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Koreans’ appetite for plastic surgery is growing rapidly. In pursuit of better appearances, they are willing to go under the knife.
But aren’t they too bold or too reckless, given the risks involved? Experts advise them to visit and consult a psychiatrist first.
“It’s a must for people to see a psychiatrist before having plastic surgery in certain countries in northern Europe, though that concept is indeed foreign in Korea,” said psychiatrist Yang Jae-jin in a recent interview at his hospital in Bucheon, Incheon.
Yang is one of the nine doctors on “Let Me In,” a makeover program on tvN. The show seeks to help those who have suffered because of their appearance by providing plastic surgery if necessary. It is the first of Korean makeover shows to include psychiatrists on the panel.
Apart from recognizing underlying conditions that may distort people’s body image, a psychiatrist can help by reaching the real problem. Yang thinks, in certain cases, the preoccupation with beauty maybe a projection of a desire for a solution to life troubles.
One participant of the show had a troublesome marriage, and she started to believe that her conflict with her husband — largely driven by their personalities — would go away once she became beautiful.
Such a fantasy is understandable. One can easily become hooked by the growing marketing of plastic surgery with celebrities and top actresses and singers revealing their stories of cosmetic procedures these days. But Yang cautions people not to take their stories at face value.
“Through counseling, I try to help women get to the root of their problems, and reflect whether their appearances really play a significant role as they claim,” Yang said.
Only a quick fix
While in-depth counseling is beneficial, requiring psychiatrist visits for people who want plastic surgery is nearly impossible in Korea as the social stigma against psychiatry is strong.
This even led the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association to change the title of the medical department from the Department of Psychiatry to the Department of Psychiatric Health in August.
In addition, there are logistical disadvantages. Private insurers in Korea deny applicants who have visited psychiatrists based on an unfounded claim that they are more likely to attempt suicide.
Yang said “I want the viewers of our program to learn that changing your appearance does not change your life.” Though it is undeniable that a makeover can boost self-esteem and brighten one’s outlook on life, it is only a quick fix, not a solution to anyone’s life.
On the show, Yang also screens participants’ underlying conditions that may influence their decision to have plastic surgery. Specifically, Yang looks for signs of depression, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
One of depression’s cognitive symptoms is indecisiveness. Therefore, it is not recommended that you do not make any significant decisions — such as undergoing surgery — when you are depressed.
A person with BDD is preoccupied with minor or imaginary physical flaws, usually facial features.
The most feared by plastic surgeons are people with body dysmorphism. “Many with this disorder get plastic surgery because they believe that certain features of their faces are ‘off,’” said Yang.
Someone with OCD who is fixated on symmetry may exhibit similar tendencies.
The problem is that such individuals don’t see any improvement after procedure, as there was no psychical problem to begin with and are likely to file complaints.
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