8 most popular plastic surgery procedures in S Korea

South Korea is considered one of the world's plastic surgery capitals and the demand has spurred new and different types of operations to change one's features and appearance, according to KoreaBoo.

There are eight popular operations that are common among Korean girls and boys in their late teens and twenties.

The most popular is said to be blepharoplasty (reconstruction of the eyelids) , or double eyelid surgery. Besides celebrities, The Wall Street Journal reported that former Korean president Roh Moo-hyun has also undergone the operation.

The surgery is believed to have been first performed in South Korea by American plastic surgery pioneer Dr Ralph Millard, according to the Wilson Quarterly. He was stationed in Seoul from 1950 to 1953 to perform reconstructive surgery for the war wounded.

Other than the double eyelid surgery, many also opt for a procedure called epicanthoplasty, an eye-widening surgery.

The patient will undergo an operation to slice the corners of the eyelids to make the eyes appear bigger.

It is a popular operation for those who are also going for double eyelid surgery, according to reports and reviews online.

Fancy a doll-like rounded forehead? Forehead augmentation is also another common procedure where an implant is inserted underneath the skin.

It will leave the patient with a smoother and rounded forehead for a nicer side profile.

According to an Oct 2015 report in Tech Insider, Dr Choi, director of JK Plastic Surgery told the tech website that going for plastic surgery in Korea carries as much weight as getting a haircut, calling it "an everyday thing".

He said: "People believe that people with better appearance have more opportunity."

Intrigued? Find out which are the eight popular plastic surgery procedures in South Korea in the gallery.

wjeanne@sph.com.sg