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| Plastic Surgey Rates by Country |
The Economist reported on global rates of plastic surgery earlier this spring, and South Korea topped the list for the most-cosmetically enhanced population in the world.South Korea has become so well known for it's plastic surgery that it sees an excess of 80,000 international arrivals a year, and with so many K-Pop beauties running around, who could be surprised? In fact, South Korea's perfectly primped pop stars are often considered one of the biggest factors in the increasing amount of plastic surgeries. Here are a few notable surgeries below:
A few weeks ago I posted a piece called "My Butt is Too Big For Korea," while it was humorous it is also a very big insecurity of mine. Well, not my butt, I love my butt. I mean my size.I am not big, I work out, I play rugby, I eat decently, but I will never be a "small girl." That being said, the idea of going into the doctor and coming out 20 pound lighter seems a bit absurd to me. Tummy tucks, lipo, electric accupuncture...all seem like temporary solutions when working out is an over all lifestyle choice. Choice. Isn't that what it all comes down to? For example, I choose to eat more carbs than any human should consume, stuff my face with gold fish crackers and then spend a few days feeling guilty but making up for it with fruit smoothies and salads. This clearly is not the best method, but you catch my drift, That doesn't mean it will be any easier being one of the bigger people in a country where thin is definitely in, or where homogeneity defines beauty. In the U.S we have a tendency to place a lot of emphasis on being "exotic" and on standing out. Here are a few Korean beauty standards:
1. Tanning is a no no! Pale skin is a must... Alabaster Chic, if you will
2. Small "cute" lips
3.Large eyes
4.High nose bridge, slender nose
5.Women- long legs, slender
6 Men- tall with lean Muscle
7. Double eye lids
And it seems that many people in Korea have no qualms about spending a pretty penny to fit this description.1 in 5 South Korean women in Seoul have had some form of cosmetic surgery. One can't help but notice how much less surgery costs in Korea compared to the U.S. Check out this price list from Iaan Aesthetic Clinic in Daejeon.
Upon speaking to a Korean friend, she said I should approach this topic from a completely different view. She said South Korea is a place where surgery is so natural that it is no longer taboo. If people don't like something they don't complain and agonize over it, they just "fix it." She pointed out the difference in overall health and lifestyle between the US and Korea. We have our own obsessions in America. Crazy crash dieting, Sensa, portion diets, Creatine abuse, cosmetic addiction, tanning and the "low fat craze." Livestrong compares the two diets "Overall, the Korean diet places great emphasis on vegetable consumption, and many traditional Korean foods are naturally low in fat. As a result, South Korea has a lower obesity rate than other countries in Asia. According to a 2002 article in the journal "Public Health Nutrition," the United States and Mexico have the highest obesity rates in the world (it should be noted that many nations in the South Pacific have since taken over the top places in obesity ratings); Korea and Japan have the lowest. The Korean diet has remained low in fat and high in vegetables even as Western culinary influences have been incorporated."
So not only will many Korean's be more attractive, they will also live much longer than I will...damn it! Oh well. Looks like I'm gonna slather on some BB cream, get my hair done and embrace my curves in Korea. After all, statistics tell me I wont live as long to enjoy them :)
I haven't even scratched the surface of this topic. I can feel an investigative journalism piece coming on!
