I attended a talk titled “Asian Beauty & Injectables” by Dr. Hyoung Jin Moon, an internationally renowned plastic surgeon from Seoul, South Korea. He treats many Asian patients from all over the world and is known for treating celebrities. He shared some of the beauty standards for his patients. In general, oval facial shape with a slender lower face and delicate pointed chin is considered beautiful. The forehead and nose should be well projected with a nice mid-cheek. Three-dimensional facial shaping can be accomplished non-invasively through the use of filler and neuromodulators in the forehead, nose bridge, and chin.
Across many races and cultures there are certain similar standards of beauty. Most people, regardless of ethnicity, value a symmetrical, oval-shaped face with well-projected nose and chin, accompanied by clear, unblemished skin. However, there are also key differences between races with beauty trends varying across cultures.
In Vancouver, our population is diverse, with 43% being Asian. That gives Vancouver one of the largest Asian populations of any city in the world outside of Asia. At Carruthers & Humphrey we stay current with the latest research and trends in Asian beauty to best address our patients’ needs. In order to provide the best approach to treatment for Asian patients we start with a deep understanding of the Asian face and skin.
Anatomically, Asians tend to have a wider and shorter facial structure. In profile, the face is more flat with less forehead, nose and chin projection. Asians tend to have a squarer lower face and fuller lip than Caucasians. Many Asian patients are seeking more of a V-shaped or heart-shaped face, which requires contouring and narrowing of the jawline.
When it comes to skin quality, Asians tend to have an advantage. They commonly have increased skin thickness, collagen content and pigment than Caucasians. The pigment in the skin gives a natural sun protection factor (SPF) of around 7 compared to 3 in Caucasians. In part due to these benefits, wrinkles tend to show up 1-2 decades later than Caucasians. Although the pigment does help protect the skin it can also mean an increased propensity to get hyperpigmentation and brown spots such as sun or age spots. As such, we have to be careful when utilizing lasers because of an increased risk of hyperpigmentation after treatment. At Carruthers & Humphrey we are committed to providing each patient with a highly-individualized and completely customized treatment plan based on his or her goals.
Understanding the differences in Asian skin and anatomy helps us with formulating the optimal cosmetic treatment plan. If you are interested to learn more please contact us to book an appointment – info@carruthers-humphrey.com