Plastic Surgery in Shanghai, 1937 – Mouth Widening and Ear Contouring

The other day I came across two stories on plastic surgery in Shanghai. One just dropped on to my phone courtesy of some newsfeed I don’t want but can’t seem to delete. It was the all-too-familiar Shanghainese love plastic surgery story that anyone interested in China for anything longer than a year or two must be bored with. Then, browsing the archives I came across this story from August 1937 on the vogue for plastic surgery in…Shanghai.

Now some years back I co-wrote a book on obesity in contemporary China, Fat China. In that book is a chapter on extreme dieting, gastric banding, supposed slimming pills and plastic surgery, covering everything from eyes, chins and height to liposuction. But in that research I have to admit I never came across anything about mouth widening and wide mouths being linked to career success??? But apparently that, and having the right contour to your ear, was the key to prosperity!!