Asian Patients Seeking Plastic Surgery To Appear More 'Western' (VIDEO)

A growing trend has Asian patients of all ages, from the middle-aged to adolescents, seeking out plastic surgery in an effort to make themselves appear more "Western," CNN is reporting.

Nose-reshaping, facial contouring and eyelid surgery are among the most popular procedures in Seoul, a city which has become a tourist destination for newly-rich, globally-competitive Asian patients seeking a more European look. And it's not just appearance that matters: some Korean mothers are having a part of their children's tongue muscles surgically snipped to ensure better English pronunciation.

"They can find a much better job if they have a pretty face," says Dr. Kim Byung Gun, a Seoul-based surgeon, who says foreign patents comprise 30 percent of his clientele. Of that 30 percent, he notes 90 percent are Chinese.

One mother cites Asia's competitive drive as the primary reason she's bringing her daughter to get eyelid surgery. "Yes, I think it'll help her," Jang Hyu Hye says. "This is a society where you have to be pretty to get ahead. She's my only daughter."

Watch CNN's report below:

Comments

[Albert Jenkin]

09:23 AM on 05/27/2011

Sadly, this is old news. Japanese women went for "Western" eyes after the start of the US occupation after WW2. This even though so many of we "Westerners" thought the Asian women, and their Asian eyes, were beautiful.

[BlackYowe]

12:41 AM on 05/27/2011

This makes me so sad.

[Jaeshik]

07:38 PM on 05/26/2011

Why are people comparing Koreans to Americans? Their motives for plastic surgery are considerately different from an average American. Plastic surgery in the States is first and foremost done in order to appear better looking for yourself only. All others are just a bonus. It's a thing of confidence and self-esteem. In South Korea, the matter is much more complicated. Employers demand that you provide them a new picture of yourself, state your height and weight and even your blood-type in your CV. If you knew Korean history, you'd know that it has always been difficult to reach a rank completely fairly. A few hundred years back– all statutory positions were automatically replaced with folk from wealthy families– regardless of their qualifications. Now, since women are no longer ‘’house-wife’’ obliged, they can prevail in their careers and thus in society by looking good and being ‘’internationally appealing’’. This is why it's so popular and easily excusable to do. The pressure is enormous – not only on the girl, but her family as well. A girl, who perhaps likes the way she looks, may ''have to'' do plastic surgery because of this ‘problem’.

It’s not parents' or the girls fault. There’s something wrong with the society. There should be commenced a law against employers that demand pictures and personal data on the CV. If and when that happens, maybe within 20 years or so – people will appreciate your intelligence and qualifications rather than your fair skin.

[GirlyGirl420]

08:29 PM on 05/26/2011

Agreed! Also, if people actually look at the before and after of her pictures, in no way does she look more Western.

[fem56]

02:36 PM on 05/26/2011

She was so, so cute before the surgery! I knew a girl in high school who had surgery on her nose because she thought it was too big so it happens in the USA to Caucasians too (she was blond). They make it sound like it is more common in the Asian culture. Of course is it is well known that Asians, in general, work really hard to succeed academically and become really accomplished in numerous ways. I do think the surgery is a big mistake and sad. The Asian and the American ways of raising kids each have their own strengths and weaknesses. If they want their kids to be more like Americans than they need to raise them that way not change their looks. I don't think they want to do that. Americans-including Asian Americans who raise the more American way- as a whole are not as academically successful or as accomplished but they tend to be more assertive. They tend to be more creative and innovative. Becoming more individualistic rather than group oriented is not the Asian way as far as I can see.

[victorsays]

12:36 PM on 05/26/2011

Idiots, the majory of Asian have double eyelids. Western news media make it looks like they want to be "Western" as if "Westerners" are so good. Give me a break.

[Edison Saldano]

07:37 PM on 05/26/2011

well look asian female they only want to marry white men that should tell you something and i have nothing against who you want to marry.

