SEOUL (Reuters) – When Ryu Han-na, a 20-year-old college student, had plastic surgery on her nose in mid-December, she had a simple reason: it may be the last chance to do it secretly before people start taking masks this year while vaccines are being distributed.
Ryu, who attended his online courses throughout 2020, said the ability to recover at home and wear a mask in public without drawing attention was a deciding factor.
“I always wanted to have a nose job … I thought it would be best to do it now, before people start taking off their masks when vaccines are available in 2021,” she said as she prepared for 4.4 million won ($ 4,013) procedure.
“There will be bruising and swelling from the surgery, but since we will all be wearing masks, I think that should help,” she added.
This attitude is fueling the demand for these operations in South Korea, which had already experienced an increase in cosmetic surgery in 2020.
The country was once the world capital of cosmetic surgery, even in non-pandemic times. The sector is estimated at about $ 10.7 billion in 2020, an increase of 9.2% year-on-year, and is expected to be around $ 11.8 billion this year, according to Gangnam Unni, the largest online platform for cosmetic surgery in the country.
Plastic surgeons say that patients are interested in all parts of the face: those that can be easily hidden under masks, such as nose and lips, as well as those that facial covers do not hide, that some consider the criterion of beauty in the age of the coronavirus.
“Surgical and non-surgical inquiries about eyes, eyebrows, nasal bridge and forehead – the only visible parts – have certainly increased,” said Park Cheol-woo, a surgeon at the Plastic Surgery Clinic WooAhIn, responsible for Ryu’s operation.
Surgeon Shin Sang-ho, who operates the Krismas Plastic Surgery Clinic in the center of Gangnam district, said many people spent the government’s emergency stimulus payment in hospitals and clinics, increasing revenue in the third and fourth quarters of 2020 .
“I felt it was a kind of expense for revenge. I felt that customers were expressing their repressed (coronavirus) emotions when doing cosmetic procedures, ”said Shin.
Government data showed that of 14.2 trillion won ($ 12.95 billion) of government cash donations, 10.6% were used in hospitals and pharmacies, the third largest segment by ranking behind supermarkets and restaurants, although details of the types of hospitals have not been revealed.
Gangnam Unni data showed that its users increased 63% from the previous year, to about 2.6 million last year. They requested 1 million counseling sessions, double the previous year.
The pandemic made it more difficult to promote services to foreign customers, so last year it took a more local and regional approach.
But a third wave of coronavirus at home remains a concern, as the country reports record daily cases.
“Recently, we have seen an increasing number of cancellations in medical appointments, as people abstain from leaving home … especially suburban clients, most of whom have postponed their surgeries until 2021,” said Park.