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It is hard to believe that a trend would begin that involved gluing feathers to a woman’s bikini line and below. According to a recent online post for the women’s website Bliss this trend has popped up in a salon: The Completely Bare salon, owned by former Housewives of New York City star, Cindy Barshop. They  have just announced two new spa treatments where real animal parts are glued to the bikini area. The Foxy Bikini sells for $225 and includes actual fox fur applied to and below the bikini line. And if you’re looking for a bit more color down there, you can opt for the Carnivale Bikini which uses neon-colored feathers and runs a mere $195. It is unclear why anyone would remove their own hair to put on animal hair or feathers. The writer of the blog post was certainly not in favor of the practice. If a woman is remotely considering investing in this type of look at flat abdomen is a must. Dr. Kim uses his expert training and innate skills to help women achieve a flat abdomen. Dr. Kim uses liposuction to concentrate on the upper abdomen, lower abdomen, love handles, and lower back. By concentrating on all of these areas Dr. Kim can make a substantial difference on the waistline. Some women have contouring concerns with their lower abs and typically are discouraged with the contour and shape ,even if they have never had children. Dr. Kim offers them encouragement by letting them know that he can use skill to carefully sculpt that specific area with liposuction and achieve a dramatic result that could not be achieved with diet and exercise alone.

A bipolar diagnosis is nothing to be ashamed of. Today’s medicine and technology helps patients to live very productive lives after such diagnoses. According to recent industry article, the most effective long-standing bipolar medication in a recent study proved to contribute to both weight gain as well as thyroid disease. According to the article a new medical review finds that lithium, a common treatment for bipolar disorder, can lead to weight gain and causes high rates of abnormalities in the thyroid and parathyroid glands. But the researchers found few signs of a link to skin problems or hair loss, and a suspected connection to birth defects hasn’t been proven, according to the report published in the Jan. 20 online edition of The Lancet. As patients become knowledgeable about possible side effects it helps them to make better decisions concerning their lifestyle choices. Dr. Kim explains to patients who have had breast augmentation or body contouring procedures like abdominoplasty and liposuction that weight gain can affect their overall long-term results. Patients should be conscious of excessive weight gain especially in the breast and abdominal areas. Patients with breast augmentation could gain as much as a cup size of breast tissue or more with excessive weight gain. This could not only make the breast larger but also cause a component of sagging. Abdominal weight gain could also cause sagging skin as well as negatively affect body contour. Dr. Kim explains that patients may ultimately begin taking medications with side effects that include weight gain to be sure and share their concerns with their prescribing physician and their motivations for maintaining a stable weight. The prescribing physician will then help the patient make the correct choices. Honest and open communication is always the best way to lead to the best medical recommendation for patients.

The media finally caught on to something we’ve known for a few years. Men have now joined the ranks of women who realize that a wrinkled brow not only add years to the appearance, but also adds the appearance of negative emotions. According to a recent industry article , according to statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 300,000 men tested out Botox last year. Most experts agree that men tend to have Botox treatments for different reasons than women. For most men it is about being competitive in the workplace. In a soft economy the competitive edge is necessary as so many men are competing for the same position. Many men who use Botox say that they do so to soften what look like an angry look because of the frown lines on their forehead. Dr. Kim advises his male patients to be conscious of the fact that in some cases the male brow may be lower than it should be for the best aesthetic appearance. While Botox will slightly improve this a brow lift may be the best recommendation. Most men who have a brow lift are able to return to their regular duties in less than 7 to 10 days. As men continue to understand that appearance is not about vanity and that image is as important as the other preparations we make in life is predicted that Botox is only the beginning of what will be a manly pursuit of youthfulness. Does your man use Botox? Should he use Botox? Are you okay with it?

