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Before and after photos of a stuffed animal admitted for “plastic surgery” at a doll hospital. (provided by Doll Hospital)

The popularity of “pet dolls” as an alternative to pet animals has now led to the creation of “doll hospitals” – the equivalent of plastic surgery or orthopedic clinics who people can go for “operations” on their dolls.

“T” Doll Repair House in Seoul’s Yeoksam neighborhood changed its name early this year to “Doll Hospital.” The inanimate patients go through hospital admission procedures: the doctor (doll designer) diagnoses the patient (doll), and the guardian (owner) completes a hospitalization form. Dolls requiring a “transplant” of hair or fur go into plastic surgery; those with torn legs go to orthopedics. A missing eye requires a consent form for ophthalmological surgery. With no bioethics law in play, full-body cloning is even an option.

Around 100 patients a month come to the hospital. Many are elderly patients suffering severe conditions: teddy bears and duckies ranging between 20 and 30 years old. Often, owners ask for plastic surgery or orthopedic operations for missing fur or limp stuffing. Recently, the number of “idol doll” patients with faces modeled on popular music groups has reportedly shot up.

“Yeppi isn’t just a doll. She’s like a younger sister,” said a 24-year-old company employee surnamed Kim who booked hair replacement surgery for the white stuffed bear she has slept with every night since she was three.

“It breaks my heart to see my little sister sick. Please make her better,” Kim told the clinic.

T Doll Hospital president Kim Gap-yeon, 57, said, “I treated one stuffed bear that had a torn stomach and ears, and the owner was an orthopedic surgeon who was very satisfied with the repairs and told me, ‘You’re a better surgeon than I am.’”

“I hope to continue contributing a sense of emotional stability for the guardians by doing a good job treating their dolls,” Kim said.

By Jang Su-gyung, staff reporter

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