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What should you know about the safety of outpatient plastic surgery?

When considering plastic surgery, it’s natural to focus more on the expected result than on the surgical process. However, to be fully informed, it’s important to learn about the safety of the procedure as well as the expected outcome. Although thousands of people have plastic surgery every year without complications, no surgical procedure is risk-free. To maximize safety, ensure that:

• Your physician is an ASPS Member Surgeon – which ensures at least five years of surgical training – with a minimum of two years specifically in plastic surgery, and is by the American Board of Plastic Surgery;

• The facility where your surgery will be performed conforms to strict safety standards – ASPS Member Surgeons only operate in accredited facilities;

• Your surgeon is informed of any drugs you are taking and your full medical history, especially if you have had any circulation disorders, heart or lung ailments or problems with blood clots;

• The surgical facility will use skilled, licensed personnel to administer and monitor your anesthesia and your recovery immediately following the procedure

• Extra safety measures are taken if you are having a more extensive liposuction procedure.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), an organization of plastic surgeons who are dedicated to the highest standards of patient care, has prepared this document to help you get the safety information you need. It contains recommendations developed by the society’s expert task forces, whose members have consulted the most recent research available. If you have questions about these guidelines or any specific concerns not covered in this document, talk with your plastic surgeon. Only ASPS members are entitled to display the logo above.

How can I be sure that my surgeon has adequate training?

Good credentials can’t guarantee a successful outcome; however, they can significantly increase the likelihood of it. Patients are advised to find a doctor who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify a surgeon in plastic surgery of the face and of the entire body. Certification by the ABPS is ’the gold standard’ for plastic surgeons because it signifies that the surgeon has had formal training in an accredited plastic surgery residency program. If your surgeon is ABPS-certified, you can be assured that your doctor:

• Has completed at least five years of surgical residency training after medical school, including at least two years in plastic surgery

• Has passed comprehensive cosmetic and reconstructive surgery exams

• Is qualified to perform cosmetic and reconstructive procedures – everything from liposuction and facelifts to intricate wound repair.

To verify a surgeon’s certification status, contact the American Board of Plastic Surgery at 215-587-9322 or visit the board’s web site at www.abplsurg.org or the American Board of Medical Specialties at www.abms.org or by phoning 1-800-776-2378

*This article was taken from About-the-Safety-of-Outpatient-Plastic-Surgery.cfm

Dr. Kim is a plastic surgeon providing his expertise to the Beverly Hills area. For more information please visit Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery.

Liposuction Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills

Liposuction, otherwise known as lipoplasty or liposculpture, is a widely used procedure for removing excess fat from problem areas in the body. There are a lot of reasons why someone may want to consider liposuction for themselves. It’s possible that the patient has tried dieting and exercise and has continuing problems in one or certain areas of their bodies with getting rid of fat pockets. This is the most common reason why someone would elect to have liposuction done;some other reasons are to treat fatty benign tumors as well as problems with metabolism. I think it is important to stress that liposuction is not for the treatment of obesity. There are other procedures available for this if the patient is considered to be an ideal candidate for the procedure.

The first post on this subject was meant to be more of an introduction the the liposuction procedure and a brief overview on the entire subject rather than an in depth article. Delving further into liposuction is this post, letting readers know a little more on the topic for those who are interested. In this post we will briefly talk about the different techniques that are used for liposuction so that you have a better idea about what could possibly be used on you. The techniques are really only different in the amount of fluid that is used as well as the mechanism that is used.

Wet liposuction, super-wet liposuction, tumescent liposuction, and laser assisted liposuction all have to do with the amount of fluid that is used. Depending on the technique used it also can determine what the anesthetic used is.

The mechanisms that can be used are a little more to explain. There are many different types although the basic idea is always the same. The mechanisms are as follows:

(SAL) Suction-assisted Liposuction is just that; the small cannula is inserted into an incision and the fat is broken up and drawn out using suction.

