Fashion
8 Do-It-Yourself Plastic Surgery Gadgets Popular With Asian Teens
As with so many trends, Asian teenagers are at the forefront of a new wave of "DIY plastic surgery" devices, according to the Daily Beast. Though invoking cosmetic surgery is misleading — the point of these (relatively inexpensive) products is to lift facial skin, slim noses, and raise eyelids without actual knives, doctors or aestheticians involved.
Popular primarily in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (three of the most plastic-surgery obsessed countries in the world), these low-tech, at-home devices claim to mold users faces and features into more desirable shapes and proportions. But most seem based on bunk science, rendering them useless at best and even potentially harmful. Let's take a look at some of the laughable yet sad face-contorting gadgets selling on Tokyo-based website Japan Trend Shop.
Agaru Sleeping Kogao Face Hammock
Agaru Sleeping Kogoa Face Hammock, $29, Japan Trend Shop
This facial “hammock” claims to “combat gravity” while you sleep. Because everyone knows if you don’t literally hold your chin up with a light elastic strap at night, it will sag down.
Hourei Lift Bra
Hourei Lift Bra, $25, Amazon
A bra for your cheeks! The Hourei Lift Bra is designed to slide over your nose (secured by a rubber band that goes around the back of the head) and fight “nasolabial folds,” aka smile or laugh lines, by exerting “gentle pressure on your cheeks.” Looks comfortable!
Hana Tsun Nose Straightener
Hana Tsun Nose Straightener, $30, Amazon
”Hana” means nose in Japanese; “tsun” means to stick up. The Hana Tsun Nose Straightener is supposed to makes noses “sharper, straighter … less round and more graceful.”
The Kogao! Mask
Kogao Smile Lines Face Belt, $42, Japan Trend Shop
Seemingly made out of old jock-straps dyed pink, the Kogao! Mask is designed to tighten up cheeks and “facial contours.” Like so many of these devices, Japan Trend Shop suggests wearing it while taking a bubble bath.
Eye Slack Haruka
Eye Slack Haruka, $92, Japan Trend Shop
One of the more expensive DIY face-lift aides, this battery-powered Eye Slack Haruka shoots vibrations and gentle heat to (allegedly) improve sagging skin under the eyes.
Eyelid Trainer
Eyelid Trainer, $22, Japan Trend Shop
For $22, the Eyelid Trainer claims to mold typical Asian eyelids into the more Western “double eyelid” shape in just five minutes a day. “As you blink, you will be “training” your eyelids to get bigger,” it says. Yep, sounds realistic.
Face Slimmer Exercise Mouthpiece
Face Slimmer Mouthpiece, $48, Japan Trend Shop
This $48 rubber mouthpiece claims to help lift sagging facial skin and muscles when you use it during face-strengthening exercises like saying vowel sounds out loud repeatedly. In a very unfortunate choice of wording, Japan Trend Shop explains that “the movements are given extra load by the mold, forcing everything to work a bit harder.”
