A growing number of young people in China are turning to extreme measures to add centimeters to their height. Many undergo plastic surgeries or stretching operations to have an ideal height.

Advertisements on some local television channels regularly promote "stretching machines", which look like benches.

The voice-over on the advertisements claims that the machine can stretch human cartilage and "boost young people's height".

Although the natural results of increased prosperity and a better diet are making Chinese younger people taller, it seems that this growth is still not fast enough for some.

26-year-old Wang Junhong, has traveled from her hometown in south China to get her legs extended in Beijing. She's convinced that her hard-earned new height will help her run her clothing store.

"If I get this done now, then in the future, my business and career will benefit," Wang said. 

Among many determined to undergo the surgery, competition for jobs and marriage partners are the most often-cited reasons for the drastic attempts to increase height.

Content director for a career magazine, Sun Honggang, admits that it's a commonly held belief that taller people succeed.

Sun said, "In Chinese culture, we believe that your looks determine your success. We believe that a person's height is closely connected with a person's profession or job. Taller people will have more opportunity for promotion."

But not all agree.

Other people have different ideas about this issue. They say "Everybody has their own interpretation of beauty. Having surgeries can only change the appearance. I think it is the inner beauty that really counts."

"I can fully understand their attempt to become taller. But I don't think undergoing surgeries is a wise choice, for it is going to the extremes," they said.

Surgery seems more likely to deliver results, but it takes a lot more commitment than a few minutes a day on the stretching rack.

Xia Hetao is a height extension surgeon of a private hospital in Beijing that has become famous for its height-extending practice.

He says he performed more than 1,000 surgeries over the last decade.

But as leg lengthening becomes more popular, Xia Hetao worries the unsupervised market is ruining his business.

"There have to be standards of quality set for this kind of operation, just like for a manufacturer making any kind of product. Without quality standards, how can people know what to expect from height-extending surgery? The lack of any quality standards is irresponsible, both to society in general, and also to the technique itself," Xia said. 

The surgeon criticized counterfeit advertisements exaggerating the benefits, while minimizing the risks, and called for industry self-discipline and customers' cautions.

(CRI June 30, 2005)