10 Most Popular Plastic Surgeries in South Korea

Which are the most popular plastic surgeries in South Korea? 

Nip, tuck isn’t just a canceled television show. I was recently at a New Year’s Eve party where a young friend casually informed the table that she would “start getting botox in the next year or so, because it’s important to start it before you need it.” When the bar for botox becomes lower and lower—or earlier and earlier—so goes more intensive measures, like plastic surgery.

In certain places, the jump from injections and creams to undergoing the scalpel, is becoming more common and socially accepted. In 2014, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 20 million people underwent plastic surgery procedures. That number includes 1.3 million pairs of breasts augmented in the United States, 50,000 buttocks enhanced in Brazil, and over 100,000 eyes widened in South Korea.

In South Korea, many seem to believe that anything is possible when it comes to reaching their desired potential, and the competition for beauty in particular, is enormous. That is why we are examining the 10 most popular plastic surgeries in South Korea.

South Koreans are known for their penchant for plastic surgery. There is actually a “Beauty Belt” in Gangnam with over 500 surgical clinics.  Historical reasons for the higher rates of surgery in this country have been discussed by researchers, such as Yuqing Wang, including anti-Japanese nationalism, monetary motivations like the IMF financial crisis, bankruptcy, massive layoffs and plastic as a psychological tool.

South Korea also maintains a powerful relationship with icons of Korean Pop Culture, where appearance matters to an incredible degree. 74 out of every 10,000 South Koreans have undergone an aesthetic operation as compared to 42 out of every 10,000 Americans. 

From the 11 Countries With the Most Plastic Surgeries in the World, we have South Korea in the first spot, with Seoul as the global plastic surgery capital. With the growth of the economy in South Korea due to the Seoul Olympics in 1988, the streets of the famous Gangnam neighborhood became a wealthy area with hundreds of medical centers. This phenomenon is known as the Plastic Surgery Boom in South Korea.

This boom led to an influx of tourism devoted to plastic surgery. Plastic surgery or cosmetic vacations have been on the uprise in South Korea in recent years. For example, in 2014, according to the Korea Times 266,501 foreigners visited South Korea for medical treatment. 

After studying the 10 Most Common Plastic Surgery Procedures in America, we have the 10 most popular plastic surgeries in South Korea. If you are thinking about this attractive destination for your next surgery, here are the most popular options according to last year’s The International Survey on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Procedures.

10. Hair Transplantation

Total: 7,436

Hair is a symbol of youth and longevity. Hair Transplant is a surgical technique that basically transplants follicles from one part of the body (called the ‘donor site’) to a part of the body it is needed the most (most usually the head). This balding part of the body where the follicles are being moved to is called the ‘recipient site’. This procedure is common among people who have suffered hair loss or to treat baldness.

9. Breast Lift

Total: 8,101

Let’s see why breast lift is among the most popular plastic surgeries in South Korea. As the name so clearly denotes it, a breast lift, often referred as mastopexy is a procedure that lifts and reshapes the breasts to make them look more attractive matching today’s modern beauty standards. And is usually get by women to rejuvenate the figure after pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, aging, or other factors.

 

8. Facial Bone Contouring

Total: 8,143

This procedure is popular to feminize jaw and chin’s bone, also called cheekbone and jawline reduction. The aim of the procedure is to make the contour of the jaw more feminine and attractive. The zygoma is fracturing and pushed back, and the fractured zygoma’s circumference is carefully trimmed and rotated to bring the desired result.

 

7. Brow Lift

Total: 16,437

Brow lift? Well, we all need it, or at least we are going to need it at one point. Yes, you can’t stop the wrinkles. Well, you can only make them less noticeable by undergoing a surgical procedure called brow lift, of course. This procedure focuses on the wrinkles around your brows, and on the bridge of the nose.

 

6. Facelift

Total: 28,116

Also known as rhytidectomy, a facelift is the greatest way to make yourself look plastic, I mean younger. Stretching your face may help you get read of the wrinkles, but you’ll get something in return as well – artificial alien-like look. Well, everything has its plus and its minus. You can’t have everything girls, no matter the money!

5. Liposuction

Total: 39,753

In this surgery, body fat is removed to reduce its shape or to sculpt the body.  This is common with the fat that does not respond to diets or exercise. Sometimes, during this procedure, the fat is moved to other areas of the body.

4. Breast Augmentation

Total: 44,039

One of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world, ever since Pamela Anderson set the new beauty standards in the famous Baywatch. Well, who can blame all the girls trying to look like her? We all know what this is right? Yes, it is a procedure that helps you look like Pamela Anderson.

 

3. Facial Fat Grafting

Total: 63,326

Among top 3 most popular plastic surgeries in South Korea is facial fat grafting. Facial aging is caused by two things – loss of fat and skin elasticity.  When the skin is still somewhat elastic, fat grafting alone can be used to restore the natural, youthful contours of the face.

 

2. Rhinoplasty

Total: 72,562

The Korean Rhinoplasty is aimed to get a more prominent bridge in the nose. However, it is typical for the western patient to have a nose job for reconstructing the form, recovering the functions and aesthetically improving the nose.

 

1. Blepharoplasty

Total: 101,985

The Double Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is the most common surgery in Korea according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery with 1.43 million people getting it done in 2014. Even a former president had the operation.  This procedure aims to aesthetically modify the eye region of the face, with an excision and removal of excess tissue. The surgeon gets rid of the extra skin to achieve the desired and attractive “double eyelid.”

This has been the list of 10 most popular plastic surgeries in South Korea. Please, always remember that beauty is only skin deep, in the eye of the beholder and found within.