Dental Experts Issue Warning Over Jaw Surgery Sweeping South Korea
Dental experts in Korea have issued a warning over a new trend sweeping South Korea; according to leading dentists, a procedure to decrease the size of the jaw has become increasingly popular and women are putting their health at risk in pursuit of beauty.
The procedure, which involves cutting the jaw bone tissue to realign the upper and lower jaws and make the face appear smaller, is known as double jaw surgery. There are adverts for the procedure dotted around metro stations and department stores in Seoul and dentists are worried that women are putting themselves at risk in order to look beautiful.
Choi Jin-Young, professor of dentistry at Seoul National University, explained the procedure, which is designed to create a V-shape and a small chin, which are considered to be attractive features in South Korea. The operation alters the entire bone structure of the face and is much more dramatic and dangerous that facial treatments, such as Botox and cosmetic procedures, such as a nose job. He added that the procedure is a “very complex, potentially dangerous surgery” and said that it was “disturbing” to see young women putting their bodies through such extremes just to achieve a look that is perceived to be beautiful.
A recent study estimated that around 5,000 procedures are carried out per year and 52 per cent of people suffered sensory problems after the operation.
Medical malpractice lawyer, Shin Hyon-Ho, said that he has seen cases where surgery has resulted in numbness and loss of sensation, misaligned teeth, problems with chewing and eating and long-term jaw pain; he also added that complications are becoming more severe, as the number of procedures increases. In 2003, a young woman committed suicide after surgery, leaving a note that explained that she had become depressed as a result of being unable to eat and suffering severe jaw pain.
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