While heavily advertised within the country, Korean plastic surgery is also actively marketed throughout Asia Pacific and more recently the West. As in the United States, many good doctors have been drawn into the rapidly-growing field of plastic surgery because payment for cosmetic services falls outside the tight controls of the national health care system or medical insurance companies.

The most popular cosmetic procedure in Korea is double eyelid surgery, or the operation to form or further enhance the upper eyelid crease and make the eyes look bigger.

Next up is Asian rhinoplasty, most characterized by its emphasis on building up the bridge and dorsum of the nose with various implants of silicone, Gortex, bone, and cartilage.

Complex maxillofacial surgery procedures designed to slim down the width of the jaw and cheek are also particularly well-developed.

Multiple surgical procedures are the norm as nearby structures such as the nose, chin, and lips may be simultaneously adjusted to achieve better symmetry and balance of facial features.

The flawless milky skin of young Korean women is legendary and so retaining these desirable characteristics over time is very important. Laser resurfacing, fat transfer, chemical peels, and botulinum toxin injections directed at the particular needs of the Asian complexion are thus always in high demand.

Some say there's almost nothing that Korea's innovative plastic surgeons will not try. From a myriad of surgical approaches to thinning down thick calves to implanting cadaver tissue to plump up lower eyelids, many cosmetic procedures and refinements have originated in Seoul and other South Korean operating rooms before spreading across Asian and into the global mainstream.