BEIJING, Feb. 17 -- Spring Festival is a time for family reunions. But for some college students hoping to stand a better chance of getting a job in an increasingly competitive market, the long holiday affords an opportunity to brush up on one's looks through plastic surgery.

 

That is why Liu Chunlong, medical director and CEO of the private Tian Art Plastic Surgeries Hospital, expects a booming business.

 

"We usually perform plastic surgery on about 20 students each month. But during winter vacations, the figure is five times more," he said.

 

He said university students prefer to have minor operations such as double-eyelids or nasal augmentation, so they can recover in a very short time.

 

The cost is about 1,000 yuan (128 U.S. dollars).

 

Li Qingfeng, a senior doctor at Shanghai No 9 Hospital, famous for its face-lifting techniques, expects more than 200 students will show up during the one-month winter vacation,

 

Li said even more students go under the knife during the longer summer vacation.

 

However, he does not believe such operations lead to better job prospects.

 

"I think these students just want to have more self-confidence," Li said.

 

Ma Yumin, a senior majoring in International News Reporting at Fudan University, thinks it is "absurd" to resort to plastic surgery to get a good job.

 

"A beautiful face shaped through surgery looks unnatural, and will not help," he said.

 

But Vivian, a senior Shanghai university student, disagreed.

 

She had a nose augmentation during her first college winter vacation.

 

"Many have complemented me on my beautiful nose. Of course I do not tell them it is the result of surgery."

 

Vivian added that her new nose makes her feel happier and has given her more confidence to communicate with others.