(UAL) Ultrasound-assisted Liposuction is the same procedure except with the use of ultrasound vibrations. These vibrations burst the fat cells and cause them to liquefy, making the fat easier to suction out.

(PAL) Power-assisted Liposuction uses a different cannula that with an automated movement that requires the surgeon to make less manual movements.

(TCAL) Twisted Cannula Liposuction has a cannula that is a ’tube within a tube’ so that the first end is the part that cuts the fat away and the suction tube is in the inside. This way it is gentler on the patient.

(XUAL) External Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction is basically the same as (UAL) except that the ultrasound is applied outside of the skin and the special cannula is not needed.

Lastly (WAL) Water-assisted Liposuction is basically a procedure where water is used to loosen the fat structure and suck it through a specialized cannula. This cannula sucks in the water almost as soon as it is dispensed.

With these techniques in mind patients can know a little more about the different liposuction procedures before going into the surgeons office.

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery – serves the Beverly Hills / Los Angeles area. For more information please visit the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery website.

Getting a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty can be a scary concept, but with the right information about the procedure most patients find themselves more comfortable with the idea. This post is intended to give you that starting knowledge so you are informed about the basics of a tummy tuck procedure.

The simple use for a tummy tuck is to make the abdomen area more firm. The reasoning behind making the abdomen firm is usually because the patient has loose or sagging skin from either a pregnancy or from major weight loss. Both of these reasons are the most common for receiving a tummy tuck.

There are a few different types of abdominoplasty available to patients and the difference in each is just the extent of the surgery itself. The different types are complete, partial, extended, and combination abdominoplasty. A complete abdominoplasty is just that and a partial tummy tuck otherwise known as a ’mini-tuck’ is a smaller incision with less fat taken out in comparison to a complete tummy tuck. Extended abdominoplasty is a tummy tuck that extends down into the thighs and a combination abdominoplasty is one that can be combined with liposuction or a breast lift/reduction. Each of these tummy tucks has their own place and your plastic surgeon will know what is going to be best for your condition.

As far as the specific procedures for each category of tummy tuck it really depends on the patient and the surgeon. There are basic steps that take place in each but a full explanation can be given to you by your plastic surgeon if you are interested.

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery – serves the Beverly Hills / Los Angeles area. For more information please visit the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery website.

Breast Reduction Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills

Having a breast reduction done may come as a confusion to some people but there are health risks involved for those having exceptionally large breasts; back problems, neck problems, breathing issues and skin irritation can all occur because of overly-large breasts. This is why breast reduction surgery is necessary for those women who suffer from these symptoms. The results are produced by removing fat, skin, and glandular tissue from the breast to create a smaller and shapelier breast.

This surgery usually benefits women with gigantomastica the most. This is a condition where the breast grows unusually large because of an over-sensitivity to the female hormones; this in turn cause the breast to grow large quite fast (sometimes weighing over 10 lbs. each). This condition is the cause of back, neck, and shoulder problems, as well as breathing and circulation problems. Having a breast reduction surgery can help these women live a better quality of life and in better health.

Breast Reduction Techniques

There are two different techniques used in order to complete this procedure and both have an initial recovery time of a few weeks but it may take six months to a year in order for the body to become completely comfortable with the new breast size and shape. Keeping this in mind, if you are experiencing pain because of the size of your breasts you should consider breast reduction surgery in order to relieve these symptoms.

For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim, contact us (310) 271-6996 or click here.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

Facelift Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills

One of the most common procedures done today, facelifts, are still being done as much if not more than ever before. Facelifts, or rhytidectomy, are meant to give the face a more youthful appearance by removing any excess skin on the face and tightening the underlying tissues. It’s important to remember that the effects of a facelift aren’t permanent and therefore shouldn’t be thought of as such. The reason that a facelift isn’t permanent is because the face will continue to age as time goes on, but having a facelift done is a long-lasting solution to appearing younger.

