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Food is a necessary staple of life. Marketers are now trying desperately to understand if food can serve as more than just nourishment to the body. According to a recent online article as far back of the mid-19th century Americans follow John Harvey Kellogg’s regime of whole grains, nuts, and frequent enemas with the idea that food is also medicine. Untold numbers of books and websites are devoted to promoting the benefits of “super foods”such as a acai and goldenberry, Chia, coconut and flax, nuts, seaweeds and many more. Many of the foods carry health claims that according to Walter Willett a chairman of the department of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health and a professor at Harvard Medical School “go light-years beyond the scientific evidence.” What is often missing from the health claims is the fact that the ingredients that are touted as healthy are usually boosted with some sort of flavoring so that the American palate will accept the flavor. With this, the food is often no longer what can honestly be considered healthy. When viewing food as medicine technically it falls under the umbrella of holistic health. Holistic health is a philosophy and approach to medicine that is based on the belief that there is a connection between the body, mind, spirit and emotions and that they should all be in balance. Many believe that holistic foods not only help people to stay healthy but also can help with the negative effects of medicines to cure diseases like cancer. Some prefer to call the foods balancing foods because they help in the healing process by creating better balance through nutritional value. Dr. Kim encourages patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle and balanced nutritional diet as a way to ensure the best long-term results following plastic surgery. Patients who have undergone body contouring procedures including abdominoplasty or liposuction should not become complacent and believe that nutritional choices and lifestyle choices are not critical to extending long-lasting results following their procedure. Dr. Kim unique talents and abilities as an artist allow patients to enjoy the benefits of body contouring that superior because of Dr. Kim’s ability to sculpt based on both artistic talent as well as medical surgical expertise. Patients who are considering plastic surgery procedures are encouraged to contact Dr. Kim and schedule a consultation.

Top British doctors have made a passionate plea for the British government to remove PIP breast implants that were used in more than 50,000 women after discovering critical research that proves that the shells are faulty. The casings are much more likely to degrade then those used in other implants. According to recent article this would leave women given the PIP implants a risk of the silicone leaking into their bodies research shows. This is a more complex issue since PIP implants were proven to contain industrial grade silicone in many of the more recent breast implants sold. The doctors who conducted the research included nanotechnology professor Alexander Seifalian and top plastic surgeon Professor Peter Butler, now say all PIPs should be removed. They added that the batch testing that was utilized to study the implants and determine which women were most to risk is not a definitive way to determine the impact. The scandal over the French manufactured PIP implants came to a head in 2011 when it was proven that the implants were more than twice as likely to rupture when compared to other breast implants and were filled with an industrial grade silicone designed to be used in mattress production. Women whose implants ruptured complained of swollen lymph nodes, lumps, and pain in their breast. Initially French authorities agreed to remove the implants from all women who were fitted with PIP implants as a preventative measure. Officials in the United Kingdom are steadfast that there is insufficient evidence to recommend widespread removal. The NHS has agreed only to remove the breast implants if there is a clinical need to do so. The NHS will only pay to remove them if the private clinic that implanted them refused to do so. The NHS but also not pay have the implants replaced. The further research that is been completed is issuing further calls for the government to go one step further and issue a blanket policy to remove all PIP implants because of the risk. Dr. Kim reminds patients of the importance of the safety of FDA approved silicone gel breast implants. The PIP implant scandal was not an issue in the United States except for women who may have received the implants by going to another country and having breast augmentation performed there. Breast augmentation is a serious surgical operation and should be treated as such regardless of the popularity. Patient should always do their due diligence when researching breast augmentation including understanding the type of implant that will be used. Patients were considering breast augmentation are encouraged to contact Dr. Kim and schedule a consultation.

