Wealthy eye up cosmetic surgery in quest to look Western

FIRST it was Western fast food, Western clothes and Western cars. Now China's wealthy women are chasing a new Western fashion - large, round eyes.

Eye-widening operations have turned into a bizarre new growth industry in China, a sign of the further increase in the influence of Western culture and entertainment behind the bamboo curtain.

The demand for cosmetic operations such as eye enlargement, breast enlargement and hymen replacement is tempting many doctors to give up conventional medicine in search of richer pickings in the beauty industry.

Chinese surgeons are becoming skilled at removing the so-called double eyelid - a feature of Asian faces that makes eyes appear narrower. With a careful incision they remove excess fat from the upper eyelid before carefully stitching it up in a way that makes the eye appear wider and brighter.

Dr Wang Zuoliang, of Shenzhen's Red Cross Hospital, says he removes 10 sets of double eyelids a week. For the 40-minute operation carried out under local anaesthetic, he charges 830 yuan (HK$759) - about four times the average weekly wage.

'Before the economic changes, we were only allowed to do necessary surgery such as repairing hair lips. But now we can do what we like, whatever patients are demanding,' he said.

The results do not please everyone. Luo Huifang, 23, had an eye-widening operation at another hospital three years ago and says she feels conned. As she stares through narrow, Oriental eyes, she says she is embarrassed to talk about the experience which she said was a complete disaster.