Ideal Facelift Candidates

• Sagging in the midface
• Deep creases along the nose and/or corner of the mouth or below the eyelids
• Any fat that has fallen or displaced
• Loose skin under the chin or jaw
• Loss of muscle tone in the lower jaw

Any of these reasons can be good for thinking about having a facelift done. Having a facelift done is a simple procedure that will have you feeling and looking good for a long time after. Although recovery usually takes two to three weeks to feel to return to normal it may take up to 6 months for incision lines to mature. Using cold compress on your face when you return home from surgery will help with swelling and bruising. Your face will be wrapped in a bandage as well in order to minimize these after effects as well.
If you are considering having a facelift done, please talk to a plastic surgeon about what to expect for results and what you can hope to achieve with your personal rhytidectomy

For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim, contact us (310) 271-6996 or click here.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

How much does plastic surgery cost in Beverly Hills?

The cost of plastic surgery can change from one plastic surgeon to another and in order for you to get the best estimate of what a surgery is going to cost you should talk to the plastic surgeon that you intend to use. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when inquiring about the cost of a plastic surgery procedure. When talking to your plastic surgeon they may tell you only the surgeon’s fee but you want to also be sure to ask about the anesthesia, operating room fee, and possible implant fee (if that applies to you). Most of the time when you receive a quote and it is only the surgeon’s fee it really is only 60-80% of the entire cost, so be sure to ask about these other charges before you commit to anything.

The cost of different procedures varies greatly and it really depends on what procedure you are having done to determine whether you will be paying a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Be sure to do some cost comparisons between surgeons to find the best price fit for you, but don’t sacrifice quality for cost. Make sure that you are looking on at accredited hospitals or plastic surgery offices. By going to a non-accredited center you are more so risking your health for cost.

Plastic Surgery Consultation

Try to keep in mind when trying to get a quote for work that the plastic surgeon may want to have an initial consultation with you in order to completely asses your needs and expectations. This is how a plastic surgeon can accurately determine how much work you are going to need done or what specific procedure he/she would have to perform on you. Don’t be afraid to go in for an initial consultation and find out what kind of price you are looking at for your particular surgery.

For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim, contact us (310) 271-6996 or click here.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.

There are plastic surgeons located all around your area and you might think that ’finding’ one is incredibly easy. Although this is true, finding a quality plastic surgeon takes quite a bit more work. There are a few things that you can do in order to ensure that the plastic surgeon you choose is qualified enough for you to trust them and feel comfortable using them.

The best way to find a good plastic surgeon is to ask any friends that have had plastic surgery where they got their procedures done and see if they had a good experience and if everything worked out well. The only problem with this approach is that not everyone has had a friend who has had plastic surgery.

The next possible solution is to ask someone in the medical field, this being possibly your primary care physician or someone of that nature. They are bound to know many people in the industry and a few of those may be plastic surgeons. One the other hand you may find that primary physicians and related doctors may refer you to a plastic surgeon based on personal relationship rather than their abilities.

The best way to find a plastic surgeon that is of good quality is to contact the American Board of Plastic Surgery (whether it be by phone or by their website) to find certified plastic surgeons in your area. If you end up finding a plastic surgeon yourself be sure that they are certified by the ABPS before you use them, for your own safety.

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery – serves the Beverly Hills / Los Angeles area. For more information please visit the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery website.

There are always going to be questions that arise when you are in your initial consultation and rightfully so. You should have an abundance of questions that need to be answered before you make a final decision whether or not to go ahead with surgery. Some of the basic questions that you should make sure to ask are:

– May I see pictures of previous surgeries of the same procedure?

– Will surgery be performed in the office or hospital?

– Will I be asleep or awake during surgery?

– Will I be charged for follow-up appointments?

– Do you charge for revision surgery?

Having the answers to these questions can help you make a final decision on things. Seeing a plastic surgeon that can’t answer these questions or doesn’t give you a straight answer is a big problem. If you have any other questions in mind make sure you ask them at the consultation so that you don’t have any worries or extra charges after your procedure that you did not expect.

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery – serves the Beverly Hills / Los Angeles area. For more information please visit the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery website.