Yong men in Shanghai are turning to plastic surgeons to get more exquisite look, and doctors say the most popular request is for a more pointed face, the Shanghai Youth Daily reports Friday.

A young man receives a facial treatment in a promotional event held by a Hangzhou beauty salon Jan. 17, 2003. Chinese men begin to pay more and more attention to their appearances. [newsphoto]

According to a Shanghai-based plastic surgeon, more than half of those seeking plastic surgery are men aged 18 to 26, who typically request smaller faces, pointed chins, and straight noses.

From 2005 to 2006, there was a whopping 100% increase in cosmetic procedures among men, said the surgeon. "On a daily basis our clinic accepts ten men on average."

A slightly effeminate look is deemed posh among a great number of Shanghai's fledging metrosexuals.

Girlish Taiwan pop star Zhou Yumin, nicknamed Zaizai tops the list of celebrities male clients most want to look like, said the plastic surgeon, who voiced concern over the growing trend.

Hyped by popular culture portrayed in a myriad of Korean sitcoms and TV talent scout shows, spiritually-vulnerable youth are groping for an evolutionary aesthetic, tearing down the established idea that a man's aura lies in his masculinity, an unidentified online writer wrote on Sina.com, one of China's major news portals.

"Some asked for a copy of the face of some Hong Kong pop singer on the first visit. However, it changed into the look of a rising star the next time," said the surgeon.

"I think I will feel more confident after I have it done," said Xiao Wang (alias), a senior college student who's now engaged in a fierce job hunting and about to have a face-lift. "If the surgery would help forming a competitive edge on the tight job market, then I say, 'Why not?' "

Experts in the field have different voices, However.

"Never treat your face like a blackboard where you can add or remove whatever you want," said an expert in cosmetic procedures, "and be cautious when considering plastic surgery."