Teens warned of plastic surgery risks
By Lee Hyo-sik
Around this time of the year, many female high-school seniors visit cosmetics surgery clinics in southern Seoul to improve their appearance before their transition into university the following spring.
Many university graduates also go under the knife during the three-month-long winter vacation, hoping that an improved look will help them find jobs and meet better partners in this increasingly appearance-oriented society.
But they should exercise a great deal of caution over possible post-operative side effects of plastic surgeries, the state-run consumer protection agency advised, saying clinics in the areas south of the Han River are the most frequent target of consumer complaints.
The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) said Tuesday that the number of consumers who sought consultations with the agency jumped 20 percent from a year earlier to 3,641 from January to November this year.
Of them, 78 consumers filed complaints with KCA against their plastic surgeons, citing diverse undesirable side-effects.
Over the past three years, those who received blepharoplasty surgery, also known as double eye-lid plastic surgery, reported the most frequent side effects. The agency said 43 consumers reported harmful side effects from this procedure, followed by 39 after a nose job, 25 after facial reconstruction, 22 from liposuction and 15 from breast implants.
Extra care essential
``Not to mention female high-school and university students, it is not unusual these days for male students to get cosmetic surgery to upgrade their looks. But prior to the operation, they should do their research thoroughly,’’ said Kwon Nam, head of KCA’s medical affairs team. ``Patients should get surgery from licensed and highly-experienced surgeons even though it costs more. They should not be lured by clinics that offer procedures at extremely cheaper prices.’’
Prior to the operation, Kwon said, patients should notify surgeons of their medical records and take a photos of themselves.
``After the surgery, they should follow doctors’ instructions to minimize potential side effects. Above all, patients should not expect a complete transformation from the operation,’’ she said.
Those who suffer from cosmetic surgery-caused side effects need to document their symptoms and secure visual evidence in preparation for potential legal conflicts with cosmetic clinics, Kwon said.
``Patients should first call us at 02-3460-3000 to get advice from our staff about what to do,’’ she said.
KCA said consumers filed the most complaints against clinics located in southern Seoul, the area known as ``Korea’s cosmetic surgery hub.’’
By gender, 94 percent of the victims who suffered side-effects were women. Most of them were in their 20s and 30s.
Nearly 17 percent cited asymmetric figuration, with 8 percent complaining of scars and damaged nerves.
KCA said it asked the Fair Trade Commission to set guidelines to help resolve conflicts between patients and clinics.
``We will carry out a range of publicity activities to increase the awareness of side effects of cosmetic surgery among high school and university students,’’ Kwon said.
