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PLASTIC SURGERY NEWS, SURGERY NEWS, COSMETIC SURGERY NEWS Current NEWS  |
Plastic surgery not just for people anymore
Ainsley Earhardt
KENS 5 Eyewitness News
Nose jobs, liposuction, and face-lifts are everyday stuff at a plastic surgeon's office. But now, more and more people are asking for a little nip and tuck — from their vet.
Bode's a beautiful dog. But he wasn't always perfect. He had "a lazy mouth that fell way down like a St. Bernard," Bode's owner Marjorie Dye said. Bode needed a big boost, so his owner bought him a new face.
"Just with a few stitches, he took that up, and you can see it's just perfect," Dye said.
Perfect is popular, vets say. So more and more animals are getting plastic surgery.
"Pretty much anything that can be done to people, can be done to your pet," said veterinarian Dr. Alan Schulman.
But aren't dogs supposed to look like dogs?
Some owners are giving their pets liposuction, tummy tucks, breast reductions and even eye jobs.
Bode's doctor only does the job if it's medically necessary.
"You're pulling the lips up and back and taking out some of the skin folds that are responsible for a lot of excessive drooling and secondary infection," Schulman said.
The president of the American Veterinary Medical Association says it's not the pet that has the problem.
"They're not concerned about their appearance," Bonnie Beaver with the AVMA said. "We're the ones that are concerned about appearance."
Appearance is important to Shawna Johnson. She had her dog neutered and wanted him to have testicular implants.
"I wanted the appearance of a natural, intact dog," Johnson said.
So her doctor gave her dog exactly what she wanted.
"If you're more proud of your dog as you walk him and because he looks more normal to you, then I think it's a psychological benefit to the animal," said veterinarian Jack Mannix.
If you want your animal to have some nips and tucks, be prepared to pay the price.
It will cost you about $1500 or more to give your dog a face-lift, eye job or nose job. A set of testicular implants will cost you about $300.
