"Changing their facial features is in vogue among the younger generation," Lin Chin-yun (林靜芸), the founder of Jane's Clinic of Plastic Surgery was quoted as saying in local media.
A survey conducted by the Department of Journalism at Chinese Culture University (文化大學) found 55 percent of respondents, of both genders, were willing to have cosmetic surgery simply in order to improve their appearance and increase self-confidence.
Taiwan is well placed to take advantage of these trends. According to Chang Kuo-hua (張國華), another Taipei-based cosmetic surgeon, the price for double eyelids and a higher nose are cheaper than in South Korea, the country that has recently gained notice for its "plastic surgery street" in Seoul. "They cost nearly half the price of [competitors] in Korea," Kao said.
Many hospitals in Taipei have now opened special plastic surgery clinics (distinct from plastic surgery clinics for medical purposes), such as Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital and Taipei Municipal Chinese Medicine Hospital.
There has also been an increase in the number of medical school students who choose plastic surgery. "Plastic surgery is among the top five choices for surgery-major students," said Chang. "In a way, it's riskless and high profit. Compared to doing surgery on the brain or the heart, you are liable to make less fatal mistakes in plastic surgery," he said.
Looking at the "nationwide movement" towards plastic surgery, some scholars reason that it's not because Taiwanese look at themselves in the mirror too much, but rather they are too influenced by the beautified and commodified images in the mass media.
Professor Chang Chin-hua (張錦華) from the Institute of Journalism at National Taiwan University has done long-term research on cosmetic and body-slimming advertisements in all media. She found that over the last eight years, cosmetic ads have been among the five most popular types, with spending above NT$3 billion a year in 1994 and 1995.
Her conclusion is that Taiwanese women have become major consumers and have boosted the business of body-slimming, cosmetics and plastic surgery immensely.
"When women gain economic clout and social independence, they don't necessarily give up traditional values," Chang said. "Instead, they can be more drawn to the images brought by media culture."
For example, less than 15 percent of Taiwanese women take exercise or go to gyms, Chang said. "That is, they don't resort to exercise, instead, they choose a method with more immediate results," she said.
Also, Chang said, the images of American popular culture promoted by the powerful Hollywood machine, was another factor for Taiwanese pursuing beauty.
"The beauty industry mobilizes stars, celebrities and the fashion industry to promote the business," she said. "What's worse is you never get satisfied. You never know what really is a perfect image," she said.
As for Rosalyn Ku, after going under the knife 25 times in search of beauty? "I'm pretty satisfied with my looks and body now. I think if there are any small flaws, it will be at least five to six years later. And at that time, we will see," she said.
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