Why More Male Stars Opt for Plastic Surgery

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Pretty boy singer Kim Hyun-joong, formerly a member of the dance group SS501, admitted on national television that his chiseled good looks are partly the result of plastic surgery. "It's both God-given and touched by a doctor," Kim said in a talk show program recently. And on one reality TV show, a panel member asked a male contestant whether plastic surgery is an option because he looks rather plain. The segment was edited out, but the episodes demonstrate that plastic surgery has become the norm not only among women in showbusiness but among men as well.

"Maybe 99 percent of all female entertainers went under the knife, and 90 percent of male entertainers as well," one well-known plastic surgeon said. "Take a close look at entertainers who took time off and then made a comeback." In nine out of 10 cases, the main purpose of long breaks taken is to have cosmetic surgery.

The most common procedure for male stars is apparently the nose job. The results vary. One married Korean Wave star is considered to be the textbook case of a successful nose job and double eyelid surgery. But rumor has it that a teen heartthrob and a rising star went a little too far in having their noses done, resulting in an awkward countenance. Another celebrity, who is both a singer and entertainer, ended up with a crooked nose after plastic surgery, triggering suspicions that he turned to a quack.

"To my knowledge, one male singer who turned solo after leaving his dance group had his nose done twice," a plastic surgeon said. "The first one involved the silicone insertion but failed, and the second involved using part of his rib, and this time it looks like he managed to get his nose straightened." According to the doctor, the treatment using rib bones is not widespread yet, but is more capable of giving the desired shape.

Another Korean Wave star had a tough time dealing with baldness and got hair implants.

Most male entertainers over 50 apparently have plastic surgery to remove wrinkles under the eyelids and get rid of sagging skin above them. Three singers who rank at the top of the so-called trot genre, which is Korea's oldest pop music style, are known to have had the treatment. But an actor who was a teen heartthrob in the 1970s and 80s ended up looking older than his actual age after a botched attempt to remove wrinkles from under his eyes.

Some entertainers have had multiple plastic operations. Kwang-hee of the male dance group ZE:A actually capitalized on his successful plastic surgery and became popular for that reason.

Experts say the preference for plastic surgery stems from the premium Korean society places on good looks, compounded by technological advances in both broadcasting and medicine. They say that high-definition TV adds pressure on entertainers to look good in close-up.

Source: Jung Ji-sup @ The Chosun Ilbo

Comments

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

i dont understand why korea is so into plastic surgery. why not stay natural?

[lyuna.livejournal.com]

this. :/

[jela-ow.livejournal.com]

have plastic surgery to remove wrinkles under the eyelids
this makes me want to go under the knife because my eye bags are so dark and humongous!

Anyway, any guesses on the unnamed stars who got nose jobs??

[devilsatin.livejournal.com]

"To my knowledge, one male singer who turned solo after leaving his dance group had his nose done twice," a plastic surgeon said. "The first one involved the silicone insertion but failed, and the second involved using part of his rib, and this time it looks like he managed to get his nose straightened." According to the doctor, the treatment using rib bones is not widespread yet, but is more capable of giving the desired shape.


That one is definitely Kim Hyun Joong IMO!

[vvvanilla.livejournal.com]

They say that high-definition TV adds pressure on entertainers to look good in close-up.

they're blaming technology now, eh?

[iheartomntd.livejournal.com]

seriously plastic surgery is getting out of control over there. I know you want to look good but to the point of having a brand new face like a lot of these stars now is just ridiculous.

[honeyfunnybunny.livejournal.com]

it's not like hyunjoong's wasn't obvious though.

idk, i feel like it's their choice if they want to get it done and it's not really my business even though i dont have anything against it; but for those who get pressured into getting it done because the management feel like there's an awkward angle... not so much. but the worst part is that some feel like they get more jobs after getting surgery done :/

[naj-mahal.livejournal.com]

Seriously, people? I have no problem with fixing little things that bother you but this is getting absurd. My Korean international student friend was telling me about how some women resort to taking out ribs to make their waists smaller or breaking their jaw to change face angle.

[neitoperhonen.livejournal.com]

Also having plastic surgery in hopes of getting job, even when it comes to normal business life.

This is something unthinkable for me. There's so much wrong in Korean society. I got too much shit on me when I lived there. I love the country but I'd have to think many times to go back there to work.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree to an extent especially about if they want to, it shouldn't be a problem, but I do think it says something when so many people are getting plastic surgeries and kids that are 16 are younger are getting plastic surgeries for their birthdays. I believe there was an article a while back about moms wanting their sons to have some kind of surgery on their legs to grow taller. I'm sure that this stuff doesn't only happen in korea though.

