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With the influence of K-Pop groups like BTS, Stray Kids, and ATEEZ, Korean beauty trends continue to grow in popularity.
While eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty have been frequently sought by Asian women and regarded (often falsely) as a westernization of their features, V-line jaw reduction may be playing to a Korean aesthetic that appeals to both men and women.
South Korea Leads Plastic Surgery Procedures Per Capita
The Economist, a well-known British weekly newspaper, reports that South Korea has the highest rate of plastic surgeries per capita in the world, with as many as one in five women undergoing a surgical cosmetic procedure.
The Gangnam district, which was brought to the attention of the Western world by the entertainer Psy, is home to the “beauty belt,” a suburb saturated with plastic surgery clinics.
Dr. Rhee Se Whan’s Grand’s Plastic Surgery is among these clinics, and over the last five years, she has seen more young people undergoing surgery than ever before, with half of these patients being under 18.
“K-Pop stars and other Korean celebrities have influenced our younger generation to undergo plastic surgery. If you look at before and after photos of K-pop stars, you’ll see they have gotten prettier. When people see this change, they also want to be pretty and look as good as them,” says Dr. Rhee.
K-Pop’s Association With Beauty Ideals Is a Result – Not a Cause
It’s widely accepted by most South Koreans that becoming successful in the pop industry requires a certain look, which comes as no surprise since appearance plays a crucial role in Korean society as a whole.
Even non-entertainment-related job applicants are required to include a headshot with their resumes to be considered for employment in South Korea.
Whatever caused South Korea’s obsession with beauty, it is evident that in the case of K-Pop, art is imitating life and perpetuating the focus on aesthetics; the common practice of undergoing cosmetic surgery in South Korea is about as common as Americans going to the gym.
What Our Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon Wants You to Know
Dr. Charles Lee is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, who specializes in Asian cosmetic procedures and embraces natural Asian aesthetics.
He sees beauty as being uniquely defined and is committed to preserving ethnic differences while making cosmetic improvements based on his patients’ personal preferences.
If you want to learn more about Asian rhinoplasty, V-Line jaw reduction, or Asian eyelid surgery in Beverly Hills, call (310) 271-5954 today!
Dr. Lee offers a wide range of plastic surgery procedures and non-surgical treatments in Beverly Hills, CA.
