I was appalled quite frankly.

The suggested additional tax would include surgical procedures such as rhytidoplasties, breast implants, abdominoplasties, and liposuction. Surgeries for the treatment of a disease or a serious injury are not included.

Maybe 40 or 50 years ago it was construed as just something for the rich and famous, but now we have patients from really every walk of life, including blue collar workers, laborers and their wives. People just really want to improve their body image and overall psychological sense of well being.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that, in 2007, Americans expended $11.8 billion on cosmetic surgeries. An additional 10% tax puts up about $1.2 billion, which would definitely aid in funding what remains of the healthcare plan.

State Representative Garnet Coleman (Houston) remarked that it would assist people with no health insurance and those who are underinsured. He further said,

The real objective of this bill is not plastic surgery. The real objective is to get people health insurance. In Texas, there are six million, in Harris County it is over a million. None of those people want plastic surgery. What they want to be able to do is deal with real illnesses that kill and they want to have access to a doctor.

However, Dr. Rose thinks that what the state rep defends would likely be a problem for a simple person who just wishes to have a cosmetic surgical procedure.