WHAT’S the strangest gift you could get from your mother?

For local TV host Lee Teng, it was cosmetic surgery costing NT$20,000 ($870).

The 27-year-old Taiwan-born host told The New Paper recently that he had fat removed from his eyelids when he went home to Taipei for Chinese New Year in February.

The procedure is meant to make the eyelids appear less puffy.

Lee moved to Singapore alone when he was nine to study. His younger sister joined him later.

His mother, Madam Li Shimei, who is in her 40s, lives in Taipei and runs a maid employment agency. His father works in the US.

As to why he decided to go for plastic surgery, Lee, who hosts Channel U variety show On The Beat 5, said in Mandarin: “Artistes have the responsibility to make themselves look better, especially with the use of high-definition television now.

“But it’s not that we change our face to look like someone else. It’s about changing your own face to look better.”

Lee said the procedure he underwent is very common in Taiwan.

He said he has puffy eyes, which hide his double eyelids and make him appear tired.

Executive producers had also told him several times during filming to look more alert, he added. He would have to apply double eyelid tape on his eyes before he went to work. Sticking the tape on took about 15 minutes.

Not only was it a hassle, it was also embarrassing, as the tape would come off when he perspired.

He added: “Guys don’t like to spend too much time grooming, and it’s also very weird for us to use double eyelid tape.”

His decision to undergo surgery happened by chance.

In a phone interview from Taipei, Madam Li told The New Paper in Mandarin that Lee had accompanied her to the doctor in February for her first Botox treatment.

During the visit, she asked the doctor if anything could be done for Lee’s heavy eyelids. That was when the doctor suggested the procedure.

Madam Li said: “He’s a good son who helps me with my company’s financial accounts. He also gives me beauty products.

“We are very close and chat on the phone every day. As the procedure didn’t cost too much, I wantedto pay for it as a gift.”

This is Lee’s first time getting cosmetic surgery. He added that he’s happy with the rest of his featuresand will not go under the knife again.

Apart from improving his looks, Lee’s streetwear fashion store, Stage Hyaline of World, also underwent a major revamp recently.

From the first Stage store located at Far East Plaza, he has expanded operations to include a Stage flagship store at the new shopping mall *Scape located at Orchard Link.

Puffy no longer

Lee’s On The Beat 5 co-host, Yuan Shuai, said he has noticed the difference in Lee’s looks.

The 28-year-old said: “Previously, when we travelled overseas for work and didn’t get enough sleep, his eyes would become very puffy.”

On The Beat 5, which is also hosted by Vivian Lai, Apple Hong, and Jeremy Chan, airs every Tuesday at 8pm.

Yuan, however, said he won’t be altering his features.

The overall champion of Channel U’s 2008 competition U Are The One said he’s never been under pressure to go under the knife.

“I’m not against surgery, I just don’t think I need it,” he said.

Plastic surgery among male artistes here is still quite rare.

So far, only Bryan Wong has been reported in 2005 to have had meso therapy and botox to get rid of lines and wrinkles.

In contrast, local female artistes are more ready to go under the knife.

Quan Yi Feng has had a botched nose job, and Phyllis Quek admitted to having had her eyelids done in 2003.

Dr Tan Ying Chien, 38, consultant plastic surgeon with The Sloane Clinic, told The New Paper that male artistes are generally under less pressure to improve their looks, compared to female artistes.

Dr Tan explained: “Generally, society are more accepting of men aging but not women.

“We can accept actors like Sean Connery and Harrison Ford growing older but we want Madonna to continue looking good at age 50.”

This article was first published in The New Paper.