There’s no denying the fact that
many Koreans are obsessed with plastic surgery – some of them will do
anything to look more ‘western’. So imagine my surprise when I read
about this Brazilian guy who underwent 10 cosmetic procedures to look
more Korean! It seems like no one is happy with their own native looks
anymore
This man was perfectly good-looking
to begin with, but he wanted the Oriental look so bad, he put himself
through a series of procedures – silicone implants, lip surgery, and
more – that cost him a small fortune. The 25-year-old, from Novo
Hamburgo city in southern Brazil, goes by the name Xiahn; he doesn’t
want to reveal his true identity to protect his family from internet
scrutiny. Xiahn originally had blue eyes and blond hair, a look that he
was perfectly happy with until he spent time as an exchange student at
Dongseo University in South Korea. It was there that he got bit by the
plastic
“Koreans have many surgeries to
modify the shape of their eyes and become more like Westerners,” he
said. “It was easy to tell when one of them had done it, walking on the
street wearing sunglasses and a surgical mask.” Xiahn developed a
passion for the Korean culture, including their distinct facial
features. So he got procedures done on his eyes and lips, and a few
other less-invasive surgeries. He dyed his hair and started to wear
contact lenses to hide the natural color of his eyes. And he’s quite
happy with his new look. “I have no regrets, and I don’t intend to have
any more procedures,” he said.
Unfortunately, not everyone was
happy to see the changes on Xiahn’s face. He was working as an intern at
an IT company during the time. Many of his colleagues were worried and
wondered if the surgery was doing him any good. He’s also had a string
of negative comments on social media. Some thought he had been in an
accident or was assaulted. “One lady said she would not allow her son to
do the same,” he said. “But I understand people have different tastes.”
To avoid questions and unwanted attention, he chose to disguise himself
with glasses.
Xiahn’s own mother, a
psychotherapist, does not approve of surgery unless it is done for
health reasons. So when she saw him after his surgery, she was shocked.
“The first time she saw me, she was very worried,” he said. “My face was
still quite swollen and purple.” But of course, the changes were
irreversible, so Xiahn’s mother came around eventually. Now she’s okay
with it, because she sees that it makes him happy.
Xiahn had his procedures done in
Brazil, where not many doctors could understand what he wanted. When he
tried to explain, some of them actually turned him down. But he finally
found a surgeon who was willing to try – they started with the nose and
lips and when that went well, moved on to the eyes. “I was, in a sense,
this guinea pig experiment,” said Xiahn.
A lot of people still find his
transformation absurd, but Xiahn has learned to deal with it. He’s
really quite happy now and has no regrets. “Regardless of any beliefs
they may have, I believe I have only one life and that if I cannot be
who I want to be now, I may never be able to.”
