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Staying healthy is more important than ever for pregnant women. There are so many precautions to take that many women spend the entire pregnancy very anxious. Dr. Kim consults with many patients who have had children. Many of them are dissatisfied with their post pregnancy shape. The most common complaints are loss of  volume in the breast and loose skin on the abdomen. In these cases Dr. Kim may recommend an abdominoplasty combined with breast augmentation. These procedures help most women return to their prepregnancy contour. Staying healthy during pregnancy helps to ensure not only a healthy baby but also a healthy mother during and after pregnancy. A new study recommends that pregnant women take the the flu shot as a preventative measure. According to ABC 7 the study says flu shots are even more beneficial for pregnant women than previously thought.

Researchers say un-vaccinated pregnant women are at an increased risk of complications from the flu.

 

Those complications include low birth weight and premature delivery.

 

Researchers looked at 4,000 cases.

 

They say infants born to vaccinated mothers were 40 percent less likely to be premature and 69 percent less likely to be low birth weight.

 

The study was a joint effort by Emory University, Johns Hopkins University and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Skin cancer continues to be a risk for many Americans. When detected early it is one of the most curable forms of cancer. Dr. Kim warns his patients to avoid the sun and its dangerous rays. The sun is a major contributor to premature aging of the skin. Patients who have skin that is damaged by the sun could be advised to treat the sun damage before having facial rejuvenation procedures such as a facelift, brow lift, or eyelid lift. Often skin that is sun damaged can be weak and respond poorly to surgery. Patients can use medical grade skincare products and treatments to improve the health and appearance of the skin. There have been promising strides made in the treatment of skin cancer. Some drugs show promise but offer little real success. According to KTLA a new study showing that the chemotherapy drug vemurafenib can prolong the lives of people with malignant melanoma — the especially aggressive and dangerous form of skin cancer that kills about 8,700 Americans each year — has rightfully lifted the spirits of doctors and patients alike.

But a close look at the numbers raises questions about the drug’s real-world impact. The study suggests that only one out of four patients with malignant melanoma will respond to the drug. For those who do respond, the benefits are uncertain, says Tim Turnham, executive director of the Melanoma Research Foundation.

 Americans have come to believe that organic and natural marketing titles mean that a product is safe. Dr. Kim requires every patient to complete a medical history form prior to surgery. Each patient must disclose every medication that they take on a regular basis. This includes over-the-counter medications as well as prescription medications. Patients who are considering procedures such as breast augmentation or liposuction sometimes feel as though the procedures are relatively routine and that information about vitamins or supplements would be of little concern. The truth is, supplements such as vitamin E and fish oil as well as other supplement can increase bleeding or increase the heart rate. Patients are encouraged to follow Dr. Kim’s instructions prior to surgery and discontinue all required medications. It is important that patients take all medications seriously. According to ABC 7 from sleeping to memory to mood to cholesterol, toxicologist Amitava Dasgupta says there’s something to treat just about everything, but there’s a huge misconception about herbal supplements.

Anything natural is safe – that is a misconception because there are lots of natural products which are very toxic, said Dasgupta, a professor of pathology laboratory medicine.

He says Kava Kava, which is used as a natural sleep aid, can cause significant liver damage, including total liver failure, after just a few months of use. Germander, used for general health, can also cause liver failure.

You have to treat natural products as a drug, said Dasgupta.

We are grateful for the difference technology has made in our lives. The Internet provides us with information instantaneously. Dr. Kim shares with patients in the consultation the difference between what they may have read online and the truth. While some information is applicable, there are many instances in which the information the patient has gathered does not apply to their situation. For example,a patient may spend hours viewing before and after breast augmentation photos. In many cases t hey may choose photos they believe that they like. Upon examination Dr. Kim could explain that their particular case may include a sagging component which would require a breast lift. Some patients have tuberous breast which require a different technique to achieve an aesthetically pleasing result. The bottom line is: patients are not trained to diagnose their situation and prepare a recommendation without the experts input of a plastic surgeon like Dr. Kim. Self-diagnosing is not exclusive to plastic surgery. According to KTLA Of those who acknowledged they had tried to diagnose themselves online rather than consult a doctor first, 52% said they were panicked by the result. In all, 68% of those that set out to diagnose themselves decided to visit a physician instead of taking Dr. Google’s word for it.

And here’s the kicker: Of those who sought to diagnose themselves online first, and then went to a doctor, 87% learned that their online diagnosis was incorrect.

Reports that highlight the benefits of breast-feeding are prevalent. Although few media outlets will admit it, most women are discouraged with the size and shape of their breasts after breast- feeding. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that it is completely normal to lose volume and shape after pregnancy and breast-feeding. Each patient is different in terms of how their breast will look after giving birth and breast-feeding. Some have extremely low breast that had drooped significantly, others have very little volume and a flattened look. Some of the recommendations that Dr. Kim may give to patients include breast augmentation with breast implants, a breast lift, or breast lift with implants. For a small percentage of patients a breast reduction may be recommended. Patients should not dismiss the option of breast-feeding because of the toll that it takes on their body. Most patients have  excellent results with plastic surgery and do not regret their decision to breast-feed. The benefits of breast-feeding are numerous. According to The Los Angeles Times   some researchers say there’s evidence of one more — protection against sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, a form of unexpected death that kills more than 2,000 infants each year in the U.S.

Such a link had been suspected, based on some studies, but to get a better idea of the true association, an international team of researchers analyzed an array of studies on breast-feeding and SIDS, crunching the numbers and employing an array of statistical tools.

