GUESS what? Singapore Idol 2004 runner- up Sylvester Sim is going for a nose job and double eyelid surgery.

Prominent local plastic surgeon Martin Huang of The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic in Paragon has offered his services for free.

Gosh, why so vain Sly? Are your God-given features so bad that they need fixing?

I just want to look better, said Sly, 26, who performs at St James Power Station?s Mandopop lounge Dragonfly.

"It's nothing shameful. There's nothing wrong in wanting to improve one's looks." He wants a taller nose bridge and deeper, more defined double eyelids.

But he sheepishly confessed he hadn't informed his parents or girlfriend of two years, a 21-year-old full-time dancer at the club.

Sly admitted he doesn't know "how they'd react to the news" and he prefers to let them read it first in The New Paper.

He added: "I don't think they will object to it. My parents are conservative but they will eventually warm up to the idea.

"They didn't like me having tattoos at first. Then my father was influenced and even got himself two."

His mother had also taken to his nose piercing and got one herself.

So what is so bad about his nose and eyelids?

His nose isn't flat like a hum chee peng (savoury Chinese pancake), nor does it have a mushroom for a tip. Sly also already has double eyelids.

Granted, they aren't the prettiest and he doesn't have saucer-like eyes like an anime character.

But girls had gone gaga over his boyish, bad-boy rocker image when he was competing on Singapore Idol five years ago.

And no one's complaining.

His boss, St James chief executive officer Dennis Foo, the first person he informed, doesn't see anything wrong with Sly's features. A diplomatic Mr Foo, 56, said: "His nose isn't too big and is quite nicely-shaped."

But Sly said: "I don't think I'm ugly but my nose looks rather flat from the side view.

"My existing double eyelids disappear when I open my eyes and I look like I have single eyelids. This conceals most of my eye make-up, which I put on for my performances. Having the surgery will enlarge my eyes and my make-up will be more obvious."

So is this to improve his craft? No lah, he said. He's not that self-sacrificing. He doubts his popularity will soar with his new - and hopefully improved - looks.

"It's just for my own vanity's sake. I think I'll be more confident about myself. If this shows up in my performances and improves them, that's a bonus."

The operation is likely to take place in the next two months.

Sly had originally wanted a nose filler.

But now he is going with Dr Huang's suggestion of a nose restructuring procedure so the result will look "more natural".

Dr Huang, 48, had also wanted to alter Sly's chin, but the latter declined.

Sly said: "He wanted to make it look more macho. But that's not my image. I've always had this androgynous, feminine look. The chin job would alter my looks."

Does he realise that many male celebs in his position would not talk about such an operation and would deny it to their deathbed?

"Perhaps they fear being criticised for tampering with nature. I'm not going to hide it. That's not me. I won't give lame excuses like some female stars do about augmenting their chest through special massages."

He can even tell who has had work done but he won't name them.

"Nine out of 10 (showbiz stars) have had plastic surgery. There's no way one's nose can be that straight."

He loves the prettiness of Korean pop star Hero of boy band TVXQ and J-rocker Miyavi. Sly had been contemplating getting a nose job for more than two years.

He tried those gimmicky nose bridge shaping clips for a quick fix - but they didn't work. He couldn't even breathe with them on. It was painful but he persevered for three months before giving up.

Then friends who have gone to Dr Huang for surgery introduced them.

Dr Huang had also sponsored local blogger Xiaxue's nose job two years ago.

During their first consultation on Monday last week, Dr Huang asked Sly to get his eyelids done after hearing his make-up woes.

Nose restructuring reportedly costs $6,000 to $8,000. A double eyelid job can be upwards of $2,000.

Dr Huang declined to comment on the cost and why he's doing it for free. There was also no word on possible complications, the recovery process and potential risks.

Three months ago, Dr Huang was fined $5,000 and censured by the Singapore Medical Council after pleading guilty to professional misconduct for injecting sheep foetal cells into patients for anti-ageing and rejuvenation.

Sly said: "The case didn't question his skills and expertise which I'm confident of." Before meeting Dr Huang, Sly had considered going to South Korea or China for plastic surgery because "they're cheaper".

But he was so convinced by Dr Huang's expertise, he did not even bother shopping around for other plastic surgeons.

Dr Huang has been practising since 1990 and is considered among the top in the field here.

But will this quest for physical perfection end here? After all, many celebrities have become addicted to plastic surgery and some have been victims of botched jobs.

For now, Sly says he is satisfied with the rest of his body.

"I don't want to look drastically different. I still want to retain some natural beauty."

Now, haven't we heard that before?

This article was first published in The New Paper.