About 300 women have applied to a hospital for free plastic surgery, inspired by China's first "plastic surgery beauty," Hao Lulu.

The Shenzhen Sun Hospital placed advertisements in newspapers last week seeking a candidate to become the city's first "plastic surgery beauty." The hospital promised free surgery for the successful candidate.

The hospital said Wednesday the advertisements had drawn about 300 applicants.

The hospital plans to perform at least seven operations on the successful candidate and is confident it will transform her into a beauty with star looks.

Doctors at the hospital described the dangers associated with the surgery as limited, saying breast and nose implants could be removed if there were side effects. The hospital would buy insurance cover for the operations, doctors said.

Hao Lulu, 24, became a media sensation when she accepted 300,000 yuan (US$36,270) worth of plastic surgery in Beijing earlier this year.

Her recent return to public life following the surgery led to heated discussion in the media and on the Internet.

Despite the controversy, Hao triggered a "man-made beauty" craze in Shanghai, Guangzhou and other cities.

In Shanghai, Zhang Di embarked on a three-week plastic surgery marathon last Tuesday, after a local tabloid newspaper put up 100,000 yuan (US$12,000) to turn the 26-year-old translator into a "man-made beauty." Zhang beat 50 other contestants to win the free plastic surgery.

Meanwhile, more people are using plastic surgery to improve their appearance. Several hundred people underwent plastic surgery at the Shenzhen Sun Hospital every month.

(Shenzhen Daily December 11, 2003)