They calculated that infants who were breast-fed, for any length of time, had 60% lower risk of SIDS than those who were not breast-fed at all. Infants who were fed only breast milk — no formula — for any period of time had a 73% lower risk of sudden death. The findings were published online Monday in Pediatrics.

Women who are considering breast augmentation seldom consider the alignment of their spine. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that breast implants sit on the chest wall. This means that when patients have asymmetry due to curvature of the spine patients need to be made aware that the differences in the location of the mammary folds will remain as noticeable after surgery as before surgery. As an artist Dr. Kim is able to anticipate aesthetically which implant style will look best. In some patients he may choose a high profile, or moderate profile implants to achieve better symmetry. Scoliosis does not eliminate a patient from being a good candidate for breast augmentation. Patients should be prepared and have realistic expectations. Patients are now screened routinely for scoliosis in hopes of early treatment. According to ABC7 a new test called ScoliScore allows doctors to screen with saliva.

There is a genetic test available today that helps us a least predicate or predict how fast the scoliosis will progress, said Dr. Anand.

The ScoliScore test is performed in the physician’s office by collecting a saliva sample, which is sent to a lab for two or three weeks. The test then assigns a numerical value to the patient between one to 200.

If you have a high score, you have a high probability you’re going to progress and develop significant scoliosis. If u have a low score, your probability of developing scoliosis or progressing scoliosis is very low, said Dr. Anand.

Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer. Dr. Kim emphasizes the risk of excessive sun exposure especially to his facial rejuvenation patients. The investment in procedures such as facelift, brow lift, and eyelift can be a poor choice if patients are unwilling to avoid sun exposure and wear the proper sunscreen. Dr. Kim is limited in the difference that he can make for a patient who has excessive sun damage on their face.  For patients with sun damage the skin tends to be less likely to respond to the strong tension needed to tighten the skin on the face.  These patients are able to gain improvement from facial rejuvenation surgery; however, they may not be pulled as tightly to retain the strength of the skin which is already compromised. Fortunately, there are treatments that are effective for melanoma. According to ABC7 melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. But up until now there haven’t been very effective options to treat advanced cases of the disease. Now patients with advanced melanoma have new hope as researchers try to stop it in its tracks using DNA.

There are new, gene-based treatments for people with late-stage melanoma. Now we’re learning more about how those drugs work and how doctors are targeting this deadly form of skin cancer in a whole new way.

Is common knowledge that men are less likely to seek medical attention then women when they have bothersome symptoms. The same holds true for men when seeking antiaging procedures. It is as though men are not as self-conscious about their wrinkles. Recent reports have highlighted the increase in men seeking cosmetic procedures. The truth is, the percentage remains very low. Dr. Kim explains to his male patients that waiting to address aging skin reduces the available options to treat it. Male patients can benefit from Botox which can treat lines and wrinkles in the forehead as well as crows at the corners of the eyes. In some cases a brow lift may be recommended in order to achieve maximum correction. It is necessary for a patient to be an excellent health prior to elective surgical procedures. Men should not ignore medical symptoms that could be. According to ABC7, some of them are:

Internist Dr. Imad El Asmar, from the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, says women outnumber men two to one in his practice. It’s a concern because there are signs men should not ignore.

To me, pain in the abdomen is the most serious thing I could face in practice, said El Asmar.

A dull persistent ache could be a kidney stone or a tumor.

Getting winded after physical exertion that worsens each time could signal an impending heart attack.

And persistent forgetfulness may warrant a doctor’s attention.

This is a warning sign for a stroke that can happen in the near future, said El Asmar.

It is very tempting in today’s market to work very hard all week long with little to no sleep. In theory why not catch up on the weekend? Studies show our bodies do not work that way. This proves what plastic surgeons like Dr. Kim have conveyed to patients for years. It is virtually impossible to fool the human body. Patients who are sleep deprived suffer from not only health issues but also appearance issues. Patients can experience lose and lax skin causing droopy eyelids along with prominent bags beneath the eyes. In these cases Dr. Kim recommends an upper and lower blepharoplasty. This is performed by removing a small sliver of skin in the crease of the eyelid and tightening the skin in the outer creases of the eyes. Once this surgery is performed it creates a much more alert and open looking appearance. Patients must eliminate the lack of sleep from their lifestyle in order to maintain their best results. According to ABC7

If you’re not getting enough sleep during the work week, researchers say you can’t make it up on the weekends.

They say people who are sleep-deprived during the week need more than just a couple nights’ rest to recover.

It can be devastating for a woman to lose her hair. Women will sometimes have to resort to wigs and other means to hide a balding scalp. Dr.Kim assures patients with this issue that they do not need to be embarrassed or self conscious. When patients are considering a facelift or brow lift a woman with thinning hair may be concerned with keeping the incisions well hidden. With Dr. Kim’s artistic ability allows him to creatively search for the best options for each patient. An endoscopic brow lift may be an option which would allow the patient to avoid a long incision. Dr. Kim understands the sensitivity of this issue for women and is committed to ensuring the best patient experience. Hair loss happens in women for different reasons. According to CBS Los Angeles when it comes to women losing hair, medical experts say it’s more about age than genes.

Dr. Lorrie Klein of the Dermatology and Laser Centers says hair loss among women is a common problem and one many might not even be aware of.

“The reason we think of hair loss as a male issue is because men can go bald, completely. Most women don’t go completely bald, they thin,” according to Klein.

But now, one state-of-the-art device may be able to rid women of mild to moderate hair loss.

It’s called iGrow and is made right here in the Southland. For nearly $700 and about 20 minutes (two to three times a week) iGrow claims to grow back mild to moderate hair loss.