Q&A Session With Dr. Kim Soo Shin: A Renowned Korean Plastic Surgeon's Perspective
I spoke with Dr. Kim Soo Shin, a renowned South Korean plastic surgeon, for his thoughts on Asian beauty ideals and the popularity of cosmetic surgery in both South Korea and East Asia in general. I wanted to provide a firsthand look at how a Korean plastic surgeon thinks of, and interprets, his work and the effects of it. Who better to comment on the trend than a person totally immersed in it? And who better to learn and glean broader cultural notions from, than from a person in said culture? His answers reveal a lot of subtle, ingrained cultural notions from which we can draw insight regarding broader East Asian beauty culture from.
You can see the contents of our online interview below. Some of his answers are quite interesting!
Interview Questions for Dr. Sooshin Kim
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to do an online interview. I understand your schedule is very full, and I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate it.
I will begin by starting off with some background questions. Feel free to elaborate and take your responses are far as you need to. Please don't leave anything out. The more, the better! The responses should be longer than the questions!
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? What schools you attended, etc.
I was born on Kanghwa Island and moved to Seoul during primary school to receive a better education. I graduated from the “Exeter of Korea”, otherwise known as Kyunggi High School.
I then went to the “Harvard of Korea”, otherwise known as Seoul National University, and studied medicine.
Thereafter, I joined the Air Force to fulfill three years of mandatory military service. During that period I spent six months in prison on charges that I violated the country’s anti-communist laws. There was paranoia at the time, and my crime was having in my possession two books – “Das Kapital” and “The Communist Manifesto”. I was eventually found not guilty and released.
I spent the next five years, I completing my internship and residency at Seoul National University and then served as Assistant Professor at Guro Hospital for six years. My specialty was microsurgical re-plantation. My fondest memory was when I was able to successfully reattach ten fingers where the fingers were functional post-surgery. That had never been done before.
I also was able to successfully replant a finger after 54 hours of it being detached. The normal limit is about 8-10 hours, after which “ischemia” sets in and the tissue dies.
In the mid-1980s I started developing a type of bone surgery for facial contouring that is now popular worldwide. Our team wrote the first article on the procedure.
After working at Guro Hospital, I moved to Inje University Hospital and worked there for three years, continuing in microsurgery. Thereafter, looking for a new challenge, I opened my own private clinic for cosmetic surgery.
I should explain that plastic surgery encompasses both reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. My early experience in microsurgery was a form of reconstructive surgery. My later experience during my private clinic years was in the area of cosmetic surgery.
What made you initially want to get into cosmetic surgery? Did you notice a growing demand, etc.?
I think I moved into the area of cosmetic surgery because I wanted a new challenge. During my residency, I focused on reconstructive surgery and was not interested in cosmetic surgery because I thought it was less challenging. Then I discovered that there were interesting aspects of cosmetic surgery, such as bone surgery, calf contouring, jaw-reshaping, etc.
How long does it take to become a certified plastic surgeon in Korea?
You have to attend six years of college and then do five years of residency. After that, you must pass the Board exam to be certified as a plastic surgeon. So, it takes at least eleven years – not a small commitment!
East Asia in general – and Korea and Japan in particular – are often referred to as the "Plastic Surgery Kingdoms of the World." Why do you think that is? Has plastic surgery always been popular in Korea/Asia, or have you seen a trend more recently?
The 1988 Summer Olympics was a turning point in Korea’s history in many ways, as well as for other countries like Japan. Asians saw more of what the world had to offer and wanted more after that exposure. Also, travel restrictions were lifted in the mid-1980s, so Asian doctors were able to travel to the U.S. to learn more about cosmetic surgery.
Moreover, culturally, Koreans (and from my perspective Asians in general) are very competitive. Combine that with their tendency to be critical, to themselves, to their children, to each other, and you get an environment ripe for cosmetic surgery.
In the 1960s, Korea was a third world country, among the poorest of the world. In the 1970s, it was one of the fastest growing economies in the world and I don’t think any country has beat that pace since. So, Korea is a “rags to riches” story – much like Japan, another East Asian country that modernized very quickly. To compensate for what might be a type of inferiority complex to the rest of the world, I think people have been drawn to cosmetic surgery, especially now that they can afford it.
I am not sure if Korea is the “kingdom” but there are a lot of procedures performed here. If a U.S. cosmetic surgeon performs 5-10 procedures per week, a Korean cosmetic surgeon will perform 50-100. It is the same for my Japanese colleagues. So that is the difference. Still, the U.S. leads in research and development, while Korea is only strong in practice and in number of applications. I would say that Korea is the “kingdom” in Asia, but not necessarily the world, though I suppose it depends on how one chooses to define “kingdom.”
