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Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer. Dr. Kim emphasizes the risk of excessive sun exposure especially to his facial rejuvenation patients. The investment in procedures such as facelift, brow lift, and eyelift can be a poor choice if patients are unwilling to avoid sun exposure and wear the proper sunscreen. Dr. Kim is limited in the difference that he can make for a patient who has excessive sun damage on their face.  For patients with sun damage the skin tends to be less likely to respond to the strong tension needed to tighten the skin on the face.  These patients are able to gain improvement from facial rejuvenation surgery; however, they may not be pulled as tightly to retain the strength of the skin which is already compromised. Fortunately, there are treatments that are effective for melanoma. According to ABC7 melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. But up until now there haven’t been very effective options to treat advanced cases of the disease. Now patients with advanced melanoma have new hope as researchers try to stop it in its tracks using DNA.

There are new, gene-based treatments for people with late-stage melanoma. Now we’re learning more about how those drugs work and how doctors are targeting this deadly form of skin cancer in a whole new way.

Is common knowledge that men are less likely to seek medical attention then women when they have bothersome symptoms. The same holds true for men when seeking antiaging procedures. It is as though men are not as self-conscious about their wrinkles. Recent reports have highlighted the increase in men seeking cosmetic procedures. The truth is, the percentage remains very low. Dr. Kim explains to his male patients that waiting to address aging skin reduces the available options to treat it. Male patients can benefit from Botox which can treat lines and wrinkles in the forehead as well as crows at the corners of the eyes. In some cases a brow lift may be recommended in order to achieve maximum correction. It is necessary for a patient to be an excellent health prior to elective surgical procedures. Men should not ignore medical symptoms that could be. According to ABC7, some of them are:

Internist Dr. Imad El Asmar, from the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, says women outnumber men two to one in his practice. It’s a concern because there are signs men should not ignore.

To me, pain in the abdomen is the most serious thing I could face in practice, said El Asmar.

A dull persistent ache could be a kidney stone or a tumor.

Getting winded after physical exertion that worsens each time could signal an impending heart attack.

And persistent forgetfulness may warrant a doctor’s attention.

This is a warning sign for a stroke that can happen in the near future, said El Asmar.

It is very tempting in today’s market to work very hard all week long with little to no sleep. In theory why not catch up on the weekend? Studies show our bodies do not work that way. This proves what plastic surgeons like Dr. Kim have conveyed to patients for years. It is virtually impossible to fool the human body. Patients who are sleep deprived suffer from not only health issues but also appearance issues. Patients can experience lose and lax skin causing droopy eyelids along with prominent bags beneath the eyes. In these cases Dr. Kim recommends an upper and lower blepharoplasty. This is performed by removing a small sliver of skin in the crease of the eyelid and tightening the skin in the outer creases of the eyes. Once this surgery is performed it creates a much more alert and open looking appearance. Patients must eliminate the lack of sleep from their lifestyle in order to maintain their best results. According to ABC7

If you’re not getting enough sleep during the work week, researchers say you can’t make it up on the weekends.

They say people who are sleep-deprived during the week need more than just a couple nights’ rest to recover.

It can be devastating for a woman to lose her hair. Women will sometimes have to resort to wigs and other means to hide a balding scalp. Dr.Kim assures patients with this issue that they do not need to be embarrassed or self conscious. When patients are considering a facelift or brow lift a woman with thinning hair may be concerned with keeping the incisions well hidden. With Dr. Kim’s artistic ability allows him to creatively search for the best options for each patient. An endoscopic brow lift may be an option which would allow the patient to avoid a long incision. Dr. Kim understands the sensitivity of this issue for women and is committed to ensuring the best patient experience. Hair loss happens in women for different reasons. According to CBS Los Angeles when it comes to women losing hair, medical experts say it’s more about age than genes.

Dr. Lorrie Klein of the Dermatology and Laser Centers says hair loss among women is a common problem and one many might not even be aware of.

“The reason we think of hair loss as a male issue is because men can go bald, completely. Most women don’t go completely bald, they thin,” according to Klein.

But now, one state-of-the-art device may be able to rid women of mild to moderate hair loss.

It’s called iGrow and is made right here in the Southland. For nearly $700 and about 20 minutes (two to three times a week) iGrow claims to grow back mild to moderate hair loss.

Today’s woman with gray hair is not an old crippled woman anymore. Dr Kim sees older patients with gray hair who are making every effort to be as youthful looking as possible. Some women for the first time are considering breast augmentation and abdominoplasty. They work out and they are in great shape, yet they want a shapelier and proportioned look. They may have breast implants (either silicone or saline)and many find that the new shape allows them to increase their wardrobe selection substantially. Most women are modest in their choice of breast implant size. Just because a woman has gray hair it does not mean that she will have to look old and cannot have a great looking body. Researchers may have found a cure for gray hair. According to ABC 7 in a possible breakthrough in the battle against gray hair, scientists may have found a way to reverse the process. Researchers at New York University turned hair on mice from gray back to its natural sheen without hair coloring.

 

They discovered a protein that re-activates the color producing stem cells in hair follicles.

 

Researchers said the structure of human hair is similar to mice, so they have high hopes for the future.

Weight changes as we age

Few people weigh the same amount as they did in high school. So, it is not logical to believe that anything else should be exactly the same. Dr. Kim explains that even when patients have been good about diet and exercise aging changes the hormonal balance and everything shifts.

Plastic surgery procedures

Plastic surgery procedures such as abdominoplasty and breast lift can help to remove loose skin and create a much more toned, tight, and shapely appearance. Patients can become discouraged when they realize that the only way to maintain a youthful appearance is to make improvements both nonsurgical and surgical as part of routine body maintenance.

