Present and future of aesthetic plastic surgery in Korea

ABSTRACT

Due to Confucian ethics and socioeconomic factors, aesthetic plastic surgery came late to Korea. However, the field of aesthetic plastic surgery developed rapidly after the establishment of the Korean Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons in 1985. At present, Korean aesthetic plastic surgeons have achieved world leading surgical skills and research abilities. This article review the history and current state of Korean aesthetic plastic surgery with the follow-up study of statics and numerical data. Over the period of 10 years (2001-2010), the Korean plastic surgeons contributed 607 papers to SCI & SCI(E) journals. Among them, the number of pure cosmetic surgical papers was 133 (21.9%). According to biannual survey data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 2009, the number of plastic surgeons and aesthetic procedures in Korea became the highest contrast to percentage of the population in the world. As dynamic forces of development for Korean aesthetic plastic surgery, this advocate the medical tourism, non-surgical cosmetic procedures, and adipose-derived stem cells. With developing these items, Korean plastic surgeons will create the brilliant future of the aesthetic plastic surgery in Korea.