“Being Good-Looking Is Capital”: Cosmetic Surgery in China Today

Hua, Wen

doi:10.1080/1683478x.2009.10552588

Cited by 29 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…[24][25][26] Another latent index generated from our factor analysis was the Desire for Social-Professional Advancement demonstrating a motivating factor for patients pursuing Asian blepharoplasty congruent with prior studies investigating the trend of young Asian women undergoing Asian blepharoplasty as a social and economic strategy. 27 While not significantly correlated with preoperative satisfaction regarding one's eye shape, we found it notable that as a motivational factor driving interest for Asian blepharoplasty, the Desire for Social-Professional Advancement index significantly predicted patient-reported improvement in professional quality of life. Although these findings support a prior study 26 looking at the influence of self-perception after cosmetic surgery and satisfaction in the work environment, the issue of economic factors driving desire for Asian blepharoplasty and their impact have not been directly studied to the best of our knowledge.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

Exploring Patient Motivations and Impact of Asian Blepharoplasty

et al. 2019

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To date, patient motivations for Asian blepharoplasty and the surgery's impact on quality of life have not been quantified. Here, we employed structured interviews and a web-based survey to better characterize patient motivations for Asian blepharoplasty and the impact of Asian blepharoplasty on self-reported domains of happiness, self-esteem, attractiveness, social life, and professional life. Structured interviews were conducted to inform a web-based survey regarding Asian blepharoplasty. Survey respondents used visual analog scales to rate their satisfaction with their eye shape, motivations for undergoing Asian blepharoplasty, and perceived outcomes after surgery. A total of 315 participants (mean 25.7 [18–58] years) of East or Southeast Asian descent were included. 185 participants expressed no desire for Asian blepharoplasty, 76 expressed some desire, and 54 had already undergone surgery. There were statistically significant differences regarding baseline satisfaction, perceived social limitation, and perceived professional limitations regarding eye shape (p < 0.0001). The Looking Glass Self index (comprised of media exposure, low self-esteem, and negative stereotypes related to eye shape) is negatively associated with preoperative satisfaction with eye shape (rho = −0.29, p < 0.01). The desire for social-professional advancement and the Looking Glass Self index significantly predict self-reported improvements in professional and social life, respectively (both p < 0.01). Asian blepharoplasty may be driven by functional, social, or economic patient motivations. Some patients may see Asian blepharoplasty as a potential solution for sociological concerns. These expectations should be further explored in physician–patient discussions regarding candidacy for surgery and establishing expectations for postoperative outcomes.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

Exploring Patient Motivations and Impact of Asian Blepharoplasty

et al. 2019

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“…However, one cosmetic surgery consideration item taps willingness to undergo procedures free of charge. As well, Wen (2009Wen ( , 2013 has noted cosmetic surgery is often pursued to increase one's career and marriage prospects within highly competitive job and dating markets. Hence, for some young men from lower SES backgrounds cosmetic surgery may have appeal, in part, because they have fewer economic and social resources available to increase social mobility.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Hence, for some young men from lower SES backgrounds cosmetic surgery may have appeal, in part, because they have fewer economic and social resources available to increase social mobility. Nonetheless, Wen's (2009) discussion emphasized cosmetic surgery as an option for women who have less social and economic power in patriarchic societies such as China. Possibly, parental education and cosmetic surgery consideration were unrelated among women in this study because, as university students, education was a viable alternate path for increasing opportunities for economic mobility.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Predictors of Cosmetic Surgery Consideration Among Young Chinese Women and Men

Jackson

Chang

2015

Sex Roles

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Despite dramatic increases in cosmetic surgery in China during the past two decades, little is known about factors that predict individual differences in willingness to consider cosmetic surgery among young Chinese women and men. To address this issue, 379 undergraduate women and 204 undergraduate men from Chongqing, Southwest China completed a self-report battery assessing demographics, facets of objectified body consciousness (body surveillance, body shame), tripartite influence model features (i.e., appearance pressure from mass media and close interpersonal networks, appearance social comparisons, body dissatisfaction), specific culturally-salient sources of appearance dissatisfaction (facial appearance, fatness, stature) and cosmetic surgery consideration. In line with previous research, correlation analyses indicated cosmetic surgery consideration among women, and especially, among men, was related to body surveillance, body shame, most tripartite influence model features, and concerns with facial appearance. In final multiple regression models for each gender, body surveillance and facial appearance concerns emerged as the strongest unique predictors of cosmetic surgery consideration. Findings highlighted how features of objectified body consciousness and tripartite influence model as well as specific culturally-salient appearance concerns, rather than general body dissatisfaction, may help to account for variability in willingness to consider cosmetic surgery within samples of young Chinese women and men.

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“…More interestingly, among all the reasons for obtaining CS, boosting career confidence was ranked at the top, followed by the impacts of friends, and the drivers for beauty ideals were the least frequently mentioned. As noted by Hua [32], "Being Good-Looking Is Capital" in today's China. Facing fierce competition, job seekers in China have to pull out all means to acquire a decent job; consequently, more people view physical appearance as a leverage and hence turn to CS to increase their capital for success [32,33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As noted by Hua [32], "Being Good-Looking Is Capital" in today's China. Facing fierce competition, job seekers in China have to pull out all means to acquire a decent job; consequently, more people view physical appearance as a leverage and hence turn to CS to increase their capital for success [32,33]. However, this finding contrasts with those identified in Western cultures, where media idols or celebrities serve as body ideals driving consumers for having CS [6].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefit-Seeking or Risk-Taking? Examining the Portrayal of Cosmetic Surgery in Chinese News, 2000–2019

Sun

Yang

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Analyzing 311 news articles published in representative Chinese newspapers, this study investigated how cosmetic surgery (CS) was represented in Chinese media from 2000 to 2019. Employing a coding scheme based on prior literature and sampled data, the study analyzed both features of the articles and profiles of the patients in the media. Results showed significant differences in media reporting across issue categories, reporting frames (benefit-focused, risk-focused, neutral), sources of information, drivers for and impacts of having surgeries. Among all the reasons for obtaining CS, boosting career confidence was ranked at the top. Additionally, significant differences in reporting were observed across types of the newspapers, gender of the patients, and time periods of the coverage. Implications of the findings for health promotion and regulation were discussed in reference to the social, cultural, and media context in China.

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“Being Good-Looking Is Capital”: Cosmetic Surgery in China Today

Cited by 29 publications

References 1 publication

Exploring Patient Motivations and Impact of Asian Blepharoplasty

Exploring Patient Motivations and Impact of Asian Blepharoplasty

Predictors of Cosmetic Surgery Consideration Among Young Chinese Women and Men

Benefit-Seeking or Risk-Taking? Examining the Portrayal of Cosmetic Surgery in Chinese News, 2000–2019

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