An increasing number of people in countries around the world, including China, are resorting to cosmetic surgery to enhance their appearance. These people should be aware that surgery of any kind carries inherent risks and could become a burden on a country's public healthcare system. And apart from failing to solve a problem, a surgery could create new ones.

In China, a growing number of people are undergoing plastic surgery, especially during the summer vacation, in the hope of improving their "looks" as well as increasing their job prospects. The cost of cosmetic surgery - from about $300 for a facelift to thousands of dollars for other procedures - does not deter them. Many even borrow huge sums to meet the cost.

The dramatic economic, cultural and political changes in China have given an increasing number of women the opportunity to enter the job market. The opportunity, however, has also become a source of anxiety for women because of employers' preference for younger, more physically attractive candidates. For example, a survey of the job postings in 2003 showed that a majority of them were open only to applicants below 30.