Call: (310) 271-6996

In an economically challenged environment it is not that surprising that the gym have resorted to vending machines to capture the dedicated audience at their time of hunger or thirst.  A recent online news magazine blasted the vending machine industry for putting unhealthy snacks in vending machines at the gym.  The article states that the products in the vending machine are unhealthy yet label and disguised as healthy products.Fortunately,as adults we choose what we want to buy and eat in most cases. Logic would have it that if vending machines were not profitable in that location they would be removed.  Given the choice, the majority of people pick the item that taste the best.  Plastic surgeons have also been criticized for passing out cards or other advertisements in the gym.  Dr. Kim explains to his patients who feel guilty about considering plastic surgery procedures like liposuction or abdominoplasty that many patients have these procedures performed because of fat deposits or loose skin that has come as a result of either hormonal changes or pregnancy.  Neither one of the situations, happens as a result of being lazy or making unhealthy choices.Breast augmentation is also an enhancement procedure that women choose mostly to feel better about their overall appearance and for a more proportionate shape.  Patients should keep an open mind about plastic surgery and the reasons so many patients choose to have procedures.

In this day and age with so much information available via the internet it is amazing that patients are shocked when they learn that a doctor is not certified in plastic surgery.  A recent Los Angeles Times article made it very clear how to tell if a doctor is an ASPS plastic surgeon.The article included a very straightforward checklist of very simple to verify questions.  The first most obvious question is to ask if the doctor is an ASPS plastic surgeon. Secondly, members usually display the logo prominently in their office. Thirdly, the article reminded patients to ask the doctor if he/she has hospital privileges for the procedure that they are considering. The article did not explain in detail the value of an ASPS plastic surgeon.  Dr. Kim explains to his patients that the requirements include an additional five years of training specifically in plastic surgery. The ASPS is the only plastic surgery specialty board recognized by the American Medical Association. Dr. Kim, offers an artistic hand to surgical procedures including breast augmentation, liposuction, and abdominoplasty.  The popularity of plastic surgery has made these procedures seem rather routine; however, patients should remember that all surgeons are not created equal.  Results are determined heavily by  the experience and skill of the surgeon.  Dr. Kim is fortunate to have a robust Beverly Hills practice based primarily on referrals from previous patients.

The old saying that you are what you eat really is true. As Americans scramble to find the next  great health food a recent NBC news report reminded us that many of the foods that are good for us are available right in our own kitchen. According to the article many of us had favorite eats hit the healthy-food blacklist, but thankfully, some of them are making a return. In fact, recent research has not only redeemed once-taboo foods such as steak, eggs (yolks included), and peanut butter but also found that when eaten in moderation, some of them may actually help you conquer the scale. This is great news especially if you have given up your favorite food and been craving it for a long time.Dr. Kim helps patients understand that diet is very important to your overall weight and appearance; however, it is not the whole story.  Often times as people age the way that they metabolize their food changes.  It is not uncommon for patients to find that they have stubborn areas of fat that are virtually impossible to lose even with proper diet and exercise.  For these patients Dr. Kim may recommend liposuction.  As a true artist he  is able to sculpt the body and create a much more aesthetically pleasing shape. The results Dr. Kim is able to achieve are often far superior to those obtainable through diet and exercise alone.  For the abdominal area, if patients have excessive loose skin Dr. Kim may recommend an abdominoplasty. This would allow him to remove the loose skin as well as tighten the  abdominal muscle for a flatter abdomen.

Breast Lift Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills

A breast lift is a surgical procedure that is meant to improve the appearance of the breast. Mastopexy is another term for which this procedure is known by. If the breast is sagging or drooping, having a breast lift performed will lift the breast while repositioning the nipple and areola. If a patient decides that they would like to have implants inserted to enlarge the breast it becomes know as a breast augmentation instead of just a basic lift.

A full mastopexy is a technique that is widely used today because of its great success in producing a great shape and readjusting the position of the breast. During the procedure any excess skin is removed and the position of the breast is adjusted as well as the size of the areola. Using this technique means that you can expect to have a scar in three locations: the peri-areolar area, the inframammary fold and a vertical incision from the areola to the crease.