What is the process that a patient has to go through before they get a surgery done? Do you have a consultation with them, do you experiment with different looks, do they bring in pictures?
The patient first consults either with me or a coordinator. The patient learns about the process of surgery and post-surgery healing. We discuss what would look good, what the patient’s preferences are, what my preferences are, etc. We have to negotiate a plan we are both happy with. Sometimes patients bring pictures, most of the time consisting of Korean soap opera actresses or pop singers. They say, “I want Hyori’s nose,” or “I like this actress’s eyes.” Sometimes I show them before and after photos of other clients and I can also do digital renditions of their faces showing them what their results will look like.
When women come in to get work done, what are the most requested looks? (Slimmer nose, bigger eyes, etc.) Does it vary based on the nationality of the patient?
Roughly 50% want double eyelid surgery to make their eyes bigger and rounder. Roughly 30% want nose surgery because Asians tend to have flatter faces. And roughly 20% want another type of surgery, including liposuction, breast augmentation, bone surgery, etc. But the most popular surgery request is double eyelid surgery by far. This is true for my Korean, Japanese and Chinese patients.
What do you think "Ideal Korean Beauty" is? What features/characteristics are associated with the most beautiful Korean women?
I think all people in the world strive for the same type of beauty, that being balance. They all want to reach a “norm”, sort of like the concept of happiness. There aren’t different types of happiness from culture to culture. Similarly, there really doesn’t seem to be different types of beauty from culture to culture, although there may be some preferences. If there is an “ideal” beauty, it seems to be that of “natural” beauty. My patients want to look natural and like themselves, but with enhanced features.
Hyun Taik-Soo, a professor of sociology at Korea University thinks that Korea's booming plastic surgery industry is driven by "the Confucian tradition of considering appearance as an important factor in judging a person." It has been said that sometimes physiognomists (people who attempt to judge a person's character through facial features) sometimes sit in on job interviews, and that sometimes, Korean hiring executives advise people to get plastic surgery or lose weight. What do you think about all of this? Do you think that surgery/looks are necessary to have success in the professional world? What do you think this says about the society?
I don’t think I completely agree with Professor Hyun, as he seems to be taking the “Confusion tradition” out of context. The concept does not encompass only the face, but the broader realm of body language as well. There was a time when cosmetic surgery was despised because people respected the idea that our bodies came from our parents and therefore should be preserved, not altered.
I do, however, believe that those who have a more pleasing appearance are likely to be more successful in the professional world. This has been proven through studies, and through what I have observed through my 67 years of life. Now that the world is less based on village relationships and familiarity, and is more based on strangers conducting business with one another, appearance has grown in importance. And I do not think that is a bad thing. If you want to remain competitive, you have to adapt. And Koreans, and Asians in general, do not want to be behind. I think this suggests Asians place a high emphasis on physical appearance, but I do not think that is wrong.
What do you think inspires so many young Asian women to get plastic surgery done?
It seems that the increase in leisure time and economic freedom has allowed young women to consider cosmetic surgery as a viable option. I also think seeing the normalcy of it makes people desensitized to the procedure, and more likely to consider it not a big deal.
Do you think the Western media (TV, Magazines, Movies) have anything to do with girls wanting to get work done? Is there any Western influence on requested surgeries?
I think that now because young women have the ability to focus on themselves, it is a natural outcome. I don’t believe it is only driven by Western media. But I do think Asians tend to want faces that are more shapely, like those of Caucasians. Most of my patients complain of having a “pancake” face with no nose bridge or eye definition. But I do not think it is a conscious decision to seek a Caucasian look, only perhaps a little bit of inspiration.
After surgeries, are girls usually happier with their looks?
Yes! I would say that 95% are happier. That is why cosmetic surgery is so popular! And the ultimate goal is increased happiness.
Some extra questions!
Who has been your youngest patient? What did he/she get done?
Patients can be almost any age, depending on the procedure. Some think that younger is better because adaptation may be better and one can experience the benefits of beauty for longer, thus getting more opportunities and respect. If the surgery is functional (say puffy eyelids causing eyelashes to scratch the cornea), then really there is no age limit. However, if the procedure is purely cosmetic, I recommend that the patient be over 14 years of age, though I have heard of my colleagues performing on patients as young as 12 (with parental approval, of course). This is because (1) the patient’s face needs to be fully developed first to have more predictability in the outcome and (2) if the patients are too young, it will adversely affect the culture of the country and further stratify it into the “haves” and the “have nots” and I do not want to do that.
Have you ever had any repeat customers?
