Call: (310) 271-6996

The US has waited nearly a decade for a new prescription diet pill to come to market with FDA approval. According to a recent Fox news report advisers to government health regulators made the recommendation for the approval of sales of the prescription weight-loss drug lorcaserin  despite concerns over cardiac risks. A panel of expert advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted 18-4 to facilitate the recommendation for approval of lorcaserin, developed by Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. They concluded that the overall benefits outweigh the potential risks when used long term in overweight and obese people. One panel member did not vote at all. Lorcaserin is one of three experimental weight-loss drugs whose scientist and creators have been attempting for a second time to obtain approval, after the FDA denied them all in 2010 or early 2011. Patients should be aware that as these and other prescription diet pills become available on the market weight loss can cause body contour changes even for patients who have had breast augmentation. Breast augmentation patients who have lost a significant amount of weight after surgery may find a noticeable decrease in  breast their breast   size. They may also notice a degree of sagging to the breast that was not present prior to their weight loss. Dr. Kim consults with patients who are concerned about the changes in their breast augmentation following significant weight loss. In some cases, he may recommend a breast lift, and possibly an exchange of the breast implants. In other situations he may recommend a breast lift alone. Patients should consult with Dr. Kim if they have changes in their breast augmentation and would like to know which options are available to improve the shape and contour after significant weight loss.

Having a cesarean birth is not very uncommon in the United States anymore. According to a recent  ABC news story Nearly 1 in 3 babies in the U.S. is born via C-section. In the 1950s and 1960s, having a C-section was very  uncommon. Surgeons usually performed them only when a mother or babys life was in eminent danger. There are some situations in which performing a C-section is to be preferred, but thats major surgery. In most cases, the safest way, for mother and baby, is to deliver vaginally, said Dr. Marvin Lipman. If a womans first birth is a C-section, there comes about a 90 percent chance any births that will follow will also be C-sections. That doesnt have to happen. Many women whove had a C-section, especially with a low-transverse incision, are able to have a vaginal birth after a C-section. Thats known as a VBAC, Lipman said. Dr. Kim consults with many mothers who have had cesarean births. They often complain of the inability to flatten their stomach regardless of how many situps and muscle tightening exercises they commit to on a daily basis. Dr. Kim will typically recommend an abdominoplastycombined with liposuction to help these patients achieve the flat stomach that they desire. Dr. Kim will often tighten the abdominal muscle which is usually cut during cesarean birth. By tightening this muscle patients are able to enjoy an abdomen that is typically flatter than it was prior to the birth of their child.

In a struggling global economic climate it is understandable how people will search for better pricing. When it comes to plastic surgery including breast augmentation this is not always the best choice. According to a recent ABC local news story one woman found that her choice to have breast augmentation outside of the United States could have possibly cost her life. According to the news story Teresita Morales had a breast implant that ruptured and leaked into her chest wall. This created excruciating de pain for the 43 year old, who feared cancer. Morales had a real reason to be scared. In 2003, she went to her native Venezuela to get breast augmentation surgery. She and her sister both had the procedure performed. The surgeon gave her Poly Implant Prothese, also known as PIP silicone implants. That French company is now bankrupt.  PIP silicone devices were never sold in the U.S. Years later, patients who got them overseas like Morales found that the implants were filled with non-medical grade silicone among other ingredients.  According to the story morale is had her implants removed and much of the unknown substance had leaked into her lymph nodes.  It is important for patients to understand that the United States has many protective guidelines for breast augmentation that are not required in other countries. The FDA approved silicone breast implants offered by Dr. Kim have extensive warranties provided to patients. The skill and expertise of the plastic surgeon is difficult to verify when patients travel for surgery outside of the United States and if there is a complication follow-up care is virtually impossible without adding unplanned days to the patient’s stay.