Full Mastopexy

Using modified breast lifts means going about any other breast life technique. There are a few that can be performed which help minimize the amount of scarring that normally occurs with a full mastopexy. A ’donut’ breast lift is a type of M.B.L. where scarring is only around the areola. Similar to this is the ’crescent’ mastopexy with also has scarring only around the areola; the only difference between the two is that the ’crescent’ breast lift removes more tissue from the area above the areola. The last M.B.L. technique is the ’lollipop’ lift. This procedure’s incision is made around the nipple and extends down to the crease beneath the breast. Using modified breast lifts is going to have less scarring in any case. The only con that goes along with these is that they don’t create as much of a change as a full breast lift does.

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.

An aerobic twist is the latest craze for the bachelorette party.  According to the New York Times brides to be are turning in the bar table dances for aerobics, Zumba,and pilates. This makes perfect sense especially for women who have dieted and made healthy choices to look great for that perfect day. Sometimes the exertion is a prelude to the more typical excess, or as a way of sweating it out the morning after. But often, it reflects shifting priorities among a new generation of brides.“People are getting married a little bit older, and they know who they are more and that’s reflected in the bachelorette parties,” said Christi Masi, a personal trainer in Seattle who’s worked with hundreds of brides as “chief exercise officer” of the Healthy Bride boot camps.  Dr. Kim reminds his patients who are preparing for their wedding day to allow plenty of time for healing before the big day.  For patients having breast augmentation and liposuction swelling after surgery could affect the way their wedding dress fits.  It is a good idea to allow 3 to 6 months for bruising and swelling to subside.  Members of the bridal party may choose to have their surgery together.If this is the case, Dr. Kim will recommend that patients allow plenty of time for everyone in the bridal party to heal and look great in their dresses.  Most women begin planning their wedding 18 months or at least ayear in advance.  Plastic surgery should be part of the plan early on for the best overall patient experience.

A new report that cited a Finland study concerning older women and the use of multi-vitamins appears to have gone viral over the internet.  Women are talking about it enough that a recent article in the Huffington Post written by a psychologist highlighted the hysteria.  According to the article,  the rumor is that a study came out of Finland determining that older women who took multivitamins were at greater risk of death. The author of the article attempts to show how flawed this information can be once it hits the internet and is shared among millions.- JAMA came out with an article recommending all adults take a daily multivitamin.  Now, there’s this study.The writer questioned how many people read the vitamin story and reacted without really investigating the information? They get thwacked by a viral headline and immediately push the panic button. It’s hard to blame them, for we live in a world increasingly like the inside of a pinball machine. There are more and more media levers and arms flapping and flailing to get our attention.Plastic surgery is often the target of the same panic buttons that have affected this vitamin story. Dr. Kim encourages his patients to be diligent in their research when reading a new study.  Breast augmentation and breast implants have come under more scrutiny than almost any other medical device.  Dr. Kim provides patients with information concerning both saline and silicone implants.  He is committed to explaining the information in easy to understand language so that his patients are well-informed.  Dr. Kim encourages his patients to ask questions if they are unclear about the results of the study or information they may have received from an outside source that relates to their plastic surgery decision.

This time of year it is not unusual to get the warnings about unwrapped candy and razor blades hidden inside of apples, but accoording to a recent  Wall Street Journal Health blog licorice has been added to the FDA’s dangerous list of candy. But wait, before you throw away all of the Good-n-Plenty it should be noted that this warning only applies to excessive amounts being eaten and for people with previous heart conditions. The FDA warns that eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks can possibly lead to an irregular heart rhythm.The culprit, the FDA says, is a sweetening compound called glycyrrhizin, which can lead to a drop in potassium levels. And that, in turn, can cause arrhythmia as well as high blood pressure and edema.It is not unusual for everyday food to have unintended consequences to the health of patients. This holds true for seemingly harmless vitamin supplements and over-the-counter medications.  While they may be effective for your health, many are prohibited prior to surgery.  Dr. Kim explains to his patients who are considering plastic surgery that there are several vitamin supplements and over the counter medications on the list of medications to avoid prior to surgery. These include vitamin E, fish oil, and aspirin which many Americans take on a daily basis.  Patients considering popular procedures such as breast augmentation and liposuction will often be unaware of the fact that these medications should be stopped prior to surgery.  This can delay the surgery date so patients should prepare for their surgery date based on a minimum of a three week time frame between their consultation and surgery.Plastic surgery is a very safe and satisfying experience provided the patient and doctor follow the proper safety guidelines.

