Desirable or unattainable? The V-shaped face quest spurred by the likes of Blackpink and Angelababy, and how far some will go to achieve it

Traditional and modern Asian beauty standards hold up the oval or V-shaped face, with sharp jawline and defined cheekbones, as being the most beautiful

It can be achieved using beauty products and through aesthetic procedures or surgery, but the effect is temporary. ‘Embrace what you have,’ says one educator

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A sharp jawline and defined cheekbones denote a V-shaped face. For those who don’t already have one, there are products, procedures and surgeries to get it.

Published: 7:15am, 10 May 2021Updated: 7:22pm, 11 May 2021

It takes just 30 minutes to undergo a Venus Freeze procedure, a face-contouring and skin-tightening treatment popular with customers of medical aesthetic clinics. During the treatment, which is relaxing enough to sneak in a quick power nap, a technician glides a warm device over the face and neck.

The device emits radio frequency and pulsed magnetic fields to firm up the skin and enhance one’s facial contours. While the results vary depending on the individual, most will notice a subtle enhancement to their features, including a sharper looking jawline and the appearance of defined cheekbones – the hallmarks of what is called the V-shaped face.

This silhouette, a buzzword among beauty junkies thanks to photogenic K-pop stars such as the members of Blackpink as well as Chinese celebrities such as Angelababy and Yang Mi, has led to the proliferation of aesthetic treatments as well as sales of beauty products that tout a quick fix for those aspiring to this facial shape.

“The Koreans have popularised the V-shape and made it part of their standards of beauty. Consequently, many aesthetic treatments work towards achieving that ideal of facial symmetry and perpetual youth,” observes Dr Kevin Chua, co-founder of Dr Kevin Chua Medical & Aesthetics Clinic in Singapore.

Besides radio frequency treatments like the Venus Freeze, other popular aesthetic procedures include Botox to reduce the appearance of jaw muscles, ultrasound therapy such as Ulthera, which targets deeper layers of the skin to firm it up, and the injection of fillers such as Profhilo to create volume and a contoured appearance.