Ease: New advances mean that such procedures are becoming the preferred option, rather than invasive plastic surgery, which can be painful and require a longer recovery time
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The mystique of Korean popular culture has taken the world by storm in recent years. From fashion, music, to film, all things 'K-pop' are very much the height of cool.
Indonesia has not been immune to the K-pop frenzy, and the trend here even extends to influencing local beauty ideals.
At elite beauty clinics throughout the archipelago, doctors are seeing increasing demand for a more 'Korean' aesthetic among their customers, both male and female.
In the world of Indonesian plastic surgery, the hidung mancung (long Western-style nose) of years gone by has been usurped by a desire for the more oriental wajah berbentuk V (V-shaped face) and smaller hidung lancip (tapered nose).
'The Korean Wave has definitely influenced the kind of look that people are striving to achieve,' said Dr. Lanny Juniarti, President Director of Miracle Aesthetic Clinic in Kemang, South Jakarta, and a founding member of the Indonesian Society for Aesthetic Doctors.
'While most clients are female, we are seeing an increasing percentage of men coming into clinics looking to slim down their faces,' she added. 'Many of them have been inspired by boy bands, particularly Korean boy bands, which have popularised a more feminine aesthetic for men.'
One popular treatment is the non-surgical '3-D Facial Re-Sculpting' process, which allows customers to combine a range of procedures including dermal filler, lipo-dissolve, thread lifting and Botox, to drain excess fat, stimulate collagen production and achieve their ideal face shape.
'It's a really quick, easy and painless process,' said Lala Febiana, a staff member at Miracle. 'We use an anaesthetic cream. It's a walk-in walk-out procedure and people get back to their regular life straight away 'some people even do it on their lunch break.'
New advances mean that such procedures are becoming the preferred option, rather than invasive plastic surgery, which can be painful and require a longer recovery time.
Lanny said that despite the rapidly developing technology, a holistic approach to beauty is essential. 'These days, people are realising that beauty is not just achieved from external treatments. It's not enough just to look after your appearance from the outside, by smearing on creams. Lifestyle choices like practicing yoga and maintaining a healthy diet are hugely important.'
The growing 'nutraceuticals' industry, offering a range of vitamin supplements, is testament to the increasing demand for internal beauty solutions.
Doctors in the aesthetics industry had to be aware of psychological factors when consulting with clients, according to Lanny.
'Sometimes people come into a clinic because they are not happy with themselves. So, in these cases, it's not treatment they need, but education to be more self-confident,' she said.
'The beauty industry is not about changing you into someone else, or achieving perfection, but is rather about you enhancing and pampering the skin you're in.'
An important point to remember, in a world where popular culture tends to bombard people with impossible beauty ideals to strive towards.
The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post.
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