There’s been a great deal of information on the Internet and in the news concerning food allergies and the dangers that they can cause. According to a recent Washington Post news article many of the reactions people have to food are not truly food allergies. According to the article “Research shows that as many as 20 percent of people claim to have food allergies when the number is actually around 3 to 4 percent,” says Hugh Sampson, director of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. He concedes that the number of people with milder reactions — nonallergic symptoms that flare up when they eat certain foods — is higher, but he thinks the problem is still generally overestimated. The main reason he feels that people report food allergies in higher amounts is because they do not take into account that food reactions tend to change over time.  Also, many people diagnose their own food allergies and the information is widely subjective. However there are real and life-threatening food allergies that appear to be on the rise. A 2010 report comparing surveys of U.S. households in 1997, 2002 and 2008 found a steady increase in allergies to peanuts and tree nuts in children. The reasons for the trend aren’t clear. The key is to get a professional medical diagnosis to determine if there is intolerance to a certain food or an actual allergic reaction. Dr. Kim requires this information to be included in the initial medical intake form provided to every patient. Food allergies and digestive problems should be reported by patients to Dr Kim even though they are having an elective cosmetic surgery procedure. After abdominal plastic surgery including abdominoplasty and abdominal liposuction digestive issues can cause increased pain and discomfort unnecessarily. Dr. Kim and his staff are committed to helping patients have a comfortable patient recovery experience. This is made possible by sharing any information that may impact patient health and safety.

The word trend is probably the most overused word in media. A recent Orange County Register post included comments from a stylist in New York who decided that smaller breasts are making what he called a comeback. He referred to celebrities who appear in stylish clothes without cleavage and what appears to be small breast. According to the article others commented about women who are exchanging implants for smaller implants as well as those who just choose to cover up rather than bear all as they may have in the past. Either way, the truth is the actual breasts implant size is personal and women make the choice based on many different factors. Contrary to media hype, rarely do women make a decision on breast implant size based on a trend. Dr. Kim explains his patients the importance of the breast augmentation procedure and how the right breast implant size will not only determine patient satisfaction but also help patients to be satisfied with their selection long-term. Dr. Kim also explains to his patients that there is a chance they may need a breast lift combined with their breast augmentation. In this case, breast implant selection may be limited. Dr. Kim is committed to helping patients make the best breast implant decisions based on their individual needs and desires.

Just when it looked like we had avoided the flu epidemic the numbers of patients complaining of flu-like symptoms seems to be on the rise. According to a recent article in the Orange County Register Dr. David Nuñez, family health medical director, said there’s still time to get vaccinated. “We certainly would remind folks the flu season does carry on through the winter and it’s never too late to think about the flu vaccine,” he said. Flu symptoms can be not just uncomfortable but also life-threatening. Dr. Kim reminds patients who are scheduled for cosmetic plastic surgery that it is imperative that they are in excellent health prior to surgery. Procedures including facelift, abdominoplasty, or breast augmentation can have extremely difficult recovery periods if patients contract the flu following their procedure. As you may imagine coughing and sneezing combined with fatigue can cause the patient to have a miserable experience while trying to heal from surgery. Patients should avoid public places where the chance of contracting the flu is increased. These include social settings that may include handshakes and other contact that makes patients sick. Patients should be conscious of flu season two weeks prior to surgery and four weeks after surgery. It is possible to stay healthy by being proactive about health decisions.

Vitamins and dietary supplements have become a staple in modern medicine. While it is debatable the extents that they are effective in our overall health most medical experts agree that they do have some value. According to recent Los Angeles Times article Since 1994, those selling novel products have been required to provide federal regulators with evidence supporting a product’s reasonable expectation of safety. In a New England Journal of Medicine Perspective article published this week, Dr. Pieter Cohen, assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard University, makes the argument that the very vague standard is rarely enforced by the FDA. According to the article the FDA is stepping up standards for achieving consistent standards that can be documented and verified. The FDA basically wants to see evidence of historical use as well as evidence of testing that proves the supplements are in fact safe. Dr. Kim reminds his patients who are considering cosmetic surgery that when providing medical information concerning their history all supplements should be included in that information. This includes weight loss supplements as well as herbal supplements. Contrary to popular belief, some vitamins and herbal supplements are not safe to take prior to surgery. Dr. Kim provides a list to patients of medications including vitamins and supplements that should be avoided prior to surgery. Patients should also check with Dr. Kim prior to beginning vitamins and supplements following their surgery procedure. Patient should never assume that because they are only having injectable services or more popular procedures such as breast augmentation or liposuction that the vitamin and supplement information is not important. Every surgery and cosmetic procedure should the approach with seriousness and focus on patient safety.

