Are Filipinos More Open About Plastic Surgery Now?
Hallyu or Korean Wave arrived in the Philippines during the early 2000s. It began when local television networks started airing Tagalog dubbed K-Dramas which were then called “Koreanovelas.” Who could have forgotten Jodi and Cholo of Stairway To Heaven? Well, not me! From then on, Korean series became a staple on local TV and the huge demand for them by Filipino viewers don’t seem to stop.
As you know, the internet wasn’t accessible to everyone back then. Perhaps, the term “social media” doesn’t exist yet in our vocabulary. Since there’s no way for us to stalk them online, we got to familiarize ourselves with Korean celebrities through our TV screen.
Even before, Filipinos are observably fond of Korean beauty. We can’t help but adore their fair skin, small v-shaped faces, pointy noses, and m-shaped lips. Although they are chinita, those we see on TV often have double eyelids. Years later, through the internet, we learned about South Korea is the plastic surgery capital of the world. Many were shocked to find out that some of the most adored Hallyu stars went under the knife.
Plastic surgery in a conservative country
For the longest time, plastic surgery or cosmetic enhancement has been stigmatized here in the Philippines. For some reason, our society associates it with being vain and insecure. Once people notice changes in one’s face, they are quick to comment and judge. Because of this, we rarely see and hear people being vocal about it. However, in recent years, we can notice how people have become open about this subject. As we are in a quite conservative country, this progression is definitely a big deal.
On YouTube alone, we can see a number of influencers documenting their plastic surgery journey. Some would even go abroad to avail these procedures while others opt for Filipino cosmetic surgeons. Among these, vlogs about rhinoplasty or simply nose jobs are the most common and easiest to find. Based on the number of views, it’s safe to say that this kind of content sells well. Viewers tend to stick to the end to witness the final result. The good thing is, comments on most of these videos are filled with support and compliments.
Going forward
On Facebook, there are actually support groups for those who went and are interested in having cosmetic surgery. Plastic Surgery Support Group PH has now 39,000 members while there are 80,000 members of the Philippine Rhinoplasty Support Group PH. People within these online communities are there to answer personal queries and share their experiences with one another. At this point, we are still far from saying that plastic surgery is completely normal in our society. However, with the help of new media, it is now being destigmatized. As it should because wanting to change a part of our face and body isn’t something to be ashamed of. If we have a chance, why not then? In the end, your body, your rules.