[eShirl]

11:33 PM on 05/26/2011

"Double eyelids" - I think you mean epicanthic folds
as opposed to what cats and Vulcans have

[craftycrow]

12:33 PM on 05/26/2011

This is old news. Asian girls have been doing this for a while. With all of the treatments people go through in the US, I don't think we can judge.

[Patrick Hatcher]

03:52 PM on 05/26/2011

We can judged them and we can judge the idiots in our own society who do the same and worse. When you really think about it nothing is stupider than breast implants.

[dacapm01]

09:01 AM on 05/26/2011

Personally I have no problem with this, however it does reflect badly on the West that other people feel they must look Western to get ahead and look good.

[Gurg]

08:31 AM on 05/26/2011

If that's what makes them happy then more power to them!

[captainindustry]

07:07 AM on 05/26/2011

plastic surgery? wow. that would never catch on here in America.

[tsudopnem]

07:48 AM on 05/26/2011

I live in Korea. It's way more common here than back home, and I'm from New York!

[GirlyGirl420]

08:27 PM on 05/26/2011

I'm from long island, and sorry. it's just as prevalent. It depends on where you are. If in Seoul, yes of course it's rampant, as in Long Island (Jews getting nose jobs, white girls getting breast augmentation.) and in Beverly Hills. Please don't get examples from a big city and generalize it for the whole country

[ex-eye-in-the-sky]

06:40 AM on 05/26/2011

Its such a shame to change the natural beauty that God gave them. And was also given to every single person everywhere. We need to accept our differences, and be proud of ourselves. Its the unique characteristics of each of us that make us beautiful and make us who we are. The only time I believe in going under the knife is to cure a disease...or to correct an accident or other terrible wound. But, hey...that's just me I guess.

[AbstractImp]

06:17 AM on 05/26/2011

We like you just the way you are.

[jessivehadit]

01:12 AM on 05/26/2011

Nooooooooooo! Asian girls are so pretty! Keep your eyes and faces exactly how they should be...how they are!

[jeffrey678]

12:36 AM on 05/26/2011

Sad.

[salesdude]

11:49 PM on 05/25/2011

This is not new. Korean women have been doing this ever since American men started taking them as brides during the Korean War. Western standards of beauty and the fallacy of white skinned superiority have influenced people all over the world. Madison Ave has indoctrinated everyone into believing that the ideal beauty is the white American female.

I attended high school in Korea and some of my half-Korean female schoolmates became top models there as a result of being bi-racial and having round western eyes. Look at any print advertising from Korea over the past 50 years and you'll see that the females almost always have rounded eyes. This is also true in Japan. For the younger generation just look at Japanese anime characters and their other cartoons.

[tksensei]

03:50 AM on 05/26/2011

Read all of the other posts here that address these misconceptions.

[salesdude]

09:35 AM on 05/26/2011

Is there something in my post that you take exception to? What "misconceptions" are you referring to? All my statements and observations are based in fact or first-hand knowledge and experience. Paragraph one is all factually based and provable. Paragraph two is all first-hand experience.

[Myoho Mod]

01:03 PM on 05/26/2011

The poster is 100% correct. I am a photo producer and have done casting and jobs for Neutrogena Asia a couple of times and while I haven't worked with bi-racial Korean or Japanese I do work with Kazakh girls that fly into LA from Hong Kong. Reason being is that they are Asian but not exactly as they have rounder eyes.

[Albert Jenkin]

09:31 AM on 05/27/2011

And now look atd the Korean Air advertising. The models, the Korean ones, are beautifully Korean.
Some of my feelings on this subject may be colored by memories of a girl in high school I had some feelings for, named Kaikuko.

[tksensei]

03:53 AM on 05/26/2011

Rod Stewart probably had more sex with more women in the year 1983 alone than you would if you lived 200 years.

"Oriental" is not an appropriate term to use, nor is "queer."

[tsudopnem]

07:50 AM on 05/26/2011

Queer is okay. I agree, though. I see some sexy Korean guys with the peacock hair. It's the poor young ones who think that the Asia-mullet is good that I pity.

[Myoho Mod]

01:04 PM on 05/26/2011

What are they carpets?