普京被疑为大选整容 皮肤平滑容光焕发

　　Speculation that Vladimir Putin may have had cosmetic surgery has resurfaced as he prepares to assume the Russian presidency for the third time。

　　The 58-year-old Russian prime minister set the blogosphere alight at the weekend after accepting his party's presidential nomination at a glitzy Moscow event with his face looking suspiciously smooth。

　　The skin around his eyes was almost totally clear of bags and wrinkles, triggering a fresh wave of speculation that he has had a series of cosmetic procedures to keep his face looking youthful。

　　Set to turn 59 next month, Mr Putin prides himself on his image as a Judo-loving energetic action man who is in ideal shape to lead the world's largest country。

普京被疑整容

　　But his critics say he risks turning into a parody of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev who ruled the USSR from 1964 until his death in 1982. Mr Putin is well placed to serve two back-to-back presidential terms that would keep him in power until 2024 at which point he would be 71.

　　Speculation that he has cosmetically altered his face first surfaced in October 2010 after he appeared at a press conference in Ukraine wearing heavy make up with a dark patch that looked like severe bruising around his left eye. His spokesman said the incident was a misunderstanding, claiming the light had fallen awkwardly and that Mr Putin was simply tired because he had been "working a great deal."

　　Earlier this month, Russia's liberal New Times magazine revived that speculation, publishing an article entitled "What has happened with Putin's face?" It interviewed four leading plastic surgeons who concluded that it was likely he had undergone cosmetic surgery. The magazine said he had probably had Botox injected into his forehead, an eye-lift on his lower lids, and an injection of firming filler into his famous cheek bones。