[Dr. Wei-Cheng Ching's Viewpoint] On Facial Reshaping Surgery

韓國整形手術風氣興盛，以整形手術為主要業務的診所林立，甚至還有許多大型的整形外科醫院，動輒佔據好幾棟建築物、員工好幾百人的整形外科醫院，在韓國早已不是新聞。在媒體報導以及韓風流行文化的推波助瀾下，韓國的整形手術在台灣似乎就是「先進」、「優良」的代名詞。「韓式Augmentation Rhinoplasty手術」「韓式雙眼皮手術」等等名詞，也確實在台灣引起話題，甚至引起流行。

因為有幸曾在陳昱瑞教授的指導下執刀，也認識了幾位來台學習臉骨手術（Orthognathic Surgery、削骨等手術）的韓國整形外科醫師。這些醫師通常來台數個月至一年，原因就是這個經歷有助於他們將來的工作。雖然上刀的同時還必須用英文跟韓國醫師溝通，但是能教韓國醫師開刀，實在是讓我常受傷的民族自尊心受到補償。一起成長學習的經驗，讓我跟這幾位韓國醫師成為無話不談的好友。這次到韓國參訪了幾家整形醫院便是在他們的介紹及安排下成行。參訪診所觀摩手術需要付費，因為有熟人介紹所以免了，甚至還可以參觀不對外開放的部份。

I'm grateful to my teacher. The facial surgery techniques I observed in Korea weren't my main focus; rather, it was the surgical design. However, surgical design must consider different aesthetic standards and cultural customs. For example, in the recently popular V-line surgery, Korean doctors often cut more than 10 to 12 millimeters of chin bone, which seems excessive from the perspective of mainstream Taiwanese aesthetics. Cheekbone sculpting surgery also varies from clinic to clinic. As a visitor, these Korean doctors, not needing to worry about competition between clinics, were willing to openly discuss the reasons and results of various surgical designs with me, which was an unexpected bonus. Being able to discuss surgery on equal footing with these Korean doctors also helped boost my national pride.

比起手術來說，令我感到印象深刻的反倒是韓國整形醫院的服務流程規劃。參觀過的醫院都有會中文接待的人員，從接待到手術，術後到出院的流程都設計且執行的相當不錯。另一個令人印象深刻的便是整形手術的行銷與廣告。狎鷗亭地鐵站裡鋪天蓋地的整形廣告，也對應了站外兩三百家整形診所的興盛景象。診所內的廣告更是不用說，流行藝人搭配醫師的現身說法，實實在在的告訴大家：整形，正在流行中。相對於台灣演藝圈，可說是大異其趣。也因為公眾人物對於整形手術的開放態度，對於臉骨手術的接受度，韓國民眾也比台灣高許多，接受手術改變臉形在韓國並非什麼了不起的事。不過我的韓國醫師好友卻也告訴我一些內幕消息，原來誇大不實的廣告在韓國也是比比皆是。他曾經看過完全沒經驗卻宣傳自己是Orthognathic Surgery手術之王的韓國醫師。也曾發生診所幫藝人整形，術後結果不佳卻用修圖做宣傳，最後遭藝人親上電視節目踢爆的事件。所幸自己接觸認識的韓國醫師都還算蠻正派的，這些應該只是少數的特殊案例。

When I asked friends currently working at plastic surgery clinics in South Korea specializing in facial bone surgery whether their training experience in Taiwan was helpful to their work, the answers were all very positive. Ironically, while learning surgery in Taiwan was indeed very helpful to their work, this experience did not help with the marketing and advertising of Korean doctors in South Korea; in fact, it had a negative impact. This point resonated with me deeply when I was in South Korea at the time.

South Korea's plastic surgery industry actively creates new values and promotes its prosperity, but it also restricts the diversity of aesthetics. Many people may think that beautiful South Korean actresses all look alike, but I am not happy to see this situation occur in Taiwan.

"Beauty comes from within"—this might not seem like something a plastic surgeon would say, but I believe...There is no single standard for beauty; the most beautiful result is creating inner and outer confidence through surgery.