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Men have been conditioned to believe that focusing on their appearance is a feminine trait. This is rapidly changing with a population that is getting older and less willing to accept the signs of aging. For men it’s not just about wrinkles on the face it’s about excess weight around the middle of their waistline, and according to recent online article an increased concern about excessive male breast tissue. The slang term is moobs or man boobs. A recent online article reference the increase desire of men to get rid of the breast tissue that can cause them to look at the very least heavy and out of shape. The majorities of men is extremely embarrassed and look desperately to find a way to get rid of the male breast tissue. According to the article a survey of 400 men revealed the majority felt personally affected by ‘negative body talk’. They reported feeling ‘miserable’ and ‘insecure’ on hearing comments such as ‘look at his beer belly’ and ‘he’s too fat to wear that’ even if it was not directed at them but reinforced their own hang-ups. And nearly 1 in 5 men said they felt fat every single day, according to the study carried out by researchers at the University of the West of England’s Centre for Appearance Research in Bristol. Dr. Kim encourages male patients to be unashamed of pursuing the best possible appearance they can, at every stage of their life. The main concerns men typically have include gynecomastia which is excessive breast tissue, a thick midsection, and drooping tired looking eyes. Gynecomastia surgery is a rather straightforward procedure. Most men can have the procedure performed and return to a desk type job in 5 to 7 days. The male breast tissue is removed as well as fat that can make the chest look larger and disproportionate. Typically Dr. Kim will recommend liposuction to enhance the waist and allow more muscle tone to be visible. For the eyes, blepharoplasty will correct loose skin on the eyelids and bags beneath the eyes. Dr. Kim advises men that the benefits of maintaining their best appearance apply to both male and female patients.

It is not surprising that the painless facelift has become the cosmetic surgery darling of the past few years. Words like nonsurgical, noninvasive, painless, and affordable have dominated cosmetic surgery procedures marketing materials available on the Internet, television, and radio. Consumers have fallen for what appears to be an excellent alternative to a surgical facelift. A recent industry online article took issue with The December 2011 issue of Bazaar which describes three such technologies. “Clear Brilliant” is a new laser that’s safe for all skin colors, costs $250 to $500 per treatment and requires six treatments spaced two weeks apart.  This treatment promises to stimulate collagen in the skin after the required six treatments. Matrix is designed to improve early signs of aging and improve acne and chicken pox scars.” To understand how Matrix works, imagine an inverted ice cream cone.” A Nashville dermatologist says. To get eMatrix under your skin it will cost $750 to $1,200 a treatment.  ePrime is a nonsurgical facelift that promises to tighten skin and address thinning skin and volume loss. A clinical study co-authored by a dermatologist and assistant clinical professor at Yale quantifies the skin-tightening effects of ePrime as “37 percent of what you’d get with a facelift.” The article does not mention how the 37% tightening is quantified.  ePrime purports to restabilize the whole supporting structure of the skin at $2,500 to $4,500 per treatment. The fact that this is even called the facelift is pretty amazing. Dr. Kim is not opposed to the benefits of laser and in many cases laser resurfacing can be an excellent procedure for the right patient. When patients consult with Dr. Kim and ask if a nonsurgical facelift will provide the same benefits as a surgical facelift he is clear that it is impossible to expect results even close to a surgical facelift. Even in the advertisements for the procedures mentioned in this article, the claim is less than 40% effectiveness when compared to a surgical facelift. Obviously, a blepharoplasty which tightens the skin on the eyes or a brow lift which takes care of a sagging brow is not mentioned in the effectiveness of the nonsurgical facelift. Consumers should use common sense when investing in these types of nonsurgical treatments. Even if there best case scenario is true, at 37% effectiveness the procedure is still expensive when compared to the long-term results patient can expect from a surgical facelift.

The New Year has filled the airwaves with celebrities who are endorsing a colon cleanse to begin the new year. The belief is that by cleansing the intestine it helps people rid the body of toxins that are ultimately unhealthy. According to a recent ABC news story colon cleansing has been around for centuries. It can be accomplished in a number of ways, from supplements to colon hydrotherapy – an enema-like procedure that uses water to flush out the large intestine. Some experts say that the procedure is unnecessary and in some cases can actually be harmful. Most celebrities claim that not only do they feel better after the cleanse but they also claim to lose weight as well. Some claim that the cleanse is excellent for ridding the body of pudgy abdominal fat. So, the question some ask is: can a cleanse make my abdomen is flat as liposuction? Dr. Kim explains to patients that when choosing to have abdominal liposuction, especially for thinner patients, it is important to realize that the best results are from experienced doctors like Dr. Kim who are artistic as well as creative. Liposuction is a take away procedure very similar to sculpting. Dr. Kim uses his skill and artistic flair to achieve not only a flatter abdomen but also and abdomen that will appear naturally flat. While a colon cleanse may reduce a couple of pounds it is misleading to promise that the weight reduction will appear on the abdomen. Liposuction remains one of the most effective ways to target fat reduction in specific areas.

