With Spring Festival quickly approaching, demand for plastic surgery is surging.

Unlike the past, when most plastic surgery patients were young and fashionable, middle-aged residents are lining up for beauty treatments.

"We have begun to receive reservations and demand should peak in the middle of this month," said Liu Chunlong, a spokesman for the Shanghai Ren'ai Hospital, which has received more than 60 reservation over the past couple of weeks.

"Middle-aged people, who accounted for 10 to 15 percent of plastic surgery patients in the past, account for 30 to 40 percent this year," Liu said. "Most of them plan to have their facial defects and figures improved."

The low temperature in winter makes it more comfortable for people to wear special tights, which are a must for those undergoing liposuction.

"In winter, the tights are also not that conspicuous and help get rid of danger to catch post-surgery infection," said a 36-year-old local woman registered to remove the fat from her abdomen at Ren'ai.

"Though the service is not cheap, we are willing to pay for a better image. The process is more effective and convenient than diet and physical exercises for people of my age."

Doctors ascribed the increase of middle-age patients to the introduction of more non-invasive services.

"People between 30 and 40 have become a big target for cosmetic treatment. They are likely to undergo non-surgical process to renovate their appearance, especially wrinkles," said Dr Constance C Yam from Shanghai ConBio Cosmetic and Laser Surgery Center.

(Eastday.com January 8, 2005)