and what the experts recommend for Asian Breast Augmentation rings true in this case as well; plastic surgery is a highly personal decision.

Weigh your pros and cons, what you have to lose and see if you are ready to make an informed decision. If you are keen on plastic surgery, it must be said that you are responsible for your well-being. It is of paramount importance that you find a renowned, skilled surgeon, reputable clinic and take the required steps to ensure a smooth recovery. That said, the willingness to take up responsibility for your actions or lack thereof is, ultimately, the source from which self-respect springs.

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The work of Plastic Surgery or Photoshop: Miss Korea 2013 Contestants

Written by Chelsea Kim. Posted in Korean Plastic Surgery

The world wide web is abuzz with a recent controversy surrounding the contestants of the 2013 Miss Korea Beauty Pageant. While it is true that 1 in 5 Korean women have surgically altered their bodies, have the contestants of Miss Korea 2013 done the same, extensively so?  Circulated around various news sources was an image with the contestants, each looking startlingly alike; stylishly perfect hairdos, whitened skin, large eyes, straight and thin noses as well as bright, white smiles. There is a peculiar relationship between gender, globalization and cosmetic surgery in South Korea; It has been said that many Asian men and women opt for plastic surgery in order to look more westernized. This assumption may ring true here for each contestant seems to bear an eerie resemblance not unlike the fictional, Stepford wives.

Many netizens have jumped to the conclusion that these contestants have undergone the knife and so, lost their individuality by conforming to society’s narrow standards of beauty. When the pre-makeup photos of these participants had emerged on ILBE storehouse, a South Korean based social website – the presumptuous conclusion was proven wrong. That said, he photos were just as likely to have been the work of make-up and digital retouching or image manipulation through photoshop.

South Korea is recognized as the hot spot for plastic surgery purposes in all of Asia and while there are questionable practices in the abundance of surgeons and clinics that exist, the best surgeons for plastic surgery in Korea are board-certified. According to plastic surgery statistics, they have topped the highest per capita rate of plastic surgery in the world.

That said, as onlookers, perhaps we are too quick to jump to conclusions. It is said that even South Korean citizens themselves criticize the people from their own nation whom have done extensive plastic surgery. Older men revile the idea of dating or marrying a “sung-gui” which is slang for “plastic surgery monster” in South Korea. Granted that in their society, South Korean individuals have a fiercely competitive streak – perhaps it is a bit harsh to criticize those who opt to look their best in order to get ahead.

The crux of the biscuit, however, is to not lose one’s individuality and uniqueness, with or without plastic surgery in our everyday decisions. As a user from reddit had said," Most are beautiful without it but telling them that their Korean ethnic features are in fact lovely is as effective as screaming at a brick wall.” Everyone wants to be acknowledged to some degree and if raw talent is not recognized due to a person’s appearance, that is not fair. Is being shunned by society for the way you look, the way to live? Does it come as a surprise then that Korean Plastic Surgery  is deemed as ordinary a ritual to them, as make-up is in larger parts of the Western world?

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Korean Celebrities and Plastic Surgery

Written by Chelsea Kim. Posted in Korean Plastic Surgery

South Korea makes headlines across Asia and the West for its alleged obsession with cosmetic enhancements. When the entire population is taken into account, Korea has the highest rate of cosmetic plastic surgery in the world. And according to plastic surgery statistics, for every 1000 Koreans, 16 have had cosmetic improvement of some sort.

In Seoul itself, cosmetic surgery and beauty treatment clinics are everywhere. The district of Gangnam in downtown Seoul is acclaimed as the beauty belt of Korea, whereby cosmetic clinics flood the streets lining side-by-side and stacked sky-high.

In modern-day Korea, cosmetic plastic surgery is not only limited to the female gender. A 2010 survey conducted by a Korean employment website found that 44% of male college students were contemplating aesthetic surgery.

Korean pop idols and celebrities have long been renowned for their subtle transformations over time despite many refuting the mere notion of plastic surgery. Nowadays, celebrities are finding it more difficult to deny having gone under the knife; especially when the media reveals past photos and comparing them to images taken during elementary or high school days.

In recent times though, several famous Korean entertainers have confessed to dabbling with surgical procedures. Leading the way is KARA’s Goo Hara who openly admitted to having some minor adjustments to enhance her face with double eyelids and fillers injected into her nose. The actress, Park Min Young, has also come clean with admissions to having done plastic surgery whilst in junior high school: double eyelid surgery as well as nose surgery to correct a crooked nose.

The recent re-unification of the 1990s boy band Shinhwa saw 3 of its members confessing to having had plastic surgery on KBS2 TV’s “Win Win” show. All three spoke of the pressure of having to look impeccable in the entertainment industry, and succumbing to peer- group pressure.

Another popular boy band Super Junior also has one of its members admitting to plastic surgery. In 2011, the singer by the name of Shindong had double eyelid surgery and was reportedly thrilled with his new improved look.

Kim Hyun Joong, a popular Korean singer-actor also admitted during an appearance on a Korean comedy talk show that he had undergone rhinoplasty after injuring his nose. One half of the duo from the group Fly to the Sky – Hwanhee – was criticized by the media for his face altering image. He later broached the subject by confessing to having plastic surgery to improve his image.

The onset of famous Korean entertainers openly admitting that they have undergone some form of surgical procedure has encouraged more and more individuals to have plastic surgery. Nowadays, star-struck fans accept the fact that some stars were shaped with the help from plastic surgeons. And with the rise in Asian tourists admiring the beauty standards of Korean celebrities, many travel to Korea for cosmetic surgery determined to have their image crafted to the standards of their Korean idols.