The decision to have plastic surgery is not one to be taken lightly. Not only are patients faced with a barrage of information, they must also have a clear idea of the financial investment they’re going to make and be able to justify in the mind why it makes good sense. This process can be even more daunting for working moms who need to balance their work schedule, home life, and finances. Working moms can feel the pressure to look younger and more beautiful in the workplace because in most instances first impressions do not include a trump card for being a mother or recently having a baby. For many patients sorting out options and weigh them against work schedules and home life can be a monumental challenge. Dr. Kim helps patients sort through the best options for maintaining a balanced life get still being able to achieve a more improved body contour. For many patients this includes a recommendation of what is come to be known as the mommy makeover. The mommy makeover typically consists of breast augmentation combined with an abdominoplasty. In some cases they can also include liposuction and a breast lift as well. Dr. Kim helps patients understand that each recommendation will be different based on the patient, patient’s desires, their individual recovery schedule and their budget. For some patients even if the desire is to have the breast augmentation and abdominoplasty procedures combined, it may not be financially or logistically feasible to do so. As an ASPS plastic surgeon Dr. Kim takes into consideration the patient safety first and foremost. Unfortunately in a competitive landscape where any physician can perform cosmetic plastic surgery it is not uncommon for patients to bounce from doctor to doctor in an effort to discover which one will perform multiple surgeries for the least amount of money. Needless to say this can backfire and at the very least lead to unsatisfactory results and in more severe cases drastic health complications. It is understandable that many working moms feel pressure to look their best at work and throughout their life; however it is much better to choose the right procedures performed by the best surgeon when the patient can best afford to move forward-financially, logistically, and with regards to best health practices. Patients who are considering cosmetic plastic surgery are encouraged to contact Dr. Kim and schedule a consultation.

The beginning of spring often symbolizes the upcoming wedding season. For many brides to be the dresses have been selected and the final touches are being added. The nerves are kicking up and many are looking in the mirror and dreading the idea that they may not look their absolute best on their wedding day. With only six weeks to eight weeks left before the wedding which procedures can a bride to be consider without running the risk of a wedding disaster on the much anticipated wedding day? Dr. Kim consults with brides to be and helps them to understand first the recovery time they can expect for any given procedure and what that looks like when contrasted with the wedding day. For many brides 6 to 8 weeks is the perfect time for Botox and fillers including Restylane or Juvederm. Botox will help to treat wrinkles on the forehead and crows feet on the outer corners of the eyes. The nasolabial folds, which are the lines that exist from the nose to the mouth, and the marionette lines, which are the lines from the corner of the lips to the chin can be treated with fillers so that they smooth the skin and plump the treated area. Both of these procedures can make a dramatic difference in the overall appearance resulting in a youthful, more rested, look. It is important for brides to be to schedule their procedure well in advance (usually about two weeks) before their wedding day. Patients should be sure to follow instructions including no aspirin or aspirin containing products prior to injectable day. Even if patients have never experienced bruising after injectable treatments they should proceed with treatments as if they expect to have some residual bruising. Also patient should allow enough time for the filler and Botox to settle and look more natural. Injectable treatments prior to the wedding day are great idea for patients who want to capture their most youthful and beautiful appearance on one of the most special days of their lives. Patients who are considering plastic surgery are encouraged to contact Dr. Kim and schedule a consultation.

Botox cosmetic injectables are chosen by patients to treat crows’ feet and wrinkles on the forehead. According to a recent article a small study revealed that the injections could in fact cause people to feel depressed. The treatment utilizes botulinum toxin and minimizes the strength of our muscles which assist in the faces overall ability to form a smile. A study that was led by Dr. Michael Lewis of the school of psychology, Cardiff, Wales, analyzed 25 people who had gotten Botox for facial lines and reviewed the idea of facial feedback – which included the expression made with their faces affecting how they felt. According to Dr. Lewis, happiness can cause you to smile and smiling can create happiness. The study discovered that treating frown lines cause patients to feel less depressed. In a previous separate study doctors have reported that treating clinically depressed patients using Botox for their frown lines actually got rid of their depression. Dr. Lewis and his researchers however, discovered that people that were treated for crows feet were left feeling increasingly depressed. The researchers concluded that reducing facial lines using Botox injections could affect emotions and how people see the world. Dr. Lewis found that people treated for crows’ feet had higher feelings of depression than their counterparts who treated only for frown lines. Dr. Lewis explained that the treatment of crows’ feet make patients less “smiley”, therefore causing them to feel more depressed. Dr. Lewis plans on continuing to study the effects of Botox on psychological behaviors. Patient should not consider Botox as a treatment for depression. Dr. Kim advises his patients to be clear of their motives for considering Botox injections. Botox treatments will not create the same results as a forehead lift. Nor will Botox treatments create the same effect as an upper lid blepharoplasty. For this reason it is important for patients to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kim in order to be sure that their receiving the right treatment to address their concerns. Patients who are considering cosmetic surgery procedures are encouraged to contact Dr. Kim and schedule a consultation.