Mixing up your exercise routine allows you to benefit from a new energy and often get better results. According to a recent ABC news story there is a new trend in working out using yoga. According to the news story the latest trend in fitness is centered on throwing a tantrum. Tantrum yoga was created to have you breathe, dance and scream your way to better health.Its part yoga. Its part semantic therapy, its park ancestral healing and its loads of fun, said Frank Marino of Newport Beach .Its created and taught by seasoned instructor Hemalayaa, who desired more os and create a toned and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Dr. Kim is usually able to achieve better results than patients could achieve on their own through diet and exercise.ut of traditional practice. I need more. I need to dance, I need to shake, I need to scream, so it just felt perfectly right, she said. The class includes the right technique for yoga breathing, stretching and meditation, but theres also dance and vocal techniques to facilitate joy and good health. And as you might imagine – its therapeutic for days filled with lifes challenges. Its release that Hemalayaa thinks we all need. Dr. Kim helps patients understand that even with proper exercise and diet patients can still have areas of their body they would like to improve. Some patients especially those who are over the age of 40 find that they have small areas of fat that are localized and very difficult to get rid of. These areas include the abdomen, outer thighs, and upper back. As an artist and experienced plastic surgeon Dr. Kim is able to sculpt these areas and acheive better results than diet and exercise alone.

Pregnancy can be a very trying time for many mothers. Among other worries weight gain is one of the top concerns. According to recent article University of London researchers concluded that eating a healthy, calorie-controlled diet during pregnancy is helpful in preventing excessive weight gain and will reduce the risk of complications. Dietary restrictions were the most beneficial when compared to exercise as well as a combination of diet and exercise. Studies show that in Europe and the U.S., as much as 40 percent of women gain excess pounds instead the recommended weight during pregnancy. Dr. Kim explains to patients who consult with him after pregnancy that making the decision to improve their body contour after pregnancy is an excellent option for improving self-esteem and self-confidence. Many women tell Dr. Kim that after pregnancy they have lost significant volume in their breast and have loose skin on their abdomen. Many patients are also dissatisfied with a sagging component to their breast. Typically Dr Kim will recommend an abdominoplasty combined with a breast augmentation which is commonly known as a “mommy makeover”.  For some patients a breast lift may be needed as well. Provided the patient is healthy these procedures can be performed together. For mothers who have gained more weight than they intended to gain a mommy makeover can be an excellent reward after losing  the baby weight. The surgical procedure adds the perfect finishing touch.

In the search to find a weight reduction program that actually works it appears as though nighttime fasting (not eating at all throughout the night) may help people to lose weight based on a new study. According to a recent online article Satchidananda Panda, a regulatory biologist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla who led the study published online Thursday by the journal Cell Metabolism  said We have to come up with something that is a simple alternative to calorie counting,.  Panda and his team put groups of mice on varying eating plans for 100 days. Animals in two of the groups ate high-fat, high-calorie food. 50% of the mice were permitted to eat whenever they wanted, and munch on and off throughout the night and day. The other mice could only have food for eight hours at night, when they were most active. For humans this would mean eating only during the day. The difference in mice was astonishing. Even though they consumed a high-fat diet, the mice who wrapped up their eating day early and were forced to fast for 16 hours were lean .Dr Kim explains to patients that while remaining lean is not a requirement after  plastic surgery  gaining weight will change  their plastic surgery results . Breast Augmentation can change with weight gain by increasing cup size by as much as two cup sizes. Sometimes a breastlift  may be need if the breast have begun to sag. By maintaining a stable weight  patients have the best opportunity to maintain their best results.

With breast augmentation as the number one spot after procedure in the United States most of the media attention is focused on new breast implants rather than existing breast implants. Every FDA approved manufacturer of breast implants states in their literature the breast implants are not intended to last forever. Like any medical device over time the likelihood increases that they will fail. Patients who have breast augmentation are advised to have their breast implants checked once a year. The reality is that most women never do this. Breast implant exchange is likely to happen over the course of a lifetime of the patient who is had breast augmentation. For patients who have saline implants the majority of breast implant exchange procedures are performed due to a deflation. A deflation is when the outer shell of the implant has been compromised and the saline solution inside has leaked. The saline solution is harmless and is absorbed by the body. The appearance is noticeably smaller after deflation and most women are upset more because of the appearance rather than the actual pain and discomfort. The deflated implant in most cases provided the implant is an FDA approved medical device is covered under warranty and replaced at no charge to the patient. Depending on the details of the warranty some financial payment may be due to the plastic surgeon based on surgical services rendered. Dr. Kim explains to his breast augmentation patients whether they elect for saline or silicone implants that maintaining a regular annual schedule for implant checkup is the best way to assure that the implant has not been compromised. In a small percentage of the cases some patients may develop excessive scar tissue around the implant which is known as capsular contracture. Dr. Kim can perform breast implant exchange as well as correct the capsular contracture together in the same surgery. Patient should be prepared to replace their implants at some point within their lifetime.