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Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation – The New Fad in Female Cosmetic Surgery

Written by Chelsea Kim. Posted in Korean Plastic Surgery

What is Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation?

Laser vaginal rejuvenation is the term used when individuals are having vaginoplasty and labiaplasty procedures simultaneously. Surgical correction can result in significant improvements in terms of sexual function and enjoyment.

Vaginoplasty involves the removal of excess lining and tightening of surrounding vaginal tissue and muscles. It can treat women who experience reduced vaginal sensation as a result of vaginal wall relaxation following childbirth. Vaginoplasty can also be helpful to women who suffer from incontinence as well as pain during intercourse (as a result of tears during childbirth).

Nowadays, this hour-long procedure is steadily gaining popularity as it is widely used for cosmetic purposes – either to enhance the appearance of the genitalia or heighten sexual gratification.

Vaginoplasty effectively enhances vaginal muscle tone, strength, and control by reducing the internal and external vaginal diameters; thus rejuvenating the relaxed parts of the vagina.

Labiaplasty can reshape or sculpture unequal or elongated labia minora (small inner lips), and sometimes the labia majora (larger outer lips) and/or clitoral hood. Women usually do not want the inner lips to protrude beyond the outer lips because this can cause discomfort during intercourse (as a result of labia infolding), irritation from physical activities (rubbing of labia) or labial discomfort when wearing certain types of clothing such as G-string or tight trousers.

Other laser vaginal rejuvenation procedures include creating a new hymen for "revirgination" as well as "G-spot amplification" – a procedure which involves injecting the area in the front wall of the vagina with collagen or another filler to boost sexual pleasure.

Women are living at a time where their bodies have morphed from a limited maternal role to an active, pleasure-seeking one. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, almost 5200 women in 2010 underwent laser vaginal rejuvenation. The awareness of female genital cosmetic surgery is only increasing. This trend is believed to be driven by more and more women concerned about the aesthetics of their private parts. It seems that the emphasis on cultivating the perfect genital is part of an extension of our body-obsessed culture.

Recovery Process

Recovery from vaginal rejuvenation procedure takes around six to eight weeks, during which time individuals are advised against any strenuous physical activity. On average, sexual intercourse can be resumed at about 8 weeks post-surgery. The most common delay to healing occurs when individuals resume athletic activities or sexual activity that puts stress on the operative site too soon. By allowing the area to heal without interruption reduces the risk of complications.

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Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery – Unravelling Your Inner Desire

Written by Chelsea Kim. Posted in Korean Plastic Surgery

Could the rising trend towards Brazilian waxing be one of the reasons for more attention being placed on the appearance of women’s genitals?

Or is it because there is an association between sexual satisfaction and body image that has led to a rise in the marketing of various FGCS procedures?

FGCS is the acronym for Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery. FGCS now occupies as much a place in mainstream cosmetic plastic surgery as it does with other more common forms of enhancements such as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery, just to name a few.

Self-perceived unattractiveness in the genital area such as extremes of sizes and dissymmetry adversely affect many women. Embarrassment caused by the inability to wear certain type of undergarments, hygienic challenges (urinary incontinence), discomfort during physical activity (e.g. cycling, sexual intercourse) are some of the functional and cosmetic factors that provide motivation for women seeking FGCS.

There are a number of procedures that fall under the general group of female genital cosmetic surgery including labiaplasty, vaginoplasty and clitoroplasty.

The labia come in many different shapes and sizes. Standing, the labia is tucked away and not visible from above. However, with the thighs abducted, it is often the cause of dissatisfaction and is among one of the cosmetic reasons for which women seek alteration.

Labiaplasty is the most common FGCS procedure and involves reduction of the labia. The main reason women seek labiaplasty is to reduce the size of the inner lips (labia minora) so that they do not protrude below the outer lips (labia majora). Correcting asymmetry of the labia minora (where one lip is significantly different in size to the other) is also performed. Some women request labiaplasty because of rubbing or pain during exercise (e.g. cycling, walking), sex or when wearing certain tight fitting clothes.

Vaginoplasty is also referred to as vaginal rejuvenation. It involves tightening of the vaginal muscles and removal of excess vaginal lining. Wear and tear and/or childbirth are reasons for anatomical changes in this area.

Vaginoplasty is often promoted as the solution for women who have experience loss in vaginal ‘quality’ due to childbirth. Some request vaginoplasty to increase friction and sexual satisfaction, and occasionally for aesthetic reasons.

Clitoroplasty is a procedure where the appearance of the clitoris is being surgically altered with the aim to improve a woman’s sexual gratification. There are other forms of FCGS such as re-virgination and G-spot amplification.

It appears that FGCS procedures fulfil the majority of women's desires for cosmetic and functional improvement, as well as enhancement of their sexual experience. The International Society for Sexual Medicine reported beneficial results with overall sexual satisfaction over 80-85% after vaginal aesthetic and functional cosmetic plastic procedures.  While there are many cosmetic plastic surgeons offering cosmetic and reconstructive vaginal surgery, it is imperative to know the experience and qualifications of the operating surgeon and to understand how the surgery is performed.

It is also important to have a clear idea of issues and concerns and how you envision the final outcome. Realistic expectations are vital to avoid disappointment.

Where to go for FGCS?

On the whole, Asia is frontal in the development of latest medical advancements in cosmetic plastic surgery. But here’s a point to note – South Korea has taken a step further amongst the Asian countries by integrating cosmetic surgery into their tourism drive. There is such a diversity of expertise and experience with top plastic surgery clinics in Korea.

Not only have they gained respect as the destination for renowned cosmetic surgery, other factors such as patient after care service, world class facilities, ease of travel passage, government stability, modern infrastructure and favourable exchange rates are reasons many choose South Korea above others.

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