Plastic surgery so drastic they can't get past airport security! How Chinese women are flying to South Korea for a more 'Western' face

Chinese women who are entering South Korea seeking skilled plastic surgeons are undergoing such transformative procedures that they are struggling to get past airport security on their way home.

The extensive surgeries, which can include reducing excess skin in the upper eyelid to make the eyes appear bigger and more 'Western', are transforming some Chinese women's entire faces, rendering them almost unrecognizable.

To combat the issue, some hospitals have resorted to handing out 'plastic surgery certificates' - which include the patient's passport number, the name of the hospital they were treated at and the length of their visit to South Korea - to enable the women to re-enter China

Xu Yan, a 21-year-old kindergarten teacher, pictured before (left) and after surgery (right). Xu underwent the V-line surgery, nose reconstruction surgery and received Botox injections

Yan Xu, a 22-year-old broker, pictured before (left) and after surgery (right). She had eyelid surgery, a nose job, and chin implants

After careful checks had been carried out, the women were allowed into China but they were all advised to renew their passports immediately.

After they took off their huge hats and big sunglasses following our request, we saw them looking different, with bandages and stitches here and there,' Shanghai Hongqiao Airport officer Chen Tao told China Daily. 

Liu Yisong, a 26-year-old dance teacher, before (left) and after (right) her plastic surgery

Huang Silan, a 20-year-old lounge singer, before (left) and after surgery (right)

Wang Pingping, a 24-year-old tour guide, pictured before (left) and after surgery (right). She underwent surgery to change the shape of her face, as well as a nose job and eye reconstruction surgery

Yang Jiayi, a 21-year-old clerk, before (left) and after (right) surgery. Yang had her eye shape altered and received eyelash extensions

The photos, which list the type of procedures each woman has had - ranging from Botox to rhinoplasty to jaw contorting - are accompanied by candid captions detailing the features each woman disliked about herself.

For, example, Liu Yisong, 26, a dance teacher from Chengdu, said she disliked her eye shape, her flat nose, her round face shape and narrow forehead. So she underwent a double eyelid operation, V-line surgery, nose reconstruction surgery and had collagen injections as well as a skin rejuvenation treatment.

Meanwhile, Wang Pingping, a 24-year-old tour guide, underwent surgery to change her pear-shaped face. She had a nose job and eye reconstruction surgery. 

 

 

Gao Shanshan, a 28-year-old cosmetics agent, pictured before (left) and after surgery (right). She underwent a nose job, eyelid surgery, and had Botox face lift injections

 

 

 

 

Julie, a 29-year-old full-time mother, before surgery (left) and after (right)S he underwent breast reconstruction, waist and abdomen liposuction and IPL skin treatment

South Korea is rapidly becoming world's plastic surgery leader, with more cosmetic procedures per head of population than any other nation, according to global figures released last year by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

One in every 77 people in South Korea now goes under the knife or needle in a bid to improve their looks.

Shockingly, some 20 per cent of women aged 19 to 49 in the capital, Seoul, admit to undergoing cosmetic surgery. One of the most popular procedures involves reducing excess skin in the upper eyelid to make the eyes appear bigger and more 'Western'.

Chinese Plastic Surgery VS Korea Plastic Surgery

Chinese Plastic Surgery

Korea Plastic Surgery

Gangnam sees surge in medical tourism

Gangnam District, an affluent district in southern Seoul which became world-famous last year due to Psy’s hit song “Gangnam Style,” is becoming an increasingly popular destination for medical tourism patients from diverse countries who head to the district for a range of treatments.

According to the Gangnam-gu Office, the number of foreign patients who paid for services at hospitals and clinics in the district was estimated at around 32,900 for 2012. This estimate is based on the number of patients who attended the top 30 hospitals in the district.

The figure is up 34 percent from the previous year when around 24,500 patients chose Gangnam as their destination. About a quarter of these patients were from the United States, followed by China at 22 percent and Japan at 16 percent. Patients from Russia took 9 percent of the medical tourists in Gangnam, followed by Mongolia at 4 percent and 2 percent from Kazakhstan.

By departments, 30 percent of the patients headed to internal medicine clinics, while 29 percent underwent dermatological treatment or plastic surgery. One in 10 visitors chose Gangnam as the place to get comprehensive medical checkup, while 16 percent headed to clinics offering Korean traditional medicine.

The country is promoting medical tourism as a new growth engine, and services in Gangnam District are leading the campaign. The district has world-class hospitals such as Samsung Medical Center and Gangnam Severance Hospital as well as renowned traditional Korean medical hospitals including Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine and Kwangdong Oriental Hospital. The district is also famous as a hub of plastic surgery and dermatological clinics.

While equipped with quality facilities and medical staff, the service is offered at affordable prices compared with other developed countries, the Gangnam-gu Office explained. The district has been leading efforts to attract medical tourists, building up a network incorporating not only hospitals but also hotels and department stores. It also actively promoted the strength of the district’s private medical services, including giving presentations in China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Vietnam.

“In 2013, we plan to designate a ‘medical street’ in the district. We will also initiate liability insurance for foreign patients,” said Kang Hyun-seop, director of the health administration division at the Gangnam-gu Office.

The district aims to attract 37,000 medical tourists this year.

What is the Most Popular Korean Plastic Surgery?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having witnessed the rise of today’s Korean plastic surgery trends, Seoul TouchUp has found that the two most common procedures include eye surgeries and nose surgeries. The eye surgeries to create larger, double-lidded eyes and the nose surgeries to heighten the oriental nose. The two are so common that they are regarded as the most basic of procedures and are done by 80% of the medical tourists. Also, Seoul TouchUp has found that the most popular procedure in Korea for non-Asians is facial bone surgery. It is probably because facial bone surgeries require a lot of skills and experience. Outside of Korea, it would be difficult to find experienced doctors who specialize in facial bone contouring, even in Beverly Hills. As for those coming from the Middle East, liposuction and face lift are the most in demand.
In South Korea, there are hundreds of facial bone specialists, and there are even Korean plastic surgery makeover TV shows that showcase the very best of Korean facial bone contouring. Although what is considered beautiful differs from culture to culture, the natural-looking results of Korean plastic surgery stays to be the beauty trend and universal standard.

 

Best Destinations in Asia to Get Plastic Surgery

 

Why is Korea considered one of the best destinations? This is because in addition to the excellence of Korean plastic surgery, the average cost of plastic surgery trips in Korea is relatively lower than other developed countries. Seoul TouchUp has found that on average, people are spending $10,000 to $15,000 for their Korean cosmetic surgery trip, including everything from surgery to accommodation. Whereas in other developed countries, especially Singapore, America and Australia, there is less that can be done for the same cost. For instance, with popular surgeries such as eyelid or rhinoplasty, both can be done in Korea for the same cost it takes to get one such surgery done in these other countries.

Countries	Nose Surgery Price Range (The Renowed Ones)
South Korea	$4000-6000
Singapore	$6,000-8,000
Australia	$8,000-$10,000
America	$10,000-12,000