Liposuction continues to be one of the top procedures sought after by patients. Most patients who call to inquire about liposuction are interested in the procedure with the idea of reducing their overall body weight. The truth is liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. It is important that patients understand this especially in the US population in which 30% of the people are considered overweight or obese. Liposuction has become extremely competitive over the years and many doctors who are not plastic surgeons perform the procedure. In Florida a recent law was passed to prevent doctors from performing the procedure in facilities that were not accredited. This law was as a result of deaths from liposuction procedures in which safety measures were not followed. Due to the popularity of the procedure many patients believe that it is not a big deal and that anyone can perform liposuction. Dr. Kim explains that liposuction is a sculpting procedure. In sculpting artistic skill is needed and Dr. Kim is a true artist. In a sculpting procedure fat is removed and unfortunately there is no easy way to replace the fat if the result is not aesthetically pleasing. In order for patients to have a natural and toned appearance following liposuction is necessary for Dr. Kim to use special techniques and liposuction instruments to create a smooth result. Liposuction done correctly is not a one size fits all procedure. As a true artist and experienced ASPS plastic surgeon Dr. Kim takes the necessary time to create an enviable result. When it comes to expert results and safety it does matter who performs your liposuction procedure.

As women age it is not uncommon for them to face the recommendation for a hysterectomy. According to a recent online article hysterectomies A common operation in the United States, hysterectomies are now embracing technology as many surgeons begin to use robotics as another tool to help perform their jobs better. NorthShore University Health System has two robotic surgical systems that assist with hysterectomies and related gynecological procedures, one at Evanston Hospital and another at Skokie Hospital. In McHenry County, Centegra Health System recently publicized that it is offering the robotic procedure for hysterectomies .this type of use of the technology is increasing worldwide, from 69,000 procedures in 2009 to 110,000 procedures in 2010 and 146,000 procedures in 2011. Most of the procedures were performed in the United States, said Angela Wonson, spokeswoman for Intuitive Surgical, manufacturer of the robotic da Vinci Surgical System. Many women who have had a hysterectomy performed consult with Dr. Kim in search of a solution for this and lax skin that appears more evident after surgery. For some patients after the hysterectomy hormonal shifts causes the weight to be less proportionate and many women complain to Dr. Kim that they are unhappy with their body contour. For these patients Dr. Kim will typically recommend an abdominoplasty combined with liposuction to improve the shape and contour of the body. Dr. Kim assures patients that abdominoplasty combined with liposuction is one of the best ways to improve body contour long-term.

What we eat has everything to do with our health and our appearance. According to a recent online article a national magazine reported that Americans spend around 30 billion dollars every year on is wasted products that help to keep the weight off. The bad news is that most of the money because the products are not effective. Research has shown us that there are superfoods that will help us to fight off sugar cravings and even increase our metabolism. According to the article, here are some superfoods that can be incorporated into our diets right now:   First on the list, Apples, some studies have shown that the antioxidants in apples could help protect against extra belly fat. Avocado, is a great replacement for foods like mayonnaise because it is a substitute for bad fats. Also, Beans, this very flexible food is low in calories, and contains cholecystokinin.  Cholecystokinin is a digestive hormone that has the characteristics of a natural appetite suppressant. Beans are also known to lower cholesterol because of their high fiber content.  Eggs  ,watermelon, yogurt, and grapefruit round out the list according to the article. Dr. Kim helps patients understand that while an excellent diet and exercise are critical to a healthy body it is just as important to pay attention to our appearance. Many patients find that fighting the signs of facial aging can be more difficult for those with a lean body mass. Dr. Kim explains that facial fillers and Botox will make a noticeable difference in the signs of facial aging. Patients may choose more invasive long-term procedures like facelift, brow lift, or blepharoplasty.