The New York Times has a good article today about how many doctors are moving into cosmetic medicine. The Brooklyn doctor in the photo here spent three years being an obstetrician and gynecologist. She delivered hundreds of babies and did thousands of pelvic exams and diagnosed diseases from infections to infertility. But she has switched to clearing up acne and facial hair, and giving Botox and Restylane injections. She finds her new practise provides a much more relaxed lifestyle and she says people are as grateful for these procedures as if she's just delivered their baby.

According to an annual survey of doctors’ incomes published in Modern Healthcare magazine, family physicians earn $142,000 to $190,000 a year, while emergency room physicians earn $180,000 to $262,000 and obstetricians earn $219,000 to $302,000.

But malpractice insurance is taking a huge bite out of these incomes. The doctors interviewed said they would have to pay $160,000 annually for malpractice insurance in order to open a practise in New York.

Cosmetic medicine seems to have greater income potential with much less hassle.