Sight Seeing

Medical tourism is one of the nation’s fastest growing industries and is expected to double by 2020. About one million medical tourists will come to Korea in 2020, bringing 2.5 trillion won ($3.2 billion) in revenue to the Korean economy. Research has shown that procedures are at the helm of South Korean industry, usurping Brazil as the cosmetic surgery heavyweight champion of the world.

Google “eye surgery Korea” and you will get hits on “crazy before and after pictures,” “obsession with double eyelids” and “aegyo sal” (the new trend of enhancing the puffiness of under-eye bags). It shows the Western perception immediately zooms in on appearance-altering aspects, which is fair, as Korea has the highest national rate of cosmetic surgery and has been dubbed by CNN “the cosmetic surgery capital of the world.”

East Asian blepharoplasty, better known as “double eyelid surgery,” is reported to be the most widely-performed aesthetic procedure in South Korea. The procedure creates a crease in the upper eyelid or increases the size of an existing fold by cutting the outer end of the eyes. This change makes the eye look wider, rounder and more Western. The procedure has gained popularity with the younger generations in large part due to increased attention paid to Western celebrities. Large doe-eyes have become a coveted symbol of beauty.

A member of the Kpop band D-unit puts it simply: “Because of their distinctive looks, our ideal appearance would be that of Westerners.” Plastic surgeons say that having larger eyes makes patients feel confident, look energetic and can even improve job prospects, making this procedure a popular graduation present.

Blepharoplasty in Korea became a hot issue when the article “Plastic Surgery Blamed for Making All Miss Korea Contestants Look Alike” went viral. It seemed women were handed identical pairs of big, bright, double-lidded eyes along with their sashes and name tags.

Opponents of the procedure argue that it pushes white standards of beauty and the loss of appreciation for Asian ethnic features. Many patients argue, however, that they are not trying to look “white” but just like other Asians who have naturally large eyes and a double lid.

Laser Eye Surgery

Less controversial than double lid surgery and just as widespread is refractive surgery (also known as laser eye surgery or corrective eye surgery).  Foreigners and Koreans both hail laser eye surgery done in Korea. LASIK/LASEK has gathered so much fanfare that discussion on the topic enters every living/teaching abroad site, blog and thread.

So when asked why so many people in Korea have turned to correct eye surgery, Dr. Yoon of Happy Eye 21 Hospital in Gwangju said that lifestyle, career and convenience are contributing factors. “Laser eye surgery can also provide better results. Glasses only improve primary vision and can actually prohibit peripheral vision, whereas laser eye surgery is customized to correct the individual’s specific problem.”

Many physicians say word of mouth is their best advertisement, which Dr. Yoon finds particularly true for South Koreans. Therefore, high satisfaction rates have only increased the popularity of laser eye surgery in Korea.

Dr. Yoon also points out that the most critical factor for deciding on surgery is safety. For corrective eye surgery, that means obtaining quality vision without any side effects. The low rate of complications and the need for relatively limited aftercare are appealing to patients. From a physician’s perspective, corrective eye procedures are appealing because they can be performed with relative ease in most clinical settings.

When asked how the quality of laser surgery has advanced in Korea, Yoon proved that professionals have contributed. “Open to new medical technology, field professionals offer the most cutting-edge procedures. In addition, Korean doctors describe their manual dexterity as ‘having a light touch’ stemming from the ancient tradition of handcraft.”

Yoon additionally mentioned that cushy facilities distinguish refractive surgery in Korea from other countries. “Modern couches, cushions, large pieces of artwork, dozens of internet-enabled PCs and, yes, even wet bars are all accoutrements you can find at eye clinics these days. Staff are immaculately dressed and field questions confidently. Visitors liken the general atmosphere to that of a fancy car dealership rather than a traditional hospital.

Q: Deeply discounted rates of up to 50% off are widely advertised in clinics. So, do discounted surgical rates mean lower quality? Yoon said no and explained why. “Clinics offer low prices to entice patients. They say they are able to keep prices low by minimizing administrative costs and by offering to use older generation machine models. Therefore patients should ask which generation machine will be used for their surgery and what type of technology is suitable for their corrective need.”

Interested in visiting a clinic? Dr. Yoon further recommends visiting at least two large-scale clinics that have over five years of experience in refractive eye surgery.