There’s no denying the fact that many Koreans are obsessed with plastic surgery – some of them will do anything to look more ‘western’. So imagine my surprise when I read about this Brazilian guy who underwent 10 cosmetic procedures to look more Korean! It seems like no one is happy with their own native looks anymore
This man was perfectly good-looking to begin with, but he wanted the Oriental look so bad, he put himself through a series of procedures – silicone implants, lip surgery, and more – that cost him a small fortune. The 25-year-old, from Novo Hamburgo city in southern Brazil, goes by the name Xiahn; he doesn’t want to reveal his true identity to protect his family from internet scrutiny. Xiahn originally had blue eyes and blond hair, a look that he was perfectly happy with until he spent time as an exchange student at Dongseo University in South Korea. It was there that he got bit by the plastic surgery bug.
“Koreans have many surgeries to modify the shape of their eyes and become more like Westerners,” he said. “It was easy to tell when one of them had done it, walking on the street wearing sunglasses and a surgical mask.” Xiahn developed a passion for the Korean culture, including their distinct facial features. So he got procedures done on his eyes and lips, and a few other less-invasive surgeries. He dyed his hair and started to wear contact lenses to hide the natural color of his eyes. And he’s quite happy with his new look. “I have no regrets, and I don’t intend to have any more procedures,” he said.
Unfortunately, not everyone was happy to see the changes on Xiahn’s face. He was working as an intern at an IT company during the time. Many of his colleagues were worried and wondered if the surgery was doing him any good. He’s also had a string of negative comments on social media. Some thought he had been in an accident or was assaulted. “One lady said she would not allow her son to do the same,” he said. “But I understand people have different tastes.” To avoid questions and unwanted attention, he chose to disguise himself with glasses.
Xiahn’s own mother, a psychotherapist, does not approve of surgery unless it is done for health reasons. So when she saw him after his surgery, she was shocked. “The first time she saw me, she was very worried,” he said. “My face was still quite swollen and purple.” But of course, the changes were irreversible, so Xiahn’s mother came around eventually. Now she’s okay with it, because she sees that it makes him happy.
Xiahn had his procedures done in Brazil, where not many doctors could understand what he wanted. When he tried to explain, some of them actually turned him down. But he finally found a surgeon who was willing to try – they started with the nose and lips and when that went well, moved on to the eyes. “I was, in a sense, this guinea pig experiment,” said Xiahn.
A lot of people still find his transformation absurd, but Xiahn has learned to deal with it. He’s really quite happy now and has no regrets. “Regardless of any beliefs they may have, I believe I have only one life and that if I cannot be who I want to be now, I may never be able to.”
Source: Globo