Yes, about 30% of my patients come back for additional procedures. This is partly because I have been in practice for a long time – 20 years.
I spoke with Dr. Kim Soo Shin, a renowned South Korean plastic surgeon, for his thoughts on Asian beauty ideals and the popularity of cosmetic surgery in both South Korea and East Asia in general. I wanted to provide a firsthand look at how a Korean plastic surgeon thinks of, and interprets, his work and the effects of it. Who better to comment on the trend than a person totally immersed in it? And who better to learn and glean broader cultural notions from, than from a person in said culture? His answers reveal a lot of subtle, ingrained cultural notions from which we can draw insight regarding broader East Asian beauty culture from.
You can see the contents of our online interview below. Some of his answers are quite interesting!
Interview Questions for Dr. Sooshin Kim
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to do an online interview. I understand your schedule is very full, and I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate it.
I will begin by starting off with some background questions. Feel free to elaborate and take your responses are far as you need to. Please don't leave anything out. The more, the better! The responses should be longer than the questions!
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? What schools you attended, etc.
I was born on Kanghwa Island and moved to Seoul during primary school to receive a better education. I graduated from the “Exeter of Korea”, otherwise known as Kyunggi High School.
I then went to the “Harvard of Korea”, otherwise known as Seoul National University, and studied medicine.
Thereafter, I joined the Air Force to fulfill three years of mandatory military service. During that period I spent six months in prison on charges that I violated the country’s anti-communist laws. There was paranoia at the time, and my crime was having in my possession two books – “Das Kapital” and “The Communist Manifesto”. I was eventually found not guilty and released.
I spent the next five years, I completing my internship and residency at Seoul National University and then served as Assistant Professor at Guro Hospital for six years. My specialty was microsurgical re-plantation. My fondest memory was when I was able to successfully reattach ten fingers where the fingers were functional post-surgery. That had never been done before.
I also was able to successfully replant a finger after 54 hours of it being detached. The normal limit is about 8-10 hours, after which “ischemia” sets in and the tissue dies.
In the mid-1980s I started developing a type of bone surgery for facial contouring that is now popular worldwide. Our team wrote the first article on the procedure.
After working at Guro Hospital, I moved to Inje University Hospital and worked there for three years, continuing in microsurgery. Thereafter, looking for a new challenge, I opened my own private clinic for cosmetic surgery.
I should explain that plastic surgery encompasses both reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. My early experience in microsurgery was a form of reconstructive surgery. My later experience during my private clinic years was in the area of cosmetic surgery.
What made you initially want to get into cosmetic surgery? Did you notice a growing demand, etc.?
I think I moved into the area of cosmetic surgery because I wanted a new challenge. During my residency, I focused on reconstructive surgery and was not interested in cosmetic surgery because I thought it was less challenging. Then I discovered that there were interesting aspects of cosmetic surgery, such as bone surgery, calf contouring, jaw-reshaping, etc.
How long does it take to become a certified plastic surgeon in Korea?
You have to attend six years of college and then do five years of residency. After that, you must pass the Board exam to be certified as a plastic surgeon. So, it takes at least eleven years – not a small commitment!
East Asia in general – and Korea and Japan in particular – are often referred to as the "Plastic Surgery Kingdoms of the World." Why do you think that is? Has plastic surgery always been popular in Korea/Asia, or have you seen a trend more recently?
The 1988 Summer Olympics was a turning point in Korea’s history in many ways, as well as for other countries like Japan. Asians saw more of what the world had to offer and wanted more after that exposure. Also, travel restrictions were lifted in the mid-1980s, so Asian doctors were able to travel to the U.S. to learn more about cosmetic surgery.
Moreover, culturally, Koreans (and from my perspective Asians in general) are very competitive. Combine that with their tendency to be critical, to themselves, to their children, to each other, and you get an environment ripe for cosmetic surgery.
In the 1960s, Korea was a third world country, among the poorest of the world. In the 1970s, it was one of the fastest growing economies in the world and I don’t think any country has beat that pace since. So, Korea is a “rags to riches” story – much like Japan, another East Asian country that modernized very quickly. To compensate for what might be a type of inferiority complex to the rest of the world, I think people have been drawn to cosmetic surgery, especially now that they can afford it.
I am not sure if Korea is the “kingdom” but there are a lot of procedures performed here. If a U.S. cosmetic surgeon performs 5-10 procedures per week, a Korean cosmetic surgeon will perform 50-100. It is the same for my Japanese colleagues. So that is the difference. Still, the U.S. leads in research and development, while Korea is only strong in practice and in number of applications. I would say that Korea is the “kingdom” in Asia, but not necessarily the world, though I suppose it depends on how one chooses to define “kingdom.”
