Double eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a very popular procedure in South Korea, and it’s almost a cultural norm. Middle school students will frequently get the surgery over winter break because not only is the surgery seen as a beauty booster, but it’s also viewed as a functional one. While the procedure is generally characterized as having a Westernized appearance, such an observation overlooks why double eyelid surgery is so well-liked. Double eyelid surgery is one of the primary medical indications for ptosis or blepharoptosis, drooping of the upper eyelid over the eye, even leading to vision loss in some instances.
It is more frequent in East Asians since under normal circumstances they lack a natural crease of the eyelid and so the eyelids will be seen to be heavier or more hooded. Double eyelid surgery in this case not only gives a better eyelid crease but also corrects the droop, thus enhancing the form as well as the function. This functional appeal renders the operation desirable even aside from cosmetic purposes since it may improve one’s vision and get rid of the fatigue resulting from the necessity to shut the eye muscles all the time in an attempt to keep the eyelids open. Double eyelid and cosmetic surgery overall, in Korea, is mainstream to the point of being just about as prevalent as orthodontics or getting braces in the Western world. Rather than seeing it as a shocking or salacious transformation, it is frequently seen as an individual enhancement and a way of ensuring one’s own confidence.
Even parents position the surgery as a graduation present for their children, alluding to the social acceptability of the procedure. While Western public opinion has decried the practice for perpetuating Eurocentric standards of beauty, it can be argued that in the majority of Koreans, double eyelid surgery is not so much about mere conformity to Western standards but about being level-looking or rejuvenated-looking or solving functional issues such as ptosis. Social pressure and the desire to look good enter into it, especially with a culture that places such an extremely high premium on appearance and presentation. Commercial competition enters into it as well, with some thinking that looking better will give them that extra bit of edge when interviewing for a job. In this specific case, cosmetic surgery is an investment in occupational and social life and not at all a fiddling with looks. Secondly, because the practice has become so widespread and accessible, it has lost much of its stigma. Most people see it as an individual choice, rather than something that says something about one’s beauty. While there is an argument about whether or not these procedures reinforce unrealistic standards, there needs to be an understanding of the reasons double eyelid surgery is chosen on both medical and cultural grounds.
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