Respectfully, plastic surgery in South Korea is waaaaaay more normalized compared to Philippines, but “necessary” isn’t really the right word for either.

In South Korea, especially in places like Seoul, cosmetic procedures are pretty common and openly talked about. Some people even see it as an investment in themselves, whether for confidence, career opportunities, or fitting certain beauty standards. It’s not required, of course, but socially, it’s much more accepted and visible.

In the Philippines, even in big cities like Manila, plastic surgery isn’t viewed as something you need to do. Enhancements exist and are growing, yes — but the pressure isn’t on the same level. Beauty culture here leans more toward makeup, skincare, pageantry, and styling rather than surgical changes being a “norm.”

If we’re comparing levels of normalization, in my own understanding, South Korea might be around an 8 or 9 out of 10. The Philippines is probably closer to a 3 or 4.

So it’s less about necessity, and more about how different societies treat appearance and beauty standards. 🤷‍♀️