I finally learned that "plastic" in this context has nothing to do with the use of plastic or any synthetic material. Instead, it is derived from the Greek word plastikos, meaning to mold or shape.

For my zhong nui sisters, the more understandable term is "cosmetic surgery."

I'm not talking about the surgeries that are required for medical treatment. I'm talking about voluntarily being pushed into an operating theater and anesthetized, then feeling swollen and trapped in pain for days - all the while hoping you'll leave the hospital looking much better than before.

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Clearly, cosmetic surgery has gained popularity, at least among the zhong nuis that I know. In the past, it was perhaps not an accepted option for ordinary and decent women. Now the question has changed from "why did she do it?" to "where did she get it done?"

Do men welcome this increasing level of acceptance? My guess is they should, because I figure this is one of the reasons they like women from Korea and Japan. But a male friend of mine told me if his girlfriend cared to ask for his permission to fix any part of her body, he would say no - for the simple reason he wouldn't want her to attract too many pairs of hungry eyes.

My advice for him then is that: (a) he should have more confidence in himself and his girl; and (b) the question is academic, since he may not be allowed to cast a vote.

TV hostess and disc jockey Jacqueline Pang takes the passing years in her stride.