In a world of political correctness it seems silly to remind patients to be honest with their doctor. But, since we are talking about truth and reality is many patients do not realize the importance of telling the truth to their physician. A recent article in the Huffington Post highlighted the reasons why omitting the truth, or lying is hurtful to the patient. According to the article You and your physician are a team working together to keep you healthy, says Wellness Advisor Beth Reconti T M.D.  Always bring up drinking, just like any other lifestyle habit, including cigarettes and exercise. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that collecting medical information and health history helps him to better assess if the patient is a good candidate surgery. This information not only includes lifestyle and family history of illness, but also previous surgeries. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for patients to omit previous surgeries including liposuction and rhinoplasty. Sometimes they are embarrassed and do not want to let the plastic surgeon know that they have had previous surgery in that area. Without this information the doctor is inclined to believe that the patient is having surgery for the first time. Unfortunately when the surgeon performs the surgery that is when they realize that there is an abundance of scar tissue from previous surgery. This can not only affect the results of the surgery but also can add additional surgery time and possible cost to the patient. Dr. Kim is committed to providing a comfortable environment so that patients can freely share information in confidence.

The extra hour of sleep that we were able to catch this weekend for many was an added bonus. But, a recent article online pointed out some of the ways daylight savings time actually affects our health. According to the article we’re more likely to sleep soundly during the fall and winter, but are less likely to do so in the leap forward during spring and summer. More darkness in the fall and winter can help control natural appetite urges, since the body is instead preparing to rest. The tendency towards longer and better hours of sleep in the winter can also help you lose weight(if you  have enough willpower to stay away from the winter holiday parties). When clocks fall back, many don’t leave the office or day job until after it’s dark. “If people are working inside all day, they’re not receiving their daily intake of vitamin D,” says New York dermatologist Dennis Gross MD “Vitamin D replenishes skin hydration, boosts elasticity, radiance and luminosity, stimulates collagen and helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” adds Gross. Fortunately in Southern California the sun is out most of the days. Even a lunchtime stroll can be beneficial in getting the vitamin D necessary to benefit beautiful skin. For most of us, the end of daylight savings time overall is positive. Dr. Kim helps his patients understand that lack of sleep can have a profound affect on a person’s appearance. It is not uncommon to have bags beneath the eyes and droopy eyelids which clearly cause a person to look tired. Dr. Kim explains that the eyelids can look dramatically younger with a blepharoplasty procedure. This procedure removes the excess skin on the eyelid as well as the bags beneath the eyes. In some cases if the brow has begun to sag Dr. Kim may recommend a brow lift as well. Once patients have surgery it is important that they maintain a healthy sleep pattern to preserve their results long-term.

Can you be obese and still healthy? This appears to be one of the most controversial questions on the internet today. According to an online women’s magazine a host of nutrition experts, doctors, and readers all have varying answers to this loaded question. According to the article most of the controversy is based on the fact that there are no universal numbers to definitively account for a person being labeled as obese. Typically, the BMI which is calculated based on a person’s height and weight, is the measure used to determine if a person is obese. A new campaign called Healthy at Every Size is committed to teaching women to have healthy lifestyle habits regardless of the number on the scale. According to this campaign people can be healthy even if their weight does not fall in line with height and weight charts currently utilized. Dr. Kim explained to patients who are considering buying a contouring procedures that their best results will be when they are at a stable body weight. This includes both liposuction procedures as well as abdominoplasty. Dr. Kim uses his artistic skill combined with his medical expertise to sculpt the body in specific targeted areas using liposuction. For most patients this includes not just sculpting, but also shaping for the best most aesthetically pleasing results. For patients who are having an abdominoplasty, it is important to note that liposuction can be combined to provide enhancement for the entire waistline. The excess skin from the abdominal flap is removed liposuction is performed on the love handles and lower back. Most patients are thrilled with the results as they are dramatically better than could be achieved through diet and exercise alone. These procedures are not weight loss procedures; however, most patients are satisfied with a more proportionate figure.