The most popular weight loss products are the ones that do not require any work. Today, the shelves are full of products they claim to help consumers lose anywhere from 5 pounds to over 100 pounds. In many of these products consumers will find large doses of caffeine. According to a recentLos Angeles Times article caffeine can be found in most all of the get thin quick products. C. Michael White, a professor of pharmacy at the University of Connecticut in Storrs says that, to his knowledge, there are no well-designed studies showing that caffeine works better than a placebo when it comes to weight loss. White notes that caffeine is a diuretic, which means that people taking large doses might shed some weight through water loss, but that’s not the kind of slimming most users are looking for. Caffeine does seem to enhance the weight-loss powers of some other ingredients, White says. For example, green tea contains antioxidants that encourage cells to burn extra calories, and caffeinated green tea seems to promote more weight loss than decaf versions. Even this combination has very mild results similar to 2.5 pound weight loss instead of the 40 pounds reported by many diet products. Consumers should be leery of any product that has excessive amounts of caffeine. Dr. Kim explains to patients who are considering plastic surgery procedures that it is imperative that they give full disclosure in terms of any medications including diet supplements that they are taking prior to surgery. Even for what may appear to be routine procedures such as breast augmentation orliposuction it is critical that Dr. Kim is aware of any diet supplements that are being taken. Excessive amounts of caffeine can cause a person to be agitated and increase blood pressure. This is not an ideal situation for a  patient prepare to have surgery. Dr. Kim typically asks patients to stop any and all medications a minimum of two weeks prior to surgery. 

As the New Year is in the midst of its first full week, a controversy is brewing in nearby Orange County. According to the Orange County register the new ownership of LA sports club in Irvine has placed photos that many of the members feel are too racy, too suggestive, and too sexy. Equinox, the new owners have locations in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and other major cities, and they claim the same photos are in those locations and accepted by their members without complaint. Member Amy Kajiya said, I find the campaign extremely offensive but I’ll adjust, but I have three kids – ages 5, 3 ½ and 2 – and how do I explain that picture? One of the reasons I chose that club was the kids club. It appears from the article that the main complaints were based on scantily clad women and what was perceived as overtly sexual poses. Dr. Kim understands the sensitivity of controversial photos that show the human body. In plastic surgery we are sometimes  in situations where the decision to have plastic surgery is confused with sexuality. Procedures including breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction are often associated with sexuality when for many patients the decision is rarely about sex appeal. Most women who decide to have breast surgery do so to feel better about themselves and how they look in their clothes. Of course the benefit of looking better naked is important as well. Most women after having breast augmentation are extremely thrilled with the results and recommend their friends and family to Dr. Kim  regularly.

Interestingly the media is able to keep us interested by showing us beautiful uncommon images. What is different and beautiful will always draw the eye. Some critics are adamantly opposed to what they refer to as exploitation using very thin models with beautiful chiseled faces. With technology, it is often a result of Photoshop and airbrush techniques. The Orange County Register recently picked up on a video that has gone viral that spoofs the beauty industry and the high standards of commercials. Here is the video: Fotoshop by Adobé . While the video is funny, and makes a point of the extreme marketing it takes to sell a beauty product or service. Consumers should understand that marketing is exactly that; marketing. It is designed to change your mind or entice you to purchase something. As much as critics would like to believe that regular looking “people with “average looks” can sell beauty, the reality is that’s never been the case. It has been tried with companies that wanted to be socially responsible using what they called real life people but the campaigns were usually short-lived. So, more often than not consumers want to look at something they perceive as beautiful in order to be enticed to purchase it. Plastic surgery sometimes comes under fire for images of beautiful women and men used in some marketing. For Dr. Kim the stereotype is unfair because he believes that people should look their absolute best, not like someone else. Dr. Kim values the patient physician relationship and does not force ideas or recommendations on patients. Patients who are considering breast augmentation or body contouring procedures are not misled to believe that they will achieve a shape contour that is not possible for their body shape. Patients are not encouraged to look like models or celebrities. Although Beverly Hills is Dr. Kim’s location, in no way does he pressure patients to seek procedures based on celebrity or model perceptions. This is one of the many reasons Dr. Kim enjoys a robust referral practice.

