Input on your topic

Hi there! I really love what you've written so far and I think this topic is very interesting with a lot to explore. May I suggest that you add information on medical tourism as an industry? For example, South Korea has over 300,000 people per year coming to the country for plastic surgery alone, with most people coming from China, USA, Russia and Japan. This may be an interesting field to explore. Also, I think it would be interesting if you mentioned the double standard between men and women in Asia getting plastic surgery. While both genders turn out to be "beautiful people" in the eyes of the media, there seems to be more criticism for women over men who get plastic surgery. I would love to read some research on that! Lastly, I mention this because my work is largely to do with Korea's traditions and culture, but filial piety plays a major role in why many young folks in Korea get plastic surgery these days. A lot of the time, the parents will pay for surgery, if they can afford it. If they can't, it's seen as a benefit to society if their child gets surgery on their own - fixing their parent's flaws and going through the pain and suffering to become a "better person". It may be helpful to note this as well. Also, as far as Korea goes, university and job applications require a photograph - this puts a lot of pressure on the individual and many people get plastic surgery before applying to such places.

Here's some really interesting studies that I recommend looking through! Also, if you want more information, my wiki Feminism in Korea has a whole section on cosmetic surgery - feel free to use some of the information there! Let me know if you want to discuss this more, I'm really interested in seeing your final product and I hope my input helps a little bit! :)

Elfving-Hwang, Joanna (June 2013). "Cosmetic Surgery and Embodying the Moral Self in South Korean Popular Makeover Culture". The Asia-Pacific Journal. 11:24:2: 1–16. Holliday, Ruth & Elfving-Hwang, Joanna. (2012). Gender, Globalization and Aesthetic Surgery in South Korea. Body & Society. 18. 58-81. Bell, David, et al. "Bikinis and bandages: An itinerary for cosmetic surgery tourism." Tourist Studies 11.2 (2011): 139-155.