Skin-deep surgery's just swell

• Source: Global Times
• [13:31 June 21 2010]
• Comments

Rich and beautiful

Its not uncommon in China for women to save for their children and never fulfill their own desires. Many women think of improving their looks as soon as their incomes or savings increase. Others hold onto these dreams until they get access to some money for themselves. Nowadays, with a better standard of living, the desire to improve their looks is stronger than ever before. "I had been thinking of having plastic surgery for 10 years but had not yet been able to. I had it once I got the opportunity," Zhang Jing, who had a Botox treatment a few days ago, told the Global Times. The satisfaction derived from this surpasses everything else in their lives. "Some people get addicted to this surgery. They want to make every part of their body beautiful, step by step," Jiang told the Global Times. Cheaper and quicker procedures are now available.

"Take face lift surgery as an example. Now there are only three small insertions on the hairline to be made and it will heal much faster than the old method," said Jiang Shan. "With the development of surgical technology, the cost of surgery has decreased a lot."

Another factor which kept the older generation away from plastic surgery was the pain involved. However, with the development of cosmetic surgery technology, more and more older people can become beautiful again without experiencing much pain during surgery. "Earlier we used to cut a piece of flesh along with the hair from the patient's head but with the more advanced Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) surgery, the pain has been greatly reduced," Yuan told the Global Times.

Attitude

Most older women who undergo plastic surgeries have the support of their families. Zhu Lin's husband was happy to find that his wife seemed much younger than his university classmates at an alumni party after Zhu's surgery. "A young and beautiful wife can enhance a husband's prestige," Zhu's husband, Zhao Wei , told the Global Times.

Qu Lanling, a 28-year-old girl, is right behind her mother's plan to go for a face-lift. She has been thinking of asking her mother to have plastic surgery since she was in high school. "I was envious of my classmate's beautiful and younger mother when I was a high school student," said Qu. "I will ask my mother to undergo cosmetic surgery when I save enough money and will give it to her as a gift."

Not all families believe in spending so much on beauty. Some people think it is proper to just let a face age naturally. Jiang Shenghua, 27, thinks plastic surgery for middle-aged women is unnecessary. "Plastic surgery for old people? For what?" Jiang asked. Others oppose this trend because of the risk. "Facial treatments for old people are acceptable but plastic surgery is a little over the top," said 27-year-old Qin Wenyuan.