Pop star Michael Jackson, in this Santa Maria, California June 13, 2005. (Xinhua/Reuters file photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, March 18 -- Michael Jackson wants to change his face before his UK residency begins.

    The "Thriller" singer - who will perform 50 shows at The O2 arena, in London, starting in July - is reportedly planning to have plastic surgery to ensure he looks his best on stage.

    Jackson's unofficial biographer Ian Halperin is quoted by Britain's The Sun newspaper as saying: "Michael has consulted some of the world's best cosmetologists and surgeons in preparation for this comeback."

    Halperin claims the singer - who is said to have had more than 50 cosmetic procedures - wants to repair the damage done by previous surgeries.

    He is reportedly particularly concerned with fixing his crumbling nose, which the singer claims he has had just two operations on to improve his voice.

    Jackson's representatives have denied the 50-year-old singer is planning further cosmetic procedures.

    Tickets to Jackson's "This Is It" tour - billed his last ever UK performances - sold out in less than five hours last week.

    Nearly one million tickets, worth between ￡50 and ￡75, were sold at a rate of 333-a-minute.

    Thousands of fans missed out on tickets, which are already selling on the black market for up to ￡16,000 for a pair of front row seats.

    Jackson - who has returned to the US for rehearsals - is reportedly "ecstatic" about the sales figures and very "excited" about performing his greatest hits.

    According to a leaked set list, the pop superstar will treat fans to renditions of a host of classic tracks including "Billie Jean", "Man in the Mirror" and "Thriller."

    (Source: chinadaily.com.cn/Agencies)