While The World Gears Up For COVID Vaccine, South Koreans Are Rushing To Book Cosmetic Surgery Appointments

For those unaware, South Korea plans to start vaccination in February, with health workers and vulnerable people first in line.

South Korea signed a deal with AstraZeneca to secure 20 million doses of its vaccine in December, with the first shipment expected as early as January.

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It also has deals with three other drugmakers 每 Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson＊s Janssen, Moderna Inc 每 and the global COVAX initiative, backed by the World Health Organization.

In light of the supposed end to the mask-wearing days of the pandemic, many South Korean folks are rushing to book their cosmetic surgery appointments.

Also Read: South Korea To Tighten Social Distancing As COVID-19 Takes 'A Very Dangerous Turn'

According to a Reuters report, South Korea has been a world capital of cosmetic surgery even during non-pandemic times. The industry is estimated to be worth about $10.7 billion in 2020, up 9.2% year-on-year, and is expected to hover around $11.8 billion this year, according to Gangnam Unni, the country's largest online cosmetic surgery platform.

Reuters

Cosmetic surgeons say patients are interested in all parts of the face: those that can be easily hidden under masks, such as the nose and lips, as well as those that face coverings don't conceal, which some consider the criteria of beauty in the coronavirus era.

Ryu Han-na, a 20-year-old university student, got cosmetic surgery on her nose in mid-December, and for her, the ability to recuperate at home and wear a mask in public without drawing attention, were deciding factors throughout 2020.

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"I always wanted to get a nose job... I thought it would be the best to get it now before people start taking off masks when vaccines become available in 2021," she told Reuters.

"There will be bruises and swelling from the surgery but since we'll all be wearing masks I think that should help," she added.

"Both surgical and non-surgical inquiries about eyes, eyebrows, nose bridge and foreheads - the only visible parts - certainly increased," said Park Cheol-woo, a surgeon at WooAhIn Plastic Surgery Clinic, who was in charge of Ryu's operation.

Reuters

Surgeon Shin Sang-ho, who operates in Krismas Plastic Surgery Clinic in the centre of Gangnam district, said many people have spent their emergency stimulus payment from the government at hospitals and clinics, boosting revenue in the third and fourth quarter of 2020.

"I felt like it's sort of a revenge spending. I've sensed that customers were expressing their pent-up emotions (from the coronavirus) by getting cosmetic procedures," Shin said.

Government data showed that of 14.2 trillion won ($12.95 billion) government cash handouts, 10.6% was used in hospitals and pharmacies, the third-largest segment by classification, behind supermarkets and restaurants, though the details of hospital types were not disclosed.

Also Read: As COVID-19 Cases Pile Up In South Korea, It Blames Religious Sect Leader For Sudden Spike

Gangnam Unni data showed its users surged 63% from a year earlier, to about 2.6 million last year. They requested 1 million counselling sessions, double the amount from a year earlier.

South Korea expanded a ban on private gatherings larger than four people to the whole country, and extended unprecedented social distancing rules in greater Seoul as the number of daily COVID-19 cases bounced back to more than 1,000 in four days.

"We've seen growing numbers of cancellations in consultation appointments recently as people refrain more from going outside... especially customers from the suburbs mostly postponed their surgeries to 2021," Park said.

All Inputs Reuters