[Interview] About Beauty in Plastic Surgery I

Interview with Dr. Kim Hyub of Sosom Dermatology

“Beauty means having appealing facial expressions”

Dr. Kim Hyub of Sosom Dermatology is currently enrolled in the fourth year of Face Management Studies at Wonkwang Digital University. He is also devoted to developing his artistic side and takes an art class at a private studio. He continues to seek ways to help his patients achieve more beautiful appearance.

“In the Western culture, there are a wealth of published data on facial analysis and anthropometrical statistics for use in aesthetic medicine. Unfortunately, Korea lacks such data and Korean doctors have to study the Western data. However, what is considered attractive varies depending on the race, culture and history. I often wonder if it is appropriate to apply Western standards in Koreans. The beauty studies professor I met at the Carnegie Leadership Course recommended that I study physiognomy and I have been studying it for 8 years. Currently, I got interested in metoposcopy and spend a lot of time studying this new field. Physiognomy may say that your physical appearance dictates how you live your life but metoposcopy has a different view that how you live your life affects the appearance of your face. I was drawn to it because I felt this was a more modern approach.”

Dr. Kim frequently reads beauty magazines to keep abreast with what is currently considered attractive. He also has scrap books of Korean celebrity photos for studying what physical features are preferred by the public.

“The faces of popular celebrities that are universally recognized as beautiful may be the most relevant materials for studying beauty. Studying their faces help me understand what is considered attractive in Korea and what my patients wish to achieve with aesthetic treatments.”

Dr. Kim says Koreans’ standards of beauty changed throughout time periods.

“In the 1950s to 1960s, the preferred facial outlines were round and plump, which changed to kind and friendly countenance in the 1970s and 1980s, stronger outlines due to improved women’s rights in the 1980s to 1990s, strong outlines with a hint of naivety in the 1990s, and intellectual and sophisticated appearance in the 2000s. Currently, baby faced celebrities such as IU or Suzy are popular.”

It is most important to consider the individual patient’s unique characteristics to create an improved countenance.

“Each patient has a different personality, profession and age. It is important to create a facial appearance that matches their unique characteristics. A happier and friendlier facial appearance may create better opportunities in the patient’s life and these can contribute toward a happier countenance, in a virtuous cycle. Personally, I believe the modern medicine is more art than science. Patients do not always know that they are beautiful and the doctor should be able to see them as a piece of marble to be sculpted into a masterpiece. It is the aesthetic dermatologist’s job to increase the beauty and value of the marble. To introduce a few tips, catching the image of a celebrity most similar to the patient and providing changes to resemble the celebrity can markedly improve the overall appearance and satisfaction.”

The doctor’s artistic sense plays a key role in bringing satisfying outcomes. Dr. Kim Hyub recommends reading as a means to improve one’s eye for beauty.

“To fellow aesthetic clinicians interested in learning about beauty, I recommend first, to read Western books on facial analysis, second, to read books on analysis of Korean faces(i.e. Beauty by Dr. Cho Youngchul), and third, to study and analyze the faces of currently popular celebrities. If one wishes to go further, books about metoposcopy offer plenty of great information as well.”