Plumping up the bottom line

By Dana Gentry

Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 | 5:23 p.m.

Times are tough, even for plastic surgeons. Disposable income isn't as disposable as it once was, and that has plastic surgeons searching for ways, other than augmenting breast size, to augment income.

Doctors of all specialties, dissatisfied with low insurance reimbursements, are converting their practices to cater to the cash-laden consumer of cosmetic procedures. Some are offering popular procedures like laser hair removal, or injectables like Botox, but at a higher price than many of the medical spas proliferating at a rate rivaling Starbucks. Some physicians abandon careers in pediatrics or internal medicine to become medical spa directors. And because Nevada licenses surgeons as merely "physician/surgeon," no additional certification is needed when a dental surgeon, for instance, opts to perform liposuction.

We hear from Dr. Julio Garcia, the plastic surgeon best known for reattaching Evander Holyfield's ear after Mike Tyson took a bite, and from the owner of a medical spa who says plastic surgeons are out to hurt medical spas through a legislative effort aimed at restricting who may administer procedures.

Plus, Jon joins us via satellite with the latest on the Dissension in Denver.