We should be happy when celebrities who have good plastic surgery results actually admit to the procedure. The newly crowned Miss California not only admits to her plastic surgery procedure but was actually featured in her plastic surgeons video. The encouraging portion of the story is not the fact that she applauds plastic surgery, but more the fact that the rhinoplasty procedure that she had performed made a substantial difference in her life and appearance. Dr. Kim routinely sees rhinoplasty patients like UCI student Natalie Ann Pack, who snagged the Miss California title, who are truly suffering from medical symptoms because of an injury to their nose. These patients seek out Dr. Kim as an a ASPS plastic surgeon because while correcting the results of the injury are extremely important, equally as important is the appearance once the surgery has been completed. Dr. Kim explains that he is experienced and qualified to treat many of the problems that can occur after a nasal injury. This training and experience is also combined with cosmetic plastic surgery which helps patients achieve the most aesthetically pleasing result. For patients who are concerned with their profile as part of their rhinoplasty procedure Dr. Kim helps patients to understand that their profile consist of not just the side angle but also the contour of the entire face. In some cases Dr. Kim may recommend a chin augmentation to balance the rhinoplasty result. The writer of The Orange County Register  blog post that featured the story about Miss California, speculated that Natalie Ann Pack may have had some chin surgery or other facial surgery combined with her admitted rhinoplasty. Her surgeon’s response: her chin was not altered”. Either way, this Miss California pageant winner could go a long way in helping patients understand that there is nothing to be ashamed of when considering plastic surgery.

New Year’s resolutions overwhelmingly include the goal to lose weight. For some people especially obese people this can seem like a lofty goal especially after several failures. The Los Angeles Times recently reported about a gym in Chicago that is specifically devoted to people who need to lose more than 50 pounds. According to the article the gym  is often perceived to cater mostly to fit, educated and middle- to upper-class clients. Increasingly, gyms are focusing on specific populations, such as women, young athletes and aging baby boomers. Largely ignored is the seemingly obvious niche of sedentary and overweight adults. Research shows that many workout deterrents — including exercising with the opposite sex, using complicated equipment and boredom — apply to overweight and normal-weight people alike. The idea of a gym specifically for obese people is not exactly new, and at $300 a month it is rather pricey. Dr. Kim prides himself in  having an office that is professional and accepting of all patients. Located in Beverly Hills it can be rather intimidating for patients who think that they may not look the part to be a patient in Beverly Hills. Dr. Kim works hard for patients to understand their comfort is of his utmost concern. Patients can feel comfortable throughout the entire experience from the consultation through their postsurgical treatment. Although obese patients are not candidates for cosmetic surgery procedures, once they have lost the weight and maintain a stable weight they are often candidates for and abdominoplasty or facelift. These patients will tell you that in Dr. Kim’s office they were treated like every other patient with dignity and respect. Dr. Kim has enjoyed the benefits of a robust practice because of his experience, artistic skill, and equally as important, commitment to patient safety and results.

When aspirin became famous as a preventative measure for a heart attack the news was practically viral. Many consumers felt that they should routinely take aspirin even though a doctor had not recommended that they do so. According to the New York Times new research shows that aspirin is not for everyone, and that in some patients this so-called wonder drug is doing more harm than good. “I stop a lot more aspirin than I start,” said Dr. Alison Bailey, director of the cardiac rehabilitation program at the Gill Heart Institute at the University of Kentucky. “People don’t even consider aspirin a medicine, or consider that you can have side effects from it. That’s the most challenging part of aspirin therapy.” “We have been able to show quite convincingly that in people without a previous heart attack or stroke, regular use of aspirin may be more harmful than it is beneficial,” said Dr. Sreenivasa Seshasai of the Cardiovascular Sciences Research Center at St. George’s, University of London. Over the years, Dr. Kim has encountered patients who have decided to start aspirin therapy on their own and had little knowledge as to the bleeding risk caused by aspirin. Some patients have taken it every day long enough to actually forget that the baby aspirin is considered a drug. Sometimes they forget that all medications should be reported to Dr. Kim before having any cosmetic surgery procedure. Patients should be aware that having Botox injections or filler injections after regular use of aspirin can greatly increase bleeding, swelling and bruising. This is also true for surgical procedures and can cause very serious problems for  most procedures including facelift, blepharoplasty, and breast reduction. Aspirin should be discontinued for a minimum of three weeks prior to any cosmetic surgery procedure. Dr. Kim is committed to providing the safest cosmetic surgery procedures with the best possible results.

Breast augmentation has been performed in abundance over the past few years. According to the ASPS  in all, there were 296,203 breast augmentations performed in 2010, which is a 2% rise compared to 2009. So, we could call it somewhat of a club. This is the club the media is speculating as to whether or not Cameron Diaz has joined. According to a recent Orange County register article Cameron Diaz was spotted in Hawaii sporting a much more voluptuous top than ever before. Interestingly enough it appears as though the general consensus is that she did not go too big and that her breast augmentation looks very nice. Dr. Kim puts fears to rest for many prospective patients who are considering breast augmentation and fear they will be too big for their body frame. Dr. Kim assures his patients that he uses both skill and expertise to help patients choose the appropriate implant size as well as type. Dr. Kim offers both saline and silicone implants and performs a thorough examination on every prospective patient to help determine which breast implants are best for the patient. Patients are also educated concerning breast health which includes following the recommendations of the American Cancer Society for early detection of breast cancer. This is a standard recommendation for all women and breast implants does not change the recommendation. Dr. Kim is committed to not just obtaining great results for patients but also helping patients maintain their best health.