AUG 2 — Do you like what you see in the mirror when you wake up in the morning?

Here is one case. A Filipina teenage singer, Charice Pempengco, once dubbed by Oprah the “Most Talented Girl in the World” stirred national and worldwide debate, after having Botox injections and minor surgery to narrow her face ahead of her debut on the highly-rated US television show, “Glee”.

What intrigued me is that the whole procedure conducted by celebrity cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo in her Tomas Morato clinic was actually aired “live” via the ABS-CBN channel, a Philippine national TV network.

Criticisms and concerns came flying in about Charice’s decision to go under the knife at 18 years’ of age. This instantly raised a question — the social effects of plastic surgery.

Without us realising it, we have in fact long been obsessed with appearances, either in school, at work or even in the family. This has created unhealthy pressure. Many feel looking better gives them an edge in pursuing their dreams.

In a recent issue of Newsweek magazine, it was reported that employers show a marked preference for attractive people when making hiring decisions. This is sadly a fact that we cannot deny as some companies are constantly looking for people who are attractive. This trend is even more obvious in sales and marketing, customer service, public relations and other areas.

For example if you want to be qualified as a flight attendant, you will need to have a certain height and weight — not too tall, not too short, not too fat and not too thin. Any obvious marks on your face or your hands will decrease your chances of becoming one.

“Plastic Surgery Street” in South Korea

When it comes to plastic surgery, the first thing which comes to my mind is South Korea. You can even find an entire street nicknamed “Plastic Surgery Street”.

If you happen to visit South Korea, do walk around the fashion district of Apgujeong-dong, and you will find an exceptionally high concentration of beautiful people. You will also find a lot of clinics devoted to the lucrative industry of plastic surgery.

It is also not strange to find articles on various clinics and the procedures they perform in popular Korean magazines. Recently, a teen magazine featured an extensive layout entitled “Winter Vacation, Plastic Operation.”

This reminds me of a Korean friend who was at that time based in Malaysia. She made a special trip back to Korea during her college break just to “fix” her eyelids. She also told me that the whole procedure was sponsored by her mother. That really caught me by surprise!

Leg-lengthening in China

Let us also take a look at China. More than a decade ago, cosmetic surgery was banned in China, but today, it has turned into a profitable industry.

According to a study by the China Medical Treatment Orthopaedics and Beauty Association, an increasing number of high school and college students are lining up for cosmetic surgery during summer vacation with the hopes of looking better and believing that it will eventually help them to land better jobs.

The double-eyelid surgery is among the most popular requests. Why is this happening? Blame the overexposure to Western beauty ideals. This rising trend of Asians trying to remake themselves to look more Caucasian is rather worrying socially and culturally.

You might also have heard about this “gruesome” and controversial surgery — the leg lengthening surgery, which is believed to be able to make you taller, from a few inches to a full foot.

Although this largely unregulated beauty industry has been banned by the Chinese government in 2006, the ban has not managed to stop the people from venturing into surgery for cosmetic reasons. 

In China, a person’s height represents a sign of status. It goes to the extent where some jobs actually set the requirement of a minimum height. With a population of 1.3 billion, it is definitely not easy to get a job. As a result, a short person not only experiences difficulty in getting a job, but also in their social life and other areas.

So, what’s fuelling this phenomenon?

Excessive employment pressures and higher beauty standards are the leading reasons for the popularity of cosmetic operations. The influence of the media is also a contributing factor. Of particular concern are the effects reality television shows like “Extreme Makeover”, for example, have on young people who are self-conscious about their body and appearance.

Moreover, plastic surgery has now become more available and affordable to the public. They consider plastic surgery as an easy way to transform their looks or lives.

Although there have been surgical mishaps, this does not seem to stop people going under the knife.

Better looks do not guarantee better jobs, which should be earned. Not all employers are that shallow — but it is also no secret that we are living within a culture consumed by image.

In Malaysia itself, Botox injections are very popular. Now, the trend is still rather confined within the circle of celebrities and the rich due to the hefty costs involved. We have not had big numbers of younger people opting for plastic surgery. Yet. The next question, will this dangerous mindset arrive here one day?

I hope not.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.