Set in sexy South Beach, Miami, "Nip/Tuck" cuts beneath the surface of the superficial world of plastic surgery, revealing the complexities and fragile nature of patients trying to mask their psychological flaws through cosmetic enhancement. Self-confident plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Troy (series star JULIAN McMAHON) enjoys all the perks of the successful and growing practice that he has shared with his best friend, Dr. Sean McNamara (series star DYLAN WALSH), since they graduated from medical school. Dr. Liz Cruz (series star ROMA MAFFIA) serves as the anesthesiologist

Sean suffers uncontrollable spasms in his hands. After he nicks a patient's major neck artery during a routine cyst lancing, Sean stops performing surgeries. He becomes even more depressed and anxious when Christian, whose nose has been broken by a woman during sex, asks another plastic surgeon to reset it. Christian is deeply insulted when the attractive female surgeon not only rebuffs his sexual advances but also advises him to get some cosmetic work done on the rest of his aging body.

Christian and Sean agree to rehabilitate a stalwart, optimistic Somali woman, Manya Mabika (AISHA TYLER - "Friends," "Talk Soup," pilot "My Life, Incorporated"), who was genitally mutilated as a girl in her home country. After they surgically rebuild her clitoris, Manya asks the perfectly willing Christian to help her have an orgasm, but even he cannot succeed, causing the doctors to worry that the operation was a failure.

the real problem with Annie is much more scary for them to cope with. Also, Julia introduces her new friend, "life coach" Ava Moore (recurring guest star FAMKE JANSSEN - "X-Men" movies), to Matt, hoping that she will help him cope with his tumultuous emotions. Meanwhile, Christian reels from meeting the biological father of Gina's baby, a dignified, married and much older black man

when a tragedy occurs on the boat before they can even get into the water, Sean ends up impressing Matt for much more important reasons. Meanwhile, Christian is overwhelmed by the prospect of losing Gina's son to the boy's biological father, James Sutherland (recurring guest star GEORG STANFORD BROWN), who is now demanding custody.

Christian confronts Ava about what she's putting Matt through--and Ava deduces a startling secret about Christian, Julia and Matt. Also, Matt finally confesses his hit-and-run incident to Ava. Meanwhile, an unlikely alliance forms between middle-aged anesthesiologist Liz, a lesbian longing to get pregnant but unable to find a suitable sperm donor, and unfulfilled Christian, who deeply misses being a father.

Disgruntled former McNamara/Troy patient Bobbi Broderick (recurring guest star JILL CLAYBURGH - "An Unmarried Woman," "Starting Over") stalks the doctors, threatens to sue them, drives away customers and tries to persuade an investigative reporter to do an exposé on what she perceives as their malpractice. At the same time,

When a homeless prostitute, Agatha Ripp (SARAH PAULSON - "Jack & Jill"), arrives at McNamara/Troy, the doctors fear she simply wants pro bono surgery for scars on her wrists. But she tells Christian and Sean that she is being deified by a devout parish of Christians because her injuries resemble the stigmata, the wounds Jesus Christ suffered on the cross.

After the shocking outcome of the grueling surgery and the other events of the trip, they make a difficult decision on the future of McNamara/Troy. Meanwhile, Matt copes with his pain regarding the family turmoil by continuing to date manipulative Ava (recurring guest star FAMKE JANSSEN), to the concern of Julia, Sean and Christian.

Having tenuously reconciled and agreed to continue their partnership, Sean and Christian consult with an exuberant newspaper journalist, Ike Connors (J.K. SIMMONS - "Oz," "Spider-Man" movies), who wants breast implants for himself. After painfully watching his loving wife, Amy (JESSICA STEEN), suffer through breast cancer, a mastectomy and subsequent implant surgery, Ike wants to experience the trauma for himself and live with breasts for a year, during which he will write a book about it, the proceeds of which he will donate to a cancer care center.

While the doctors work with an expert ocularist to create and implant artificial eyes for a beautiful blind woman, Natasha Charles (recurring guest star REBECCA GAYHEART), Christian finds himself drawn to Natasha's direct and disarming sensuality. When Natasha makes a date with a man she corresponded with via the Internet, Christian worries that she will fall prey to selfish males like himself--but as his attraction to her grows,

Julia suffers an accident that leaves her in bad physical and mental shape. She turns to Sean to heal her. Under anesthesia, Julia imagines what her life would be like if she had married Christian instead of Sean.

When Adrian gets into trouble for selling his mother's drugs in school, Matt is implicated as well. Manipulative Ava convinces Matt to ask Christian to attend the resulting parent-teacher conference instead of Sean, and she preys upon the insecurities of Matt's middle-aged teacher to arrange a trade of free eye rejuvenation in exchange for leniency for the boys.

Sean and Christian reluctantly accept the case of Trudy Nye (LISA WALTZ), who wants her nose fixed. Years ago, her abusive husband broke it--on the same day he killed their young son in anger. Now he is getting out of prison early. They believe Trudy's contention that she wants to put her past behind her and forget the pain of her marriage.

Sean has been doing pro-bono work on the victims of the Carver, a serial rapist who preys on the beautiful people and carves their faces as a message to society. Sean's television exposure has terrible consequences. Christian gets horrifying news that will affect his personal and professional lives.

Nip-tuck Season 02 Episode 16 - Joan Rivers": Joan Rivers goes to consult with Christian and Sean to doctor, but her requests manage to astonish them. Sean, Christian and Julia learn the shocking truth about Ava - something that could destroy her life and completely devastate Matt. she wants to go through a cosmetic surgery. Sean must make a decision on how to deal with the Carver.