The Truth About Beauty: Expert Advice on Plastic Surgery and Folk Remedies

My mother said, “Even if you are ugly when you are young, you become pretty when you grow up.” Advice from her friends, “Even drinking only strawberry milk makes her breasts bigger.” Those days when she lifted her nose until her hands were worn out after being told that if you keep touching her nose even if she doesn’t have nose surgery, her nose will grow taller.

How much plastic surgery effect do we see through daily management? Can you really become pretty if you just work hard? With a desperate heart, I asked the expert.

In this interview, Jeong Kyu-jin, professor of plastic surgery at Yeungnam University Hospital, Jeong Dong-woo, director of plastic surgery clinic, Byun Il-hwan and Lee Kyung-min, director of plastic surgery clinic, and the Public Relations Committee of the Korean Society of Plastic Surgeons participated in the interview.

Q. Can you actually make positive changes in the shape of your nose, face, or legs if you touch it consistently from a young age?

Director Jung Dong-woo = The nose grows until around the age of 18 for men and around 16 for women, and various factors such as genetics and nutrition work. Simply touching the nose does not change the shape of the nose. Rather, frequent contact with the nose area, which has many pores and hair follicles during the growing season, can cause acne or skin trouble.

Medical Association = If artificial and repetitive external force is applied to growing children and adolescents, there is a possibility that the growth of the nose or cartilage may be hindered or the nose may be bent. It is more important to build a healthy body through a balanced diet, proper lifestyle, and sufficient exercise.

Q. When I was in school, there were some friends who wanted to make dimples and used pens or sharp objects to mark or press their cheeks. I wonder if it actually works or if there are any risks.

Doctor’s Association = Pressing continuously with a finger or pen is not medically proven to cause dimples. It can be theoretically argued that repetitive pressure on a single point on the face damages the tissues under the skin, and during the recovery process, adhesions may form in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle areas, resulting in dimples. However, applying constant pressure to the exact same spot is virtually impossible and you’ll be much more likely to damage your facial skin. It is better to refrain from such methods.

Q. Double eyelid tape and adhesive that students often use. How much should I use it? Are there any side effects?

Byun Il-hwan = It is best to minimize the use of double eyelid tape. The act of attaching and removing the tape itself stimulates the skin, and when the damage accumulates, the skin becomes hard and thick and creates drooping eyes. This same habit also affects the double eyelid surgery later. It adversely affects the creation of natural surgical results. You should refrain from using double eyelid tape or liquid only when absolutely necessary, and use it at least one day apart so that your skin can recover.

Professor Jeong Kyu-Jin = Among the patients who actually came for double eyelid surgery, there are patients whose skin around the double eyelid line became callus-like because the tape was used for too long. In this case, it is difficult to operate on the desired double eyelid line, so there are times when you have to apply ointment and wait until the skin improves. There are also cases where tape or adhesive adheres to the conjunctiva on the eyeball side. Since the mucous membrane inside the eye is weak, repeated stimulation may cause side effects such as dry eye syndrome and double vision in severe cases.

Q. Bands and acupressure devices that make the face smaller are being sold through SNS. Will these products help slim down the face or sharpen the contours?

Director Jeong Dong-woo = If you are tired, in a bad condition, or if your face is swollen, press it with a massage, a chiropractor, or a band to smooth out the drainage of the lymphatic vessels and get rid of the swelling, making your face feel smaller. However, these methods are temporary. Applying pressure cannot change the skeleton and fat of the face.

Q. There is a story that eating strawberry milk makes your breasts bigger. Is it true? What are some home remedies that have the potential to really enlarge your breasts?

Doctor’s Association = There is no scientific basis for the story that drinking strawberry milk makes your breasts grow. The biggest factor in determining breast size is genetics. There may be slight changes in size through diet and exercise. Usually, when you gain weight, your breasts also tend to gain weight and become larger (laughs).

Byun Il-hwan = The reason why there is a rumor that drinking strawberry milk makes your breasts grow is because of the plant hormone called phytoestrogen contained in strawberries. It is similar in name to the sex hormone estrogen, but it does not promote sexual development. Instead, milk contains protein and fat, so eating a lot can help bulk up your overall body. Currently, the safest and surest breast augmentation method is surgery using implants.

Q. Please give examples of folklore or folk remedies that experts have encountered, and let us know if there are any points to be careful of or refer to.

Professor Jeong Kyu-Jin = In some cases, industrial silicone and paraffin, which are not permitted for use on the human body, are used to remove wrinkles on the face or to enlarge the breasts. When these substances enter the body under the skin, inflammatory reactions such as foreign body reactions may occur immediately, and side effects may follow even after decades. In severe cases, life-threatening side effects such as sepsis may occur and should never be used.

Director Lee Gyeong-min = I have seen cases where the cheekbones and square jawbone are repeatedly hit with strong force, saying that a strong stimulus or shock can shrink the facial bones. It cannot change the shape of the bone by doing so, and it is not recommended as there is a risk of microfracture. I’ve also heard of a way to make your lips thicker by placing your lips on the mouth of a bottle and creating a vacuum to make them pour. It may temporarily thicken due to swelling, but when repeated, it can cause microbleeding, discoloration around the mouth, and inflammation, so care is needed.

Q. What is the way to become prettier that everyone wants?

Director Jeong Dong-woo = I think the most important way is to prevent aging. One of the best ways to prevent wrinkles is to drink plenty of water to keep your body properly hydrated and to maintain indoor humidity during the dry winter months.

Professor Kyu-Jin Jeong = One of the biggest factors that cause skin aging is sunlight, especially ultraviolet rays. It is called photoaging, and it makes wrinkles that are slightly thicker than wrinkles that occur with aging, and adds color or loses skin elasticity. In order to prevent photoaging, it is recommended to use a sunscreen or other blocker when outdoors, and to use a hat or parasol.

Doctor’s Association = Beauty is not uniform, but differs depending on the individual’s personality. I think it is necessary to first raise your self-esteem and have a positive view of yourself in order for your appearance to shine.

I see. In the meantime, the efforts to become prettier may have actually been an act that has no basis or effect. Still, the important thing is to believe in yourself and your efforts to become prettier and healthier. Of course, some investment is required if you want to see tangible results.

Reporter Park Seon-hye [email protected]

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