ROME (Reuters) - The old adage that behind every successful man stands a woman appears to be true even for Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who says his wife persuaded him to have cosmetic surgery around the eyes.

"She convinced me to do it. Veronica is behind the whole thing," he told reporters on Wednesday night at a meeting with fashion industry leaders.

He also suggested he hadn't seen the last of his plastic surgeons, saying "I'm not finished yet, as you can see."

The 67-year-old Berlusconi, Italy's richest man, was not seen in public for more than a month over the Christmas and New Year holidays before he returned to the scene a week ago to mark the 10th birthday of his Forza Italia party.

Italy's most image-conscious politician looked younger and thinner and admitted glowingly that he "re-did" his eyelids and went on a diet.

"I like the way I look. I feel fine. I look in the mirror and I like what I see and I think I am more pleasing to others too."

The prime minister's prolonged absence from the limelight coincided with a turbulent period for Italy.

A multi-billion euro fraud has pushed Italian food giant Parmalat into insolvency, political tensions are threatening the future of his ruling coalition and a series of strikes have periodically snarled the nation's transport network.

While Berlusconi acknowledged the nip and tuck over the holidays, he denied as "pure nasty political gossip" persistent rumours that he had disappeared because he had been ill or that he was suffering from a tumor.

"I don't have any tumor. I had one years ago but it was removed," he said, referring to an operation for prostate cancer seven years ago.

When asked what he thought of political commentators, some of whom have been giving him a ragging over his disappearing act, he replied: "They are nice, friendly. Pity that they then put pen to paper."