[l2inl2in.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I think plastic surgery should be illegal >.<
I mean reconstructive surgery for victims of violence or accidents w/e but srsly this shit is so far out of hand!
I hate that I feel that way though, I believe that any individual should be allowed to do pretty much whatever they like as long as it doesn't 'harm' anybody else. I just wish people could be happy and confidant in their own skin.
Tbh I'm still mad that Yunho got his teeth fixed XD
Our flaws are a big part of what makes us who we are...why would you try to cover them up or fix them? I just dont get it >.>;

[lovestrucksmile.livejournal.com]

Our flaws are a big part of what makes us who we are...why would you try to cover them up or fix them? I just dont get it >.>;

A++++

this so much. also, if you don't have your face as an identifier...what do you have? lmao. your finger print?

[lovestrucksmile.livejournal.com]

i find plastic surgery incredibly unnecessary. :| i don't understand why people can't just work on harnessing more self confidence. no one is secure in the way they look at first but you don't have to change your face to feel good about yourself.

it's just taking stupid health risks too.

[aniloratka.livejournal.com]

oh, I don't know, plastic surgery is tempting. I would try liposuction XD but too much is too much, Korea schould know that.

[treat.livejournal.com]

So anytime anyone doubts that a long leave of absence wasn't for cosmetic surgery when an idol looks significantly different or that so-and-so is all natural, I'll link them to this article.

My family is good friends with a plastic surgeon in Seoul, and he would scoff at the idea of anyone in the entertainment business being surgery-free.

It's common enough in the western entertainment business, why should it shock anyone that people eastside do it? Personally, and perhaps because this is the culture I grew up in, I don't really care either way for cosmetic surgery. If anyone wants to get it and likes the results, more power to you, I guess. Hope you can afford it. But I am against remodeling your body to a point where you're sculpting a major bone (removing ribs to get a slimmer waistline? grinding down your jaw so you can get a slimmer jawline?) where it can affect functionality. o_o

In either case, I see no reason why you shouldn't invest in your body and face when those are what is putting the bread on the table.

[yolleh.livejournal.com]

I always cringe when people talk about shaving bones. Actual BONES.
Omg, it just sounds so painful and totally not worth it.

I miss the days where good old hair/make-up and lighting did the trick.

[uniqlos.livejournal.com]

I saw that statue irl and he is so hot omg. Small peen though lol.

[yolleh.livejournal.com]

There's a difference between getting plastic surgery to fix a little thing you never liked and being flat out pressured day to day to change everything.

I seriously think Korea's infatuation with surgery needs to end because
1. It's breeding insecurities which people try to get 'fixed' for thus creating a vicious cycle if they're still no satisfied
2. It makes everyone look boring

Honestly, I don't like staring at 'perfect' people all the time. It can make you feel inadequate and at the end of the day, music should be for the ears/soul and not...well, superficiality. Ok, I know k-pop isn't srs bsns

Honestly, I think when plastic surgery becomes integrated in society as a necessity, something is wrong there.

Lol I feel tempted to put up obvious before and after pics but that's just harsh and probably defeats the point of errthang I just said

[birdofpray09.livejournal.com]

IAWTC. It's sad that so many people feel like they can only gain acceptance if they change the way they look, because then it's about others validating your existence, whereas if you decided to get surgery for YOURSELF I'd be more fine with it because you'd be validating yourself, if that makes sense?

But anyways, I actually find idols/actors who look unconventional a lot more interesting than those who look 'perfect' (ie. Kim Ah Joong, Sung Yuri, most of SNSD, etc.) because it's refreshing to see somebody who looks different.

[notyourgeisha.livejournal.com]

Sunbae should've opted for surgery to add life into his dead fish-eyes

[gunsandsmoke.livejournal.com]

was just talking about this heatedly the other day!! i am very caustic about this topic, it's unnerving how everyone seems to desire to basically look like clones of each other, and an original, uniquely pretty face will no longer be considered so unless it conforms to the rigid korean beauty standards.

the pressure to conform to them is insane and i could never live there cos i'd break in like less than 2 years tbh. i have nothing against ps, and i personally have 1-2 things i wouldn't mind changing like most people, but surgery is like a disease for some girls. it doesn't even work to improve your self-esteem or anything, just pits you against yourself.

[naj-mahal.livejournal.com]

The thing is that this originated from Korea being super homogeneous and everyone wanting to look different from each other to be noticed. This evolved to there being a certain code for what makes people look good, and now everyone wants to look like that, which beats the entire purpose. Sigh. I will never understand Korea.

[831panda831.livejournal.com]

sometime plastic surgery can be a good thing , I don't mean like "oh it'll help you look better" but sometimes peer-pressure and other surrounding factors make you want to change. A lot of the time when they do change its for the better. If only people weren't as judging on a persons appearance than maybe plastic surgery wouldn't be needed.
I'm sure half of our idols today wouldn't be as loved and excepted if they hadn't gone under the knife. Its sad but its reality. The definition and standard of beauty is distorted.
all this is imo of course.

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

Stuff like double eyelid surgery a minor nosejob isn't really all that high-brow but jaw shaving and similar things = ridiculous. Such procedures should not be available, period. Or at least without a psych consult.