Enlarged breast negatively affect the self-esteem and other mental and emotional health issues in adolescent males according to recent online article based on a report in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. According to the article even mild forms of gynecomastia can have a negative psychological effect in boys according to Dr. Brian I LaBow and colleagues of Boston Children’s Hospital. Based on their findings, they feel that early intervention and treatment for gynecomastia or excessive male breast tissue should be the standard. The researchers performed a series of psychological test on 47 healthy boys with an average age of 16 1/2 years for being evaluated for gynecomastia. The results were contrasted with a group of boys who were not suffering from excessive male breast tissue. 62% of the gynecomastia patients suffered from what was consider mild to moderate breast enlargement. Consistent with previous studies, many of the boys with gynecomastia were overweight or obese: 64%, compared to 41% of the comparison group. Patients with gynecomastia had lower scores in the standard quality of life assessment which indicated problems in a multitude of areas. Patients tend to score low in general health, social functioning, and mental health. Researchers point out that although in a great majority of the boys the breast tissue will resolve itself over time, the problem remains in about 8% of boys. Boys were overweight or obese gynecomastia may be minimized with losing weight. Insurance companies are almost certain to require weight loss if obesity is a factor. Although it seems evident that there can be a psychological and emotional impact on boys with breast enlargement, routinely there has been a tendency for insurance companies to regard gynecomastia as a cosmetic procedure. For this reason most insurance plans do not cover the procedure. According to the article only 35% of adolescent boys undergoing the gynecomastia procedure were covered by insurance compared with 85% of girls undergoing breast reduction. The recommendations based on the study include a strong need to evaluate and carefully consider gynecomastia procedures for adolescents regardless of their BMI status or the severity of the gynecomastia. They’re hopeful that more studies will provide even stronger evidence that gynecomastia surgery should be covered under insurance. Dr. Kim advises parents to consider gynecomastia surgery for their teenage boys as soon as their sons begin to express dissatisfaction and concerns. Just as the study indicates Dr. Kim feels it can be potentially difficult for teenage boys to attempt to wait to see when and if the excessive male breast tissue will dissipate. Parents who are considering gynecomastia surgery for their sons are encouraged to contact Dr. Kim and schedule a consultation.

Michael Mosley, a British author, journalist, TV personality, and physician was mildly overweight, had high cholesterol and was feared to be at risk for developing diabetes. His position made the usual recommendation: medications. Michael Mosley decided to take a different route. He began interviewing leading researchers around the world while testing their latest findings. From these interviews, Michael Mosley created the Fast Diet included in his best-selling book and three-part PBS series. The fast diet is based on studies of intermittent fasting. According to the article one version involves eating regularly for five days a week and then eating 600 calories a day two times a week. According to the article in the beginning it can be difficult because of distractions and hunger pangs. But most find the hunger pains subside after a while. The author of the article lost 19 pounds of fat within a couple of months and had improved both his cholesterol and glucose levels significantly. The author also reports keeping the weight off and the blood levels are good as well. According to Michael Mosley people respond differently to exercise. There are many genetic factors to exercise and it is difficult to have one blanket recommendation for exercise that will work for everyone. Dr. Kim cautions patients against crash diets especially those who have invested in cosmetic surgery procedures such as body contouring liposuction, or breast augmentation. Significant shifts in weight can have a negative effect on the patient’s cosmetic surgery results. It is important for patients to consume a healthy amount of calories each day and to exercise sufficiently in relationship to the amount of calories consumed each day. It is much more important that patients maintain a healthy stable weight then that they try diets they quickly lose a significant amount of weight. These types of diets traditionally allow patients to lose weight yet when they begin to eat regularly their likely to gain weight usually in excess of their beginning weight. Patients who are considering liposuction or breast augmentation are encouraged to contact Dr. Kim and schedule a consultation.