In a progressive and large city like Los Angeles new and innovative approaches to medicine remain popular among patients. According to recent Los Angeles Times article series that reviewed different alternative medical procedures; as a whole people are very supportive of alternative medicine yet have a difficult time finding scientific supportive research. According to the article this is mostly because science remains unwilling to devote research money to study the effects of alternative medicine. NCCAM’s more than 3,000 research studies have provided answers to important questions about complementary health approaches to help consumers and medical professionals make informed decisions. For example, we now have good evidence from studies showing that practices such as yoga, massage, chiropractic and acupuncture can help people with chronic pain, often difficult to treat. Dr. Kim reminds patients that alternative therapy should still be approached with the caution of any other medical procedure. Patients who have had surgery including breast augmentation or liposuction often consider massage as a possible option to ease tension of the muscle and hopefully reduce pain. Dr. Kim cautions patients against this until he has cleared them and considered their healing progress. It is possible to negatively affect the results by allowing a massage provider to massage the body. While the damage is not likely to be serious, it could prolong your recovery if it is done too soon after surgery. Dr. Kim encourages communication and reminds patients to feel free bring questions to his attention as soon as they arise

The healthcare industry is known to be stressful for those who dedicate their lives to taking care of others. Nurses are among health professionals who a recent study shows suffer negative health effects in disproportionate numbers. A recent ABC news story that found 55% of all nurses were overweight or obese. According to the news story “nurses cited job stress and the effect on sleep of long, irregular work hours as the cause.  Health care professionals are often involved in providing advice or care to patients that relates to things that aren’t totally under control in their own lives. It’s not uniform for health care professionals to eat well or avoid tobacco, said Dr. David Katz, the director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center. Obesity and smoking are of course an issue, however, appearance is also important. It stands to reason that if nurses are avoiding their health they are probably not taking very good care of their appearance. Dr. Kim helps patients understand that taking care of your appearance especially for those who work extended hours is critical to maintaining high self-esteem. This could include injectables which have little to no downtime, breast augmentation which helps many women achieve better contour, or even a facelift. Whichever procedure patients choose Dr. Kim is conscious of what the duties of a nurse include and will help the patient return to work without missing an inordinate amount of time. Nurses need to know that investing in their appearance does not mean that they do not care about other people. Their investment in plastic surgery will most likely make them a better, less stressed, and more concerned nurse.

When it comes to our waistline there are many reasons and excuses we have for the increase in its size. Most of us would agree it’s not something that we desire. According to a recent ABC news story your personality has a lot to do with whether or not you gain weight. According to the story, with Super Bowl Sunday quickly approaching there will be people who will feel forced to eat food that is placed in front of them. Needless to say, people who feel that way are likely to regret it later. If you sense that another person wants you to eat, you’ll be more likely to eat more, said Julie Exline, a psychologist at Case Western Reserve University and lead author of the study published today in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. If we look back later and feel like we’ve given into social pressure, we often regret those choices. We have known for quite some time that people tend to eat more in groups. The news story does not elaborate on the types of groups. From our perspective ,in Beverly Hills, California it would seem that women who are health conscious and slim would be less likely to overeat in a group of their peers who are like-minded and of similar weight. This of course, could lead to other issues such as eating disorders, including binge eating. For the healthiest diet people should be conscious of what they are eating, and why they’re eating it. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that as we age even if we are good about diet and exercise there can become a point in our lives where our bodies respond differently to the foods that we eat. Also, for many people their metabolism slows down and that too can add weight. Dr. Kim consults with patients who are disgusted by what appear to be fat pockets that appear mostly on their outer thighs and upper abdomen. These cause a thickness which appears as though the patient has gained weight. Dr. Kim explains that this can be treated very effectively with liposuction. As an expert who also has natural artistic abilities, Dr. Kim is able to sculpt the area using liposuction to create a much more toned and fit appearance. This is a very popular procedure for Dr. Kim and his results are unmatched for patients through diet and exercise. Call Dr. Kim’s office today to determine if you are a candidate for the liposuction procedure.