Large, luminous eyes, a delicate nose and softly sculpted cheekbones. This is the image of beauty as perceived in China, writes the New York Times.
Aesthetic surgery is becoming more and more popular in Asia, particularly in China where plastic surgery is “the fourth most popular way to spend discretionary income,” after houses, cars and travel, says China’s vice health minister, Ma Xiaowei.
“We must recognize that plastic and cosmetic surgery has now become a common service, aimed at the masses.”
In China, popular procedures are face-lifts and removal of wrinkles. The most-requested surgery is making the eyes appear larger by adding crease in the eyelid. Another popular procedure is raising the bridge of the nose to look more prominent, which, interestingly, is opposite from the trends in the Western countries.
But behind the rise of popularity, the vice health minister Ma says that most hospitals are not fulfilling the health standards needed for operation. Some beauty parlors even illegally inject Botox and perform procedures. There is an urge to improve the facilities for operations since cosmetic surgery is being more and more accepted.
“Cosmetic surgery is now accepted in practically every household. It is not a big deal any more,” says a 25-year-old Chen Xiaomeng who has done two eyelid procedures, for the NY Times.