With the popularity of media and the Internet most people are familiar with the look of the bikini wax. A recent Huffington post online article challenged whether women chose a bikini wax simply because she thought that’s what guys preferred. According to the article guys may not care as much about a woman’s bikini line as many women may think. Or if he does care, a full on Brazilian wax may not be required. A new study that was paid for by the hair removal company Nad’s surveyed 1000 men and discovered that their most preferred look was not the Brazilian wax. The preference was with the article considered “trimmed and tidy”. 48% of the men pulled reported that they preferred women’s hair natural with what the article called a “Bermuda triangle”(this is trimmed hair and waxed sides). 17% said they like “a landing strip”, 15% preferred a heart-shaped, and only 12% reported that they preferred a full-on Brazilian(no hair at all). The conclusion was made that most men prefer some hair versus no hair at all. It is important for women to feel sexy when naked and a bikini wax, or Brazilian wax can help women to feel extremely sexy. But, no one will doubt that it becomes much more difficult to feel sexy if a woman is unhappy with her body. One of the major areas that most women have a complaint about is the abdomen. Women who have gained and lost weight and/or recently had children tend to find the abdomen a troublesome area to control through diet and exercise alone. Patients are encouraged to begin to address the signs of abdominal increase as soon as they become evident. For some patients if addressed early liposuction alone can make a dramatic improvements. Dr. Kim explains to patients that he can address trouble areas early on and make a significant difference by treating targeted areas with liposuction. As an artist Dr. Kim is able to sculpt these areas and to a much more natural and aesthetically pleasing tone. For patients who have an excessive amount of loose and lax skin and abdominoplasty may be needed in order to achieve satisfactory results. In many cases Dr. Kim will also recommend liposuction to provide a more finished, aesthetically pleasing result. Patients who are considering body contouring procedures including liposuction and abdominoplasty are encouraged to contact Dr. Kim and schedule a consultation.

How many times have you heard women who are considering breast augmentation announce that they do not want to be “too big”? This is a common fear among women when considering breast augmentation. Unfortunately there are no universal bra sizes so it can be a daunting challenge for patients to communicate the size of breast implants they are most comfortable with. It is important for patients to trust the doctor that they choose to perform their breast augmentation surgery. The doctor could make a recommendation that may be slightly different from the patient’s original intentions. While the decision is ultimately the patient’s, Dr. Kim may recommend a certain implant over another implant. For example if the patient is extremely thin and is choosing saline implants Dr. Kim may recommend that she use silicone implants to prevent rippling after the implants have settled. Back in the early 90s(think Baywatch) large breast were fairly common on very thin bodies. Back then many women unashamedly wanted breast implants as big as they could get. For some time breast implant manufacturers custom created implants that were considered extra-large implants for the segment of the population that wanted very large breast implants. These extra-large implants were not without risk. Many patients suffered encapsulation or excessive scar tissue growing around the implant. This required subsequent surgeries and most patients regretted having selected such a large implant. Dr. Kim is careful to explain to patients the benefits and limitations of each implant. Dr. Kim will also share his medical as well as aesthetic skills in helping patients choose not only the best looking and most functional breast implant but also the safest for the patient. There is little doubt that as time has moved on patients have begun to embrace smaller size implants here in the United States. For patients who are considering breast augmentation the key is to keep an open mind concerning the type of implants and the size desired until after patients have seen Dr. Kim in person for their consultation. This will allow the best environment for Dr. Kim to help patients understand the best breast augmentation options available for them.

If you were to assume that patients hate their stomachs after tummy tuck then you may never have guessed it that this procedure stands as one of the most satisfied cosmetic procedures to date. Now there is even more evidence showing the reason why it is so popular. Swiss researchers recently found that bariatric patients who underwent tummy tuck surgery to remove excess skin are more likely to keep the weight off following procedures.

Researchers claim that body contouring after bariatric bypass aims to give patients the ability to enjoy greater health benefits, including the motivation to manage their weight. Men and women who lose a substantial amount of weight through bariatric bypass surgery or achieved weight loss by diet and exercise, usually possess excess skin and fat in the back and abdominal areas.

The study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that the positive impact after gastric bypass in conjunction with body contouring led to better long-term weight control and quality of life.

Generally speaking, the reason for continued weight loss was that once patients saw the results they were searching for they gain the inspiration to maintain the healthy weight well beyond body contouring procedures. A sleeker and trim physique can help Beverly Hills tummy tuck patients stay inspired to engage in challenging physical activities, which is beneficial for overall health.

What Does Body Contouring Address After Weight Loss?

The other reasons why tummy tuck delivers such satisfying results are the three features it repairs that diet and exercise cannot change on their own. What are the body contouring features you have to look forward to, you may ask:

Dr. Kim meets with many potential candidates struggling to eliminate excess skin after weight loss. During consultation he will share his medical experience and explains the body contouring process to his patients. This will allow tummy tuck clients gain the knowledge they need before undergoing the procedure, as well as set up a comfortable experience for long-lasting weight loss results.