LASER medical cosmetology is becoming more and more popular in Shanghai.

Recently, a brand new laser technique that uses photons to smooth skin went into operation at Shanghai's Guobin Medical Centre, one of the hundreds of institutes utilizing laser surgery in the city.

"The photons are strictly selected through countless experiments performed on animals," said Yan Deren, assistant manager at the centre.

They are chromatic rays within a certain section of the spectrum. They can penetrate the skin and dispel facial blemishes.

Moreover, they can accelerate the growth of collagen, which makes the skin healthier and more elastic.

"If my skin looks good, then I feel good," said one customer at the centre a 36-year-old woman, surnamed Chen.

She went to have the photon treatment on her skin three weeks ago.

"My skin is more fine and glossy than before, though the effect is not that distinct. I believe that when I finished all the three or maybe five courses of the treatment, my skin will take on a new look," she said.

Like Chen, most customers taking the photon path to beautify themselves are white collar employees, aged from 20 to 65.

But many students under 18 also came to maintain their skin on the summer vacation as an after-effect of the "pro-Japanese and Korean trend."

Seductive advantages

According to Yan, the photon device introduced from America early last year is the first on the Chinese mainland.

The three doctors at the centre are all experts on skin care, two of whom are retired from Shanghai People's Hospital No. 1. They are all strictly trained before operating the device on customers.

"The charge is not high at all, in fact, 2,000 yuan (US$241) for each course. These days it is 50 per cent off in order to attract more customers," said Yan. "So we have more customers as expected."

Lasers are said to have four advantages in surgery - safety, speed, painlessness and success. People often need not take time off work to have the surgery.

"But I don't trust the advertisements at all," said a saleswoman surnamed Luan. "Going to beauty parlours is acceptable to me, but never surgery. I won't accept surgery of this kind."

Luan also said she was afraid that even if the surgery succeeded, it would made her skin age faster in the future.

Before using the photon method, a doctor examines and talks with the customer two to three times to make sure they understand what it involves. When the customer makes up her mind, she signs a legal agreement with the centre.

"If some morbid condition arises after the procedure it must be the doctor's fault and the doctor must take responsibility," said a doctor surnamed Tan.

Tan has worked at the centre for three years, ever since it opened.

He also said the centre had not done any surgery that was a complete failure but there had been several "unsatisfactory" cases. "I can't tell you any more, because we doctors must keep secret for our customers." He said.

Photon surgery may burn the skin during treatment and that had happened abroad some years ago, Yan said. But it had never happened at the centre.