What is the process that a patient has to go through before they get a surgery done? Do you have a consultation with them, do you experiment with different looks, do they bring in pictures?
The patient first consults either with me or a coordinator. The patient learns about the process of surgery and post-surgery healing. We discuss what would look good, what the patient’s preferences are, what my preferences are, etc. We have to negotiate a plan we are both happy with. Sometimes patients bring pictures, most of the time consisting of Korean soap opera actresses or pop singers. They say, “I want Hyori’s nose,” or “I like this actress’s eyes.” Sometimes I show them before and after photos of other clients and I can also do digital renditions of their faces showing them what their results will look like.
When women come in to get work done, what are the most requested looks? (Slimmer nose, bigger eyes, etc.) Does it vary based on the nationality of the patient?
Roughly 50% want double eyelid surgery to make their eyes bigger and rounder. Roughly 30% want nose surgery because Asians tend to have flatter faces. And roughly 20% want another type of surgery, including liposuction, breast augmentation, bone surgery, etc. But the most popular surgery request is double eyelid surgery by far. This is true for my Korean, Japanese and Chinese patients.
What do you think "Ideal Korean Beauty" is? What features/characteristics are associated with the most beautiful Korean women?
I think all people in the world strive for the same type of beauty, that being balance. They all want to reach a “norm”, sort of like the concept of happiness. There aren’t different types of happiness from culture to culture. Similarly, there really doesn’t seem to be different types of beauty from culture to culture, although there may be some preferences. If there is an “ideal” beauty, it seems to be that of “natural” beauty. My patients want to look natural and like themselves, but with enhanced features.
Hyun Taik-Soo, a professor of sociology at Korea University thinks that Korea's booming plastic surgery industry is driven by "the Confucian tradition of considering appearance as an important factor in judging a person." It has been said that sometimes physiognomists (people who attempt to judge a person's character through facial features) sometimes sit in on job interviews, and that sometimes, Korean hiring executives advise people to get plastic surgery or lose weight. What do you think about all of this? Do you think that surgery/looks are necessary to have success in the professional world? What do you think this says about the society?
I don’t think I completely agree with Professor Hyun, as he seems to be taking the “Confusion tradition” out of context. The concept does not encompass only the face, but the broader realm of body language as well. There was a time when cosmetic surgery was despised because people respected the idea that our bodies came from our parents and therefore should be preserved, not altered.
I do, however, believe that those who have a more pleasing appearance are likely to be more successful in the professional world. This has been proven through studies, and through what I have observed through my 67 years of life. Now that the world is less based on village relationships and familiarity, and is more based on strangers conducting business with one another, appearance has grown in importance. And I do not think that is a bad thing. If you want to remain competitive, you have to adapt. And Koreans, and Asians in general, do not want to be behind. I think this suggests Asians place a high emphasis on physical appearance, but I do not think that is wrong.
What do you think inspires so many young Asian women to get plastic surgery done?
It seems that the increase in leisure time and economic freedom has allowed young women to consider cosmetic surgery as a viable option. I also think seeing the normalcy of it makes people desensitized to the procedure, and more likely to consider it not a big deal.
Do you think the Western media (TV, Magazines, Movies) have anything to do with girls wanting to get work done? Is there any Western influence on requested surgeries?
I think that now because young women have the ability to focus on themselves, it is a natural outcome. I don’t believe it is only driven by Western media. But I do think Asians tend to want faces that are more shapely, like those of Caucasians. Most of my patients complain of having a “pancake” face with no nose bridge or eye definition. But I do not think it is a conscious decision to seek a Caucasian look, only perhaps a little bit of inspiration.
After surgeries, are girls usually happier with their looks?
Yes! I would say that 95% are happier. That is why cosmetic surgery is so popular! And the ultimate goal is increased happiness.
Some extra questions!
Who has been your youngest patient? What did he/she get done?
Patients can be almost any age, depending on the procedure. Some think that younger is better because adaptation may be better and one can experience the benefits of beauty for longer, thus getting more opportunities and respect. If the surgery is functional (say puffy eyelids causing eyelashes to scratch the cornea), then really there is no age limit. However, if the procedure is purely cosmetic, I recommend that the patient be over 14 years of age, though I have heard of my colleagues performing on patients as young as 12 (with parental approval, of course). This is because (1) the patient’s face needs to be fully developed first to have more predictability in the outcome and (2) if the patients are too young, it will adversely affect the culture of the country and further stratify it into the “haves” and the “have nots” and I do not want to do that.
Have you ever had any repeat customers?
Yes, about 30% of my patients come back for additional procedures. This is partly because I have been in practice for a long time – 20 years.
