Shocking as it may sound, this story was told to me by someone in Las Vegas whose girlfriend had exactly that happen to her. While cheap plastic surgery sounds enticing at first glance, the end result could be a total disaster. It turns out that she went to a family practitioner – and not even a surgeon – for major surgery. Taking a weekend course in tummy tucks does not qualify anyone to start operating on women's bodies. A GP should be giving you your annual flu shot, not cutting you up and putting you back together!

I heard a similar story secondhand about a woman who had a botched facelift that left her with total paralysis of the left side of her face. When asked why she picked the specific doctor in Mexico, she comforted herself with the fact that, "Well, it was only $2,000 dollars." So, using her logic, you can pay less if you don't mind missing parts of your anatomy (like your belly button) or having to live with a frozen face on one side that looks like your head went through a car window. After all, what's a little belly button when at least you can slip into skinny jeans?! This is total madness.

The most dangerous assumption is that anyone with an M.D. is qualified to wield the knife that can permanently disfigure you. Wake up and smell the betadine ladies – do your homework before you jump on anyone's O.R. table!

Why are we obsessed with females in the government?

It undermines who they are as leaders when so much focus is placed on their hair, shoes, and wrinkles. It doesn't seem fair and sends the absolute wrong message to women everywhere: “It's not how smart or accomplished or successful you are, we only care about your saggy eyes!” Is there any woman in politics who doesn't deserve to have a little help? Take Nancy Pelosi for example. She looks pretty smooth and taut, yet that isn't what earned her the role of Speaker of the House. Let's look at some of the mail contenders. Does anyone really think Dick Cheney looks like the picture of vitality? He needs a facelift, and he can certainly afford one with all of his other side business ventures. (Al Gore doesn't look so great either…) So let's give women in Washington a break!

Is there such a thing as too much plastic? Definitely. When is it time to call it quits on surgery? Long before you start to look unrecognizable – to yourself, your friends and family. Think Melanie Griffith and don't go there. This is why I don't like to recommend permanent fillers. Your face changes with time, but these little particles or synthetic substances remain, and not always where you put them. If you are the type who is keen to try every new thing that comes on the market – stick with safe, reversible treatments so you can essentially try them, and if they don't work out they way you have hoped, you haven't burned any bridges. Cosmetic surgery is not a cure-all for boyfriend woes or job stress, and should never be an impulse purchase.

If you're feeling spontaneous, buy a new bag or get a hair cut. At least hair will grow back if you went too far!

Employment Cosmetics?

You want to be at the top of your game in a job interview, but the lengths people will go extend well beyond a blow out and a manicure.

Young Koreans – in their teens and 20s – are going to extremes when it comes to landing a big-time corporate job. They are seeking "employment cosmetics" to make headway in a highly-competitive job market. Gone are the days when a simple dark suit, heels, a Gucci briefcase, and a great attitude would be all you need to nail a job offer. It seems that ear, eye, nose and brow procedures are among the most favored surgeries that take beauty to a new level. For example, Korean women are going in for Botox® injections to their vocal chords in order to prevent trembling under pressure – in a job interview for instance. Now there's a clever idea that I bet you wouldn't have thought of on your own! The same tact might work on a first date, now that I think of it.

While you're at it, if sweaty palms are another hang up, Botox® works for that too!

A new weapon in the wrinkle wars -- Perlane ® -- has finally arrived stateside, and it's about time!

I have known about Perlane ® for many years from Europe, and Americans are in for a treat. This is the newest form of Restylane ®, the natural hyaluronic acid gel from Sweden, only it's three times thicker so it lasts longer and helps to enhance volume in the cheeks and chins, recontour noses, plump lips, with all sorts of other novel uses. If you have had Restylane ® already, think of Perlane ® as its big sister. The molecule is larger so it gets deposited more deeply into creases and folds. It is best for contour changes, and not really intended to smooth fine lines.

Take my advice and go for it!

Who is having cosmetic surgery now?

Syringes, scalpels, and laser beams are not just for Hollywood 's A-list in this day and age. In fact, soccer moms, retired teachers, and bank managers (rather than only heiresses and ladies who lunch) are now very interested in having a little work done too. The main difference is that “normal,” average women usually have to watch their pennies and save up for high-tech beauty treatments – which is exactly what they are doing!

These women are setting aside part of their wardrobe budget to have Botox ®, and foregoing a kitchen makeover for a facelift. Maintenance gets expensive. Just to keep up with injections can run into several thousands a year. Add some laser treatments or peels, and you can get up to $5,000 to $10,000 easily. This is where setting aside a budget for yourself can keep you on the right track. If you find yourself popping into your dermatologist's office every 3 to 6 months for a $2,500 and up a session, it may be time to actually think about having something that lasts longer.

Picture this: You and your BFF meet up for a day of beauty at the most posh local spa – massages, facials, manis and pedis, and … Botox ®? This is actually more common than you may realize, which leads me to ask: "Why have Botox in a place where their core competencies are really mud masks and seaweed wraps?”

Don't settle for a B-list doctor based merely on convenience, when there are 10,000 board certified dermatologists, 5,000 board certified plastic surgeons, and thousands more healthcare professionals who can skillfully inject your every muscle, line, and wrinkle in the safety and comfort (not to mention privacy) of a professional medical office under good lighting! The explosion of the medi-spa trend spells big bucks for those who merge medical procedures in the context of beauty services.

Botox ® is a drug - and used properly, it really saves the day for any woman who has ever squinted, scowled, or cried herself to sleep. However, having a great treatment is more than just a few arbitrary jabs with a needle. You really need an experienced, highly qualified physician to make the call about where and when you need an injection, and to give you the best aesthetic result. So unless it's a doctor you know and trust, skip the spa or salon, and head straight to the best clinic you can afford.

It certainly took long enough – 75 years to be exact – but 2006 marked the first year in which a female, Roxanne Guy, M.D., F.A.C.S., was elected president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

With Nancy Pelosi as our first female speaker of the House, let's hope that 2007 will continue to be a benchmark year for women in all areas of professional life. The cosmetic surgery industry has historically been dominated by men. One glance at the roster of board certified plastic surgeons, and you'll notice an overabundance of testosterone. Women have flourished in the medical field, including specialties such as dermatology and cosmetic dentistry, but it seems like far too few choose to be plastic surgeons. I am keeping my eye on the latest statistics in the hope that there will be an upswing during the next decade. I believe very strongly that women should support other women, so if you find a great female doctor, stick with her and send your friends as well!