Weight study

According to a recent study, the average American gains about of pound a year. According to The Los Angeles Times a new study found that Americans on average gain three to four pounds every four years. After a few more years, the extra 10 pounds can impact a person’s health. Through careful research, scientists have determined which foods lead to weight gain and which lead to weight loss. The so-called middle-aged spread shows up before most even know it. Adults after the age of 30 usually gain about a pound a year.

It sneaks up on you, said dietitian Maria Fisk of Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. The report in the New England Journal of Medicine followed 120,000 men and women for 20 years. Researchers looked at people’s diets and determined which foods led to weight gain.

Quality Counts

For more information on the procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim contact (310) 271-6996.

It seems logical that if energy drinks are bad because of overly stimulating ingredients then drinks with extreme calming effects should be good. Right? Well, doctors say no to downer drinks. Once again, natural ingredients can be harmful to your health. Dr. Kim explains to his patients prior to surgery that their complete medical history should include all drugs being taken including over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and excessive consumption of vitamin and energy drinks. This applies to all patients including young people who are likely to be having shorter procedures such as breast augmentation or small amounts of liposuction. Drugs and supplements can interfere with medications used for anesthesia as well as medications used during recovery. The best patient experience is made possible with open communication between the patient, Dr. Kim and his staff. It may come as a surprise that what you eat can affect your surgery but there are definitely foods and drinks doctors warn against. According to ABC7 many relaxation drinks contain stuff found at vitamin stores like valerian root, rose hips, kava, and melatonin. Yet studies are mixed about the long term use of some of these ingredients.The FDA sent a letter to Bianchi last year, warning that melatonin is an unapproved food additive. So now Drank is sold as a dietary supplement rather than a beverage.Still, there are fans, including acupuncturist Tom Ingegno who even recommends anti-energy drinks to his clients.It’s really impressive to see something that can take the edge off, help you sleep, help you relax and still wake up the next morning and not feel groggy. It’s not like taking a medication, said Ingegno.Some of the drinks also have warnings about driving after drinking them. Experts are concerned about people drinking too many of these downer drinks in a short time frame, then getting behind the wheel and being impaired.

While experts race to study the effects of these new drinks they warn that anyone who uses them should take precautions.

Gone are the days when a mole with considered cute. These days we know that they can be a precursor to skin cancer. Patients should check thoroughly their entire body for new moles as well as those which have changed. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that healthy skin must be maintained. It is never too early to start routine skin care with medical grade skin care products. Patients should be careful and avoid direct sunlight as evidence proves that it is directly related to premature aging. Patients with sun damage are likely to consider procedures like a facelift or brow lift. Many are surprised to learn that when the skin is damaged facelifts and brow lift are likely to be less effective. The best advice for patients especially in southern California is to wear sunscreen daily. Skin health is a lifelong commitment. According to The Los Angeles Times get to know your moles. Know their location, size and color.

Look for new or changing moles. It’s normal to develop new moles into your early 20s, but not beyond. Pay attention to any new growths or moles that have changed in size, color or shape.

Take pictures. If you have lots of moles, keeping up with potential changes is difficult. One good idea: take photographs every six to 12 months; save and date the images on a computer and review as needed. You may find a scary mole has always been there — or that it is in fact new.

Beware of pink or black. Normal moles and other benign skin growths typically are varying shades of tan to brown. Melanomas may be black or less commonly pink, while other skin cancers tend to be pink and are often scaly. See your dermatologist if you notice a pink or black lesion.

These days what used to be visible only in cartoons and sketches has made it to the big screen. More men days are concerned with achieving an enviable chest and washboard abs. Dr. Kim explains that in some cases the chest may have excessive male breast tissue which can be embarrassing for men. Gynecomastia surgery allows Dr. Kim to remove the breast tissue and create a more masculine toned and fit appearance. Liposuction helps to remove small amounts of fat from the abdomen. If there are toned muscles underneath then they will be much more evident after surgery. It is important that men understand they will not have a superhero body just because they have chosen plastic surgery. Even with proper diet and exercise this is difficult if not impossible to achieve for most people. According to The Los Angeles Times  perhaps you’ve wondered how those actors achieved the chiseled abdominals, powerful pecs and bulging biceps — and whether you could manage to get them yourself without their superhero powers.
The short answer: Probably not. But we can still do pretty well for ourselves even when fitting fitness into a mere mortal’s existence that involves going to work, taking care of kids, preparing family meals, changing toxic diapers and waking in the night to be regaled with tales of the slime monster in Junior’s closet.

Actors, on the other hand, are able to rely on top personal trainers to help them work out every day, chefs who prepare tailored meals and Sisyphean determination.

After many years of study mammograms have been proven to reduce breast cancer deaths. Dr. Kim has expertly performed many breast augmentations over the years. It is not uncommon for  younger patients to be less concerned about breast health than women who are over 40. The reality is breast health should be important to every woman whether she has breast implants or not. Patients with excessive breast tissue who are considering breast reduction should also be aware that one of the risk factors for breast cancer is the presence of breast tissue. Removing breast tissue will not guarantee that a patient will not get breast cancer; however, any breast tissue that is removed is sent to pathology to assure that the tissue is healthy. After breast surgery, patients are advised to perform monthly breast self exams and to begin mammogram screening at age 40. If there is a family history of breast cancer patients may be advised to begin screening earlier and more often. According to The Los Angeles Times the longest study yet to examine women who undergo mammography shows that it reduces deaths from breast cancer by at least 30%, a finding that many doctors say may help ease the recent controversy surrounding the procedure.

The three-decade study in Sweden showed that one breast cancer death can be prevented for every 414 to 519 women who are screened, a much lower number than the 1,000 to 1,500 that had been projected in previous studies.