Needing a career change, divorcing a spouse, looking older than you feel: These are just a few of the reasons men and women opt for plastic surgery. Yet sometimes, the old bank account is not luxurious enough to cover the cost of getting a new look. No worries though. We live in an expanding and creative world that allows almost anyone with an imagination and desperate drive access to cosmetic enhancements once only reserved for McMansion residents.

1. Be a guinea pig:

Plastic surgeons have to test their skills on someone, why not let that person be you. Medical schools often offer substantially reduced prices for otherwise costly medical treatments varying from dental implants to nose realignments. While working with an inexperienced surgeon may scare you, fear not because medical school operations are typically monitored by physicians with world-class experience and may even coach your practicing doctor to give you a face lift any Hollywood socialite would envy.

You can find local medical schools offering plastic surgery by looking at the web-pages of nearby universities.

2. Get friendly with the newly arrived doctors

When a doctor sets up a new practice, unless she's buying clients from a retiring physician, she needs to go out and round up some paying customers. To get these new clients, doctors may be willing to give you a discount. You can find incoming physicians by checking out your local news reader or Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, you can offer to let your doctor use your before and after surgery photos in exchange for a price cut.

3. Get surgery done in groups

What does a plastic surgeon like more than one paying client- three paying clients. With that, do you have a friend, relative or co-worker that might desire a little plastic surgery? Perhaps you can arrange to have your surgeries done on the same day. You may be able to share the hospital room and recovery suite.

Although, this arrangement may not work for more complicated surgeries, coordinating multiple surgeries will save your physician time and money and he should be willing to pass a bit of the savings along to you. No matter what, negotiating a price for plastic surgery for three or more people as opposed to just one, should give you price-reducing leverage.

If your surgeon dismisses the operating room orgy, shoot for a discount on routine aesthetic treatments like laser resurfacing, dermal fillers or Botox injections. Whatever the cosmetic prick you and your comrades seek, always ask for a group discount.

4. Use cash

Who doesn't love green. While we live in a world of buy today pay tomorrow, cash still has its advantages-especially in doctors' offices. To avoid extra paperwork and prickly fees that snort up profits, more physicians offer cash payment discounts. Ask your plastic surgeon if a cash payment will slash some fat off your medical bill.

5. Leave the country

If the doctor's office down the street is too high, go to the office across the ocean. Brazil, India, Mexico, the Philippines and several other countries provide quality medical services that don't leave the patient bankrupt. If you have foreign consulate offices in your city, call an office or arrange for a meeting with a representative and discuss your wishes to have plastic surgery abroad. The consulate representative should be able to inform you about the medical standards, pricing, licensing requirements and governing boards for physicians in the foreign nation.

Alternately, you can contact the national tourism office of the country where your are considering traveling to for surgery. This office should provide you with details about visa requirements and information concerning the medical structure of the country you plan to visit.

In short, before you let anyone get fancy with a knife using your body as a cutting board, do your research and verify everything you are told with a second source. This way, you can save money and save yourself from conspicuously sloppy plastic surgery.