IDHOSPITAL

A common misconception is that Koreans have the most surgery per capita in the world. Since then, not only have the numbers changed, but just like beauty trends change, so do the perceptions of beauty.

The first aesthetic mandible angle reduction surgery was performed and documented by Baek et al, and since then the surgery techniques have evolved. Whereas the golden ration is 1:1:1, Asians prefer the lower part of the face to be smaller, so the golden ratio for Asians is 1:1:0.8.

This presents with it many misconceptions and especially for Koreans, many people all around the world think that people are obsessed with having an “egg-shaped” face. While it may be true for many, it is not the same for all.

With the advent of technology, social media and selfies, people all around the world want to look different and stand out. Particularly in Korea, where for decades, confirming to the standards of beauty was the ideal, those ideals are changing. Despite those changes, there are still many women who go under the knife to have facial contouring surgeries to change their facial structure.

The differences between Caucasian and Asian features are due to the difference in skull shape. Caucasians tend to have longer, thinner facial structure whereas Asians have a wider, shorter facial structure. However, wide cheekbones and jaws are not only limited to Asians. In Asian countries the standard for beauty is to have a smooth, soft, feminine face shape.

Within Asian countries, beauty standards are somewhat homogeneous, although the trends are changing, but most Asians prefer a short chin, with variations per country. For japan, the ideal is a rounded short chin, in China, a longer sharp chin and in Korea, a short, pointy chin.

Then there is the lookism controversy, which is prevalent in many parts of the world. The better a person looks, the more attention, money, benefits they can get as opposed to someone who does not fit the “beauty ideal” mold.

For women, in particular, the pressure to look their best is the highest. There is a stereotype that Asian women are all petite and small, with cute, doll-like features, especially with the rising fame of K-pop idols. As surgery is no longer just for the rich and famous, anyone with the financial capacity can have surgery to alter their appearance.

Rather than stereotype a certain country or race for having a particular kind of surgery, we also have to notice that altering the facial structure is no longer taboo. In Asian countries, it is socially more acceptable to have surgery. Other places are not the same, and prefer to be discreet or completely pretend they have not had any enhancements.

As facial contouring surgery becomes more acceptable in the West, so will the demand for the surgeries increase.

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