Accused Cosmetic Surgeon Urges ‘Lifts’ for Attorneys

A Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon, taking the witness stand for the first time to defend himself against charges of malpractice and insurance fraud, tried to show his expertise in the field Wednesday by suggesting that both the prosecuting and defense attorneys could use eyebrow lifts.

Noting that drooping eyelids are often the first sign of aging, Dr. Michael Elam pointed to his attorney, Douglas Reynolds, and testified: “You have very sad eyes, Mr. Reynolds.”

Elam’s medical advice, prompting laughter and some red faces in Administrative Law Judge Rosalyn M. Chapman’s Los Angeles hearing room, reflected the confident and sometimes brash tone that the surgeon used throughout the day to review his record.

The 41-year-old Elam, whose work in 1983 on comedian Phyllis Diller’s face propelled his popularity and his practice, mentioned freely throughout his testimony the names of internationally known plastic surgeons with whom he has worked. And he added that he believes he has helped gain wider acceptance of liposuction, a surgical process to remove fat.

But the Corona del Mar resident will likely face tougher questioning today with cross-examination expected from Deputy Atty. Gen. Barry D. Ladendorf, who also shows wrinkles above his eyes, according to Elam.

Ladendorf, representing the Medical Board of California in its accusations against Elam, will try to prove that the doctor gave a former beauty queen from Orange County a nose job and cheek implants that she never wanted, drugged her into signing consent forms for the procedure, and then submitted fraudulent insurance claims of $3,700. The state’s accusations also address another woman’s complaints about excessive scars from a tummy tuck.

If Judge Chapman finds merit to the state’s accusations, Elam and former partner Frederick Berkowitz could face probation, suspension or revocation of their licenses.

Bonnie Luebke, 55, of Trabuco Canyon, who won the Mrs. California title in 1984 and was runner-up in the national competition, testified last week that she went to Elam in 1985 only to get a jowl tuck and an eyelid lift to help freshen her look for modeling and pageant appearances.

Breaking into tears during her testimony, she said that Elam had repeatedly tried to persuade her that she could be “another Linda Evans” and that she was traumatized when she saw the results of the operation.

But Elam, disputing her recollection, testified Wednesday that he and Luebke talked from the time of her first office consultation about doing a “stage lift” that would include surgery in the brow and mid-face areas and a nose job.

“I’m not really a bad doctor, so I’m happy to be here to defend myself,” Elam said after the hearing. “When all is said and done, it will be very clear that . . . this situation is a result of professional jealousy.”

Meanwhile, a Santa Monica plastic surgeon who has done work on pop star Michael Jackson and was expected to testify this week on the Elam affair, now may not take the witness stand.

Dr. Steven Hoefflin’s possible testimony was to have centered on a remark that he allegedly made last year about Elam to Santa Ana plastic surgeon Robert Miner, a longtime critic of Elam’s and one of the state’s principal witnesses against him.

In testimony last week, Miner quoted Hoefflin as warning him to “be very careful because (Elam) had been known to get some of his friends to get rough with people who had crossed him.”

But Hoefflin denied making such a remark when asked about it by attorneys for both the state and Elam earlier this week. As a result, defense attorney Reynolds said he may not have to call Hoefflin as a witness and may instead enter into the record a stipulation about the doctor’s denial.

The alleged warning could have been particularly damaging to Elam in light of a 1989 decision by an Orange County Superior Court judge ordering him not to threaten, harm or harass his former investment broker or the broker’s family. The broker had asserted that Elam threatened him repeatedly and sent men to his house as a warning after a silver deal went sour.