It's hard out there for a plastic surgeon. I mean, all you want to do is beautify the world when suddenly  the economy tanks and then man, it's like people aren't even spending money on a quick after-work liposuction treatment anymore! What's a surgeon to do?

Well if you're Dr. Michael Salzhauer, you make an iPhone app.

According to the press release, iSurgery "combines personal image modification with high tech gaming features."

(Hey, it worked for Anthony Michael Hall and Corey Haim in Weird Science.)

Essentially there are two modes - one where you can play surgeon and uh, "modify" the looks of patients, and another where you can upload your own photos and modify yourself. You imperfect thing, you.

If you recognize Dr. Salzhauer's name, you might remember his infamous children's book, My Beautiful Mommy which showed 4-7 year olds how much MORE beautiful mommy now is with a new nose, higher boobs, and her glam-a-riffic Streetwalker Barbie outfit! (Of course it doesn't address the fact that now the kid is going to grow up having that same nose she now knows needs professional attention. But I suppose that's what sequels are for.)

The book also depicts Dr. Salzhauer illustrated like Superman on steroids, which makes me think he's been playing with his own iPhone app a leeeetle too much.

Actual Dr. Salzhauer

Illustrated Dr. Salzhauer

I'm trying to figure out why this whole thing bugs me so much. Because truthfully, I'm not a plastic surgery hater.

I understand the need for skilled, responsible plastic surgeons. I think it's great that they can truly repair lives in many cases and not just body parts. I have a friend who felt she could live her life normally for the first time when she had her (very prominent) nose reduced in her thirties. And blogger Rebecca Woolf who had a breast reduction at 18 because her double-Fs were destroying her life. I even understand the self-esteem lift one can get with a post-childbirth tummy tuck.

But what I also understand is that these women did not undertake these surgeries lightly. They understand there is risk in elective cosmetic surgery, both physical and emotional, and they weighed the pros and the cons. I doubt that iSurgeon presents both sides to help women make smart decisions. And when it goes so far as to turn slimmer hips or fatter lips into a game, while planting that photographic image in your head of the more perfect you, that's when I get a little squirmy.

Especially in a world where a plastic surgeon has built himself a blowup doll wife with no shame at all.

I'm sure I'm predisposed to hate any application that comes from the author of that horrible book. So am I just biased here? Am I overreacting? Would you use a game like iSurgeon? I would love your thoughts. Because I know they'll be great ones.

Liz Gumbinner is the author of Mom-101, and the publisher and editor-in-chief of Cool Mom Picks. She has all of her original parts intact. For now.