And anyone who wants to get 3+ surgeries definitely needs a psych consult.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

definitely agree about 3+ surgeries needing psych consult. I feel with a lot of people who get more than three, they'll be unhappy no matter how many surgeries they get.

[murasaki-hoshii.livejournal.com]

I don't really see why people think getting plastic surgery is so wrong
If you're willing to pay all the money(cause it's kinda expensive) and take the risks you should go for it
It's not like it's going to change who you are anyway

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

I don't think plastic surgery is wrong, but I do have some issues with the ideology behind plastic surgery if that makes sense. I think it does say something if so many people are getting plastic surgery, there are teens who are getting it, parents who want their 12 or 13 year old kids to get it as well. plus I also have issues with people who do it for others or because their company made them or whatever. but in the end of it makes them happy, that's great. I just feel like they should do it for themselves.

and I do think when people get more than a few surgeries, it's not just about wanting something changed. I'm assuming with people like that, no matter how many surgeries a person gets, he/she won't be happy.

idk I have many conflicting thoughts about plastic surgery.

[devilstay.livejournal.com]

The problem with defending people who do plastic surgery with, 'It's their body, their choice', is the fact that the body, is subjected to ridicules judgments and is expected to uphold unrealistic standards of beauty, that are controlled by the media, and differ according to people and country, meaning to an extend our perception of our bodies, is controlled by the current trend. I would like plastic surgery to be banned, and only be used in dire cases, but really and truly, if someone really wants to get plastic surgery, they'll do it, regardless of the cost to their lives, so I'd rather it as legal, and people who get it done come out alright.

In the mean time, it's time to change social perception of beauty. I think we should start, by completely banning companies from altering idol pictures/photo-shoots, i.e. taking out scars, moles etc. I mean really, those aren't imperfections, they're signs of character, why make people feel bad, about showing that they have their life experiences on their bodies? I really hate it.

[kms012.livejournal.com]

Agree completely with your last paragraph!

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

"Maybe 99 percent of all female entertainers went under the knife"
then the 4minute girls are the 1% who is natural, arent they the ones who once said that they all never had plastic surgery?
lololol

[minakuu.livejournal.com]

yea and I'm happy about that, they still look "natural" for me not like some.. other Girl Group members

[aleexnews.livejournal.com]

The amount of people that get things done is ridiculous but in a way i understand it. When you live in a society where looks matter so much to the point that it plays a big factor when it comes to even getting jobs regardless of what school you went to or how smart you are, you see yourself forced or pressured to do it.

I think if they started by changing the way Korean society views and judges people by their looks and ranks, that would definitely bring down the rate of plastic surgery and even suicide rates.

[montauks.livejournal.com]

lol plastic surgery is such a grey subject imo. because on one hand its your life etc. but on the other hand there are parents who condone plastic surgery or even suggest it, saying "oh you'd look better with.." geez, way to raise self-esteem and i think thats where my problem with the concept lies.

on the other hand i think that if YOU want something done you should be able to without judgement. its like getting braces or st except on a larger scale hehahea

[cheetosareok.livejournal.com]

My Korean friend just recently got cosmetic surgery on her eyelids...I think she might have done something to her nose and chin as well though. It was her high school graduation present from her mom. Her mom wanted her to do it but she did as well. I think people have the right to changing what they want, but in Korea it is the pressure put on the people that makes them do it.

Since they are living in a country with a lot of fake beauties, anyone who doesn't get cosmetic surgery is viewed as less because their natural looks can't seem to compete with the surgeon's skills.

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

Since they are living in a country with a lot of fake beauties, anyone who doesn't get cosmetic surgery is viewed as less because their natural looks can't seem to compete with the surgeon's skills.

That's sad and wrong!

[annhh.livejournal.com]

I'm fine with plastic surgery to certain lengths like teeth, moles and such, also if someone wants to change their nose they've got bullied on their whole life, then be my guest but mostly these celebrities just give in to pressure. "Be Yourself" seems to be lost concept in South Korea

The most alarming problem I see is that the demographic involves teens, who are insecure by default. Just wrong. The face is still changing especially under 18. And bones should grow and settle in before altering :/ I see doctors in Korea do not have any boundaries

IMO Kwanghee must be suffering severely underneath that happy face he puts on 24/7

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

I always wonder why looks matter so much to people. When I was a teenager I got bullied at school, because I was not beautiful - at least not beautiful enough for the "cool kids".
Thanks to that I became an outsider and my self-confidence is still non-existing. BUT STILL...I would never change my looks only to fit into a mold created by other people.

I'm an outsider and I might be ugly, but at least I'm not plastic!

And I especially don't understand why singers go and do plastic surgery. I always had the impression that the most important thing for a musician is his/her voice (besides dancing and playing instruments!).

[turielen.livejournal.com]

I got bullied at school too for being ~ugly but I was going through old pictures of myself a few days ago and the only difference between then and now is that I learned to style my hair and maybe dress a little better now.

I was never actually ugly. My only problem was that my physical appearance didn't match the general idea of what beauty was.