Interview One
Annie
Q: Did you get plastic surgery in Korea or in the states?
A: I got plastic surgery in Korea about two years ago when I was visiting my family.
Q: What kind of procedure did you get?
A: I got double eyelid surgery and a nose job to make my nose a little more smaller and higher.
Q: Why did you get plastic surgery? Was it suggested to you like most Korean parents suggest their kids to do?
A; It wasn't really suggested it was more like, "You need your eyes fixed and your nose is not very pretty." They just told me like that and it was said more than once too. So I've always had the idea like, "Yeah my eyes could be bigger and a higher nose would be prettier." I finished high school and my parents sent me to Korea for my graduation present and while I was there I just decided to get the surgery. A lot of my family members in Korea suggested it too especially my grandma. I just gave in and since you can be like 16 years old to get these surgeries I just went ahead and said yeah okay. Also since it's like cheaper in Korea than going to Atlanta or New York or LA.
Q: So did you get plastic surgery because you wanted it or because your parents and people pressured you?
A: Both. I wanted it and also because my parents and stuff wanted me to.
Q: Do you think you changed as a person after the surgery? Identity wise.
A: I think everyone changes after a surgery that alters the way you look. I did. I became more confident in the way I look and I guess the way I view myself. Before I wasn't ugly or anything but I wasn't like pretty. So I guess this new look gave me a boost of confidence.
Q: What do you tell people who ask you if you got plastic surgery?
A: I usually tell them but at the same time it's sort of weird to tell someone that I got my eyes done or my nose done. When I was in Korea after my surgery and everything healed, someone asked me if I got my nose done and when I told them yeah I did, they gave me sort of a weird look. It's like Koreans want you to get surgery yet they don't want to know about it.
Q: Do you feel like you've gained acceptance in society?
A: I do. I think I've gained acceptance in both America and in Korea. White people are always like you don't look Asian anymore you look mixed with white. And then they offer me a compliment. Koreans too are very kind and nice to me and always telling me I look pretty and so "natural" looking when I'm not natural.
Q: What's considered beautiful to you, look wise?
A: To be honest I think someone with big eyes, high cheek bones, slim chin, small face, and a small nose. But I think that's also what society thinks too.
A: I got plastic surgery in Korea about two years ago when I was visiting my family.
Q: What kind of procedure did you get?
A: I got double eyelid surgery and a nose job to make my nose a little more smaller and higher.
Q: Why did you get plastic surgery? Was it suggested to you like most Korean parents suggest their kids to do?
A; It wasn't really suggested it was more like, "You need your eyes fixed and your nose is not very pretty." They just told me like that and it was said more than once too. So I've always had the idea like, "Yeah my eyes could be bigger and a higher nose would be prettier." I finished high school and my parents sent me to Korea for my graduation present and while I was there I just decided to get the surgery. A lot of my family members in Korea suggested it too especially my grandma. I just gave in and since you can be like 16 years old to get these surgeries I just went ahead and said yeah okay. Also since it's like cheaper in Korea than going to Atlanta or New York or LA.
Q: So did you get plastic surgery because you wanted it or because your parents and people pressured you?
A: Both. I wanted it and also because my parents and stuff wanted me to.
Q: Do you think you changed as a person after the surgery? Identity wise.
A: I think everyone changes after a surgery that alters the way you look. I did. I became more confident in the way I look and I guess the way I view myself. Before I wasn't ugly or anything but I wasn't like pretty. So I guess this new look gave me a boost of confidence.
Q: What do you tell people who ask you if you got plastic surgery?
A: I usually tell them but at the same time it's sort of weird to tell someone that I got my eyes done or my nose done. When I was in Korea after my surgery and everything healed, someone asked me if I got my nose done and when I told them yeah I did, they gave me sort of a weird look. It's like Koreans want you to get surgery yet they don't want to know about it.
Q: Do you feel like you've gained acceptance in society?
A: I do. I think I've gained acceptance in both America and in Korea. White people are always like you don't look Asian anymore you look mixed with white. And then they offer me a compliment. Koreans too are very kind and nice to me and always telling me I look pretty and so "natural" looking when I'm not natural.
Q: What's considered beautiful to you, look wise?
A: To be honest I think someone with big eyes, high cheek bones, slim chin, small face, and a small nose. But I think that's also what society thinks too.