[Interview] About Beauty in Plastic Surgery II

Interview with Dr. Hong Gyunggook of Hushu Dermatology

“Balanced facial features and youthfulness are prerequisites for attractiveness”

Dr. Hong Gyunggook of Hushu Dermatology says that absolute standards of attractiveness do not exist as what is considered attractive changes across time periods and nations, etc. On the other hand, he also believes that balanced facial features and youthfulness are essential for an attractive face.

“Each person has his or her own personal standards of beauty. I believe balanced facial features and youthfulness are key determinants of what our brain sees as attractive. Social trends and personal preferences are added to personal evaluation of attractiveness.”

At a closer look, balance and youthfulness of facial features can be described as following.

“The ideal proportion of each section of the face and size of the eyes, nose and mouth, etc. is 1:1.618, also known as the golden ratio. Also, a round hairline, appropriate thickness of the eyebrows, a smooth arch of the line from the forehead to the nose, heart-shaped nostrils, appropriate protrusion of the cheekbones, full lips, and narrow jawlines, etc. have been known to create a youthful face, or baby face.”

It is true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however, society-wide standards of beauty do exist. More and more people are studying about beauty and attractiveness to keep up with or lead aesthetic trends. However, Dr. Hong does not recommend changing one’s long-held aesthetic standards from studying new trends. Rather, he believes identifying one’s own preferences and standards to apply to treatments in a scientific and objective manner.

“What each of us see as beautiful is deeply ingrained in our minds and does not easily change. It would be better to identify them and communicate effectively to other people. I am interested in evolutionary psychology. Studying about what was considered beautiful in each time period gives you a history and fundamental understanding of today’s standards of beauty.”

Dr. Hong finds it interesting to study how certain face types have come to be favored in certain generations or peoples.

“For example, let’s take a look at why a balanced facial features are preferred. A balanced face is a visual sign of good health and absence of genetic defects. Those who prefer balanced physical features win in the genetic competition and those that do not, get weeded out by natural selection. Therefore, the current human race tend to favor balanced physical features. I believe that the pursuit of beauty is related to the evolutionary theory, and it is interesting to see where a certain preference came from.”

Dr. Hong actively reflects the wishes of his patient in the treatment. He does not veer far from the patient’s requests as long as they are not too unrealistic.

“I have learned from my experience talking to the patients that today’s patients prefer westernized facial features and small, narrow outline of the face, which are different from the preferences of the past. However, unlike the Western culture that do not pay too much attention to skin imperfections, Koreans value clear, flawless skin more than ever.”