BEVERLY HILLS — Nips and tucks are no longer limited to the world outside of the womb.  More couples are opting for the controversial surgeries to be done in embryo, so as to be more natural.

As a girl, Rhonda Hackensakis always felt self-conscious about her large nose.  She spent her teenage years as a wallflower, remained an introverted 20-something and finally got a nose job at 33.  Now pregnant with a girl, Hackensakis is joining many other Californians who are opting for controversial pre-natal surgeries.

RHINOPLASTY: Before and after photos (at 20 and 36 weeks) show the smoothing effects of pre-natal cosmetic surgery.

"I don't want my own child to have to wait thirty years like I did.  We've seen sonogram pictures that show she's likely to have a sizeable schnoz, too.  Why should she suffer from it when the science and technology now exists to make kids still more perfect little human beings, ready to take on the world the moment they emerge, and not predisposed to all the insecurities that result from something like that.  If it makes just one kid more confident, it'll all be worthwhile."

Doctors will break and reconstruct the fetus' nose while still in the womb, using new tools designed by a husband-wife team of surgeons, Guy and Nicole O'Gist.  "After surgery," says Guy O'Gist, "we plop the baby back in the womb to cook for another dozen weeks or so, where embryonic fluids smooth those surgical lines that might be seen if done outside the womb."

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"This type of cosmetic surgery is a lot like getting braces.  It's not what anyone wants to do, but it's ultimately for their own benefit."
— Kip Hackensakis, parent

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Rhonda's husband, Kip, is willing to take the risks that go with "enhanced bodily features," as the surgeries are called.  "It's a lot like getting braces.  It's not what anyone wants to do, but it's ultimately for their own benefit.  As a parent, it's the responsible thing to do."

Other types of cosmetic surgery being done include liposuction (to remove unsightly baby fat),  botox treatments (to remove wrinkles caused by cramped womb space), collagen treatments (to give babies fully, rounder lips) and chin, cheek and leg surgery (to prevent weak chins, flat cheeks and bow-leggedness).

Critics decry the beauty standards being imposed upon all babies.  Sonia Svenbott, of the Center for Baby Standards, notes that "there is a growing consensus among these groups of people that any baby over 8 lbs. is overweight."  That's a little spooky to me.  They're the ones doing baby liposuction.  Whatever happened to good, old fashioned baby fat?!"     
No one can say what the future of prenatal surgery will hold.  Hair weaves for bald babies?   Breast enhancements?  Penis enlargements?  Don't rule it out.