She adds, "I feel Oriental women have a beauty that western people can get, i.e. 'cute' eyes, lovely skin tone (but mine is permanently white, and no, I am not albino), and other such things.  Every Japanese woman I have seen, looks beautiful and I wonder if they have used make-up to get that or not.  I also like the culture, the way they picked themselves up from the second world war among other things.  I don't understand why they are trying methods to make their eyes look western, or using make-up to change their skin tone (this is mostly done by the Chinese community I believe).  Why?  I would like to go the other way, like I said, I don't understand it, but I have always felt attracted to the Japanese culture and community, so much so, I would like to be one of them, just like they would like to be one of us.  But sadly, in the end, we can't choose our ethnicity, that is to be decided by fate, just why couldn't it have been nicer?  (Related article:  Reasons for plastic surgery)

We recently spoke to her to obtain her perspective on such wishes and how to address them through plastic surgery.  (Related article:  Plastic surgery as a gift)

MYNIPPON:  From more than two years of research, we have found that a large number of Asian women (including Japanese) are not proud of themselves.  They do not like their bodies, the fashion standards, the culture, the role of women in the society, etc.  No wonder they blindly follow Western culture.  This creates a lot of conflict in their lives.  While they would like to do what they admire, they are also under intense social and family pressure not to abandon their traditional lifestyle.  As someone who is strongly attracted to Oriental culture, what would you suggest to these women?

Helen: I suggest that, if they feel they must be ‘western’ in their looks and actions, that they shouldn’t lose sight of their true identities.  I believe that they have a natural beauty that many people like myself would like to have, I don’t see their eyes as ugly or unattractive, I see them as charming and pretty, even to the point of accentuating the rest of the natural beauty. (Related article:  Plastic surgery in luxurious, spa like setting)

MYNIPPON:  We have done a series of articles on how some Asians are transforming their personalities to a point that they do not retain any of the traits that define them.  The opinion on this issue is evenly divided.  The first group of people says that everyone should have the freedom to do what they wish and the society should not tell them not to go blonde or have boyfriends.  The second group says that Asia is exotic because of its unique culture.  Non-Asians are strongly attracted to Asia because of its unique culture, cuisines, looks of people, etc.  If Asians abandoned their uniqueness and became like everyone else, what is left for them to admire?  What do you think about this challenging issue for Asian people?  

Helen: I believe that yes, they should be allowed to change their fashion sense and other such issues, but they should keep their culture with them.  As I said previously, they shouldn’t lose their ethnic heritage to be more like us, as they have a beautiful culture, as it is, their fashion, their food, and their music.  I feel that they should be happy with their difference against the western community, instead of following like sheep would in a flock.  I have always felt that being unique is more important than trying to fit in.

MYNIPPON:  During our research we found that conservatives in Asia argue that if Asians try to become westernized, they are essentially admitting that their own culture or looks or cuisine or fashion are inferior.  They ask the question, “If this were not true, how come no one tries to look like an Asian?”  Now you provide a very interesting example.  You would very much like to look like an Asian, if that were possible.  We have all seen tourists in Asia donning local dresses while traveling there but once the trip is over and the pictures taken they get back to their conventional styles back home.  How do people react when you tell them that you would look like an Asian?

Helen: Well, I wish to look Asian (Japanese particularly), because I feel that they have a beautiful culture and also that I don’t fully feel I was born in the right ethnicity.  Since I was eight and saw a Japanese cartoon on TV, I thought there was no better, of course, I didn’t know it came from Japan then.  Later, I saw more information on Japan, their foods and how elegant they looked in Kimonos and thought ‘I want to eat that,’ or ‘I want to wear that.’  I have not told any of my friends or family about my wanting to change my nationality and physical appearance, for fear of being misunderstood, i.e. my parents blaming themselves on how they raised me, or my friends believing I’m strange.  But the key point to me wanting to look Asian, is the fact that, even the pictures I have seen of ‘old’ Oriental women, they all look beautiful, they seem to have a natural design to their looks, that makes them good looking.

MYNIPPON:  Our position is that what really matters are the values.  As long as you maintain and believe in your traditional values, it makes no difference how you dress.  Of course, there are some traditional values in Asia that conflict with fairly standard practices in the West.  For instance, the freedom to choose your life partner or the potential to earn as much as men.  What would you advise to other women who face these conflicts everyday and have to make decisions that do not please their parents but also cause a lot of pain to them because they have to knowingly kill their own wishes?  

Helen: Well, I understand that you should always follow you parent’s wishes, but if you are unhappy, then that should be changed.  There is nothing more important than your own happiness, and if it takes becoming western, or acting like us to be so, then do so, just don’t lose your heritage.  Please your family as much as you can while being yourself.

MYNIPPON:  Now let us talk about what you would like to be?  How does it feel to have such a strong desire to transform yourselves through plastic surgery?  What are some of the challenges that you are facing?  How do you manage the conflicts in your mind?

Helen: Well, I feel I want to be Asian, not because I want to be different, but because I feel that I would enjoy my life better, I am envious of Japanese life and would like to be a part in it, physical appearance and everything.  Yet at the moment, as no plastic surgery exists, I have to settle with imagining it to put my mind at rest, I don’t know if I would be more comfortable with my life if I did change my nationality, but I would like the option and the chance to do so.  I would like the chance to make my life comfortable and myself happy.

MYNIPPON:  What else would you recommend to people like you in similar situations? 

Helen: I would have to say, consider your feelings, is such a lifestyle what you truly want?  Or are you just trying to be different to those around you?  This isn’t something that can be taken lightly, as this is changing your whole nationality and ethnicity, changing the way you were naturally born.  I want this because I feel I can be happier and I want to be part of the Asian community in some way that is also physical.  Once I have found myself, I will finally be able to live a peaceful life, maybe you should start that journey too!

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