there is a solidify script... think if you are using this on a face would do somthing like inset... http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/downloads/scripts-plugins/modeling/poly-tools/c/p3d-solidify
Sorry to bump this but its really annoying. I've been combing the internet looking for a solution or script. Maya does some things great but man the poly modeling is downright painful at times compared to most other apps.