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Workplace stress has been known to cause a multitude of problems. Recently a study from that it also can cause health related concerns. Patients who are considering plastic surgery should be mindful of not only their work schedule but also the attitude of the people with whom they work. Patients considering procedures such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, or facelift are often concerned about the attitude of their coworkers when they return to work. Dr. Kim assures his patients that in most cases the attitude of coworkers is much less negative than what many people fear. Patients should allow enough healing time(especially for facial procedures) if they are concerned about the reaction of others. Workplace stress should always be kept to a minimum, especially if it is making use sick. According to KTLA Being stressed at work can take a physical toll. A study finds that being in high-strain occupations may be linked with making more trips to see the doctor compared with those in less-stressed jobs. The study, published recently in the journal BMC Public Health, included a nationally representative sample of 29,110 Canadian workers who were part of the Canadian National Population Health Survey from 2000 to 2008. Researchers looked at those in high-, medium- and low-stress jobs and the number of times they visited a general practitioner or a specialist.

As new moms face the choice of birth control more are choosing to surgically have their tubes tied instead of the IUD. It is common for women to consult with Dr. Kim once they have decided that they are finished having children and want a more youthful better contoured figure. Most women are concerned with a loss of volume and sagging in the breast and therefore choose breast augmentation. In some cases it may need to be combined with a breast lift ;as breast implants alone will not lift the breast tissue. For some patients, it makes more sense both financially and for recovery time to also address the abdominal area. Many women postpartum have loose and lax skin on the abdomen including stretch marks. Dr. Kim recommends an abdominoplasty and in most cases it can be performed with the breast surgery. Recovery is approximately 2 to 3 weeks and in healthy patients the procedures can be performed in an outpatient setting. After having children it is exciting for women to be able to return to their prepregnancy contour and shape. According to KTLA very few women choose to get an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted soon after giving birth, even though it’s one of the most effective methods of long-term contraception, according to a new study.

Instead, the research showed, many opt for tubal sterilization — usually a permanent closure of the fallopian tubes — including young women who may go on to regret the surgery.
I think it’s important to realize that the two methods work equally well, but (IUDs) have the added benefit of being entirely reversible, said Dr. Eleanor Schwarz, who studies contraception at the University of Pittsburgh but was not involved in the new study.
Generally in all settings in my mind, it makes sense to prefer an IUD over a surgical procedure, she told Reuters Health.

As women age and go through various stages of their lives it can become rather difficult to embrace the changes physically that her body may be going through. Dr. Kim helps women understand that hormonal shifts in their body can cause stubborn fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise. Women often see these appear on their outer thighs,lower back, and abdomen. Dr. Kim as an artist and surgeon is uniquely qualified to actually sculpt the body carefully removing fat from areas that detract from the overall attractiveness and proportionate shape. Dr. Kim uses liposuction as an effective method of targeting the specific fat cells that do not belong. Patients must commit to being good about diet and exercise in order to preserve the results long-term. Just because women age it does not mean they have to accept a shape that is no longer pleasing to them. According to The Los Angeles Times from hair-color treatments to Botox to surgical mommy makeovers, it seems there is no limit to the ways women can try to hold on to their fading youth. But are these healthy self-improvements or simply vain attempts to look younger?

It depends on whether women can accept that aging is a natural part of life, says Vivian Diller, a New York City psychologist and coauthor of the 2010 book Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change. In a recent interview, the 58-year-old former model and ballet dancer discussed ways that women can achieve a healthy self-image as they get older.

It is hard to find an adult who doesn’t reach for a cup of coffee early in the morning. Many of us claim to need it to get going. A new study says that this may be a figment of our imagination. If this is the case, then some people may want to consider reducing their caffeine intake.Dr. Kim consults with patients who are considering breast augmentation and some patients tell him that they have a lumpy and bumpy consistency to their breast tissue which becomes worse with increased caffeine consumption. Sometimes they ask if this will affect their breast implants. Dr. Kim explains that the implants are separate from the patient’s own breast tissue. The majority of the time the implants are placed below the muscle and the breast tissue is not disturbed . So if patients have better breast health by avoiding caffeine,then they should follow the same routine after surgery.Dr. Kim also instructs the patient to follow the recommendations of the American Cancer Society which include monthly breast self exams for all women, and annual mammograms for women over 40 years of age. Patients who have a concern with caffeine should consider this study that claims to prove, that we don’t really get a buzz when we drink it. According to ABC7  researchers at University of East London gave study participants coffee they thought contained caffeine, but it was actually decaffeinated coffee.

Even so, researchers noticed an improvement in performance and mood.

Many people believe that when they see the FDA approved seal that it means there is a level of security that if they purchase the product it will work and meet their expectation.  Unfortunately, that is a stretch for many FDA approved drugs and devices.For example,there are many liposuction alternatives that are are approved,this means that they will remove some fat.  It does not mean that they will  remove the amount of fat a patient may expect. A recent report pointed out that FDA approved drugs are not equal in their effectiveness as it relates to the purpose they were prescribed to treat.Dr. Kim prescribes certain medications for use after surgery.  For procedures including breast augmentation and abdominoplasty, Dr. Kim may prescribe both a narcotic pain reliever as well as a muscle relaxant.  For most procedures he will prescribe an antibiotic, antinausea medication, and in some cases, medications to avoid swelling.  It is best for patients to check with the pharmacist and Dr. Kim prior to accepting substitutions for the prescriptions Dr. Kim has written. According to the Los Angeles Times U.S. consumers might put a little too much faith in the FDA’s role as a gatekeeper for marketable drugs, according to a new study — but giving patients a little bit of information about such drugs can actually help people make better treatment choices.

Most people have heard that laughter is the best medicine.  A recent study set out to prove that it is in fact true.At least according to the study, it will help to relieve pain.Dr. Kim’s  patients will ask how much pain they will be experiencing when they are considering a plastic surgery procedure.  Dr. Kim explains that every person has a different pain tolerance. Surgery patients are given a narcotic pain reliever to help manage the pain.  Typically breast augmentation that is submuscular, and abdominoplasty are at a higher level of pain  for most patients.  Other procedures such as rhinoplasty and facelift are considered to be moderatly painful for most patients.  Most other procedures fall somewhere between mildly and moderately painful for most patients.  This is with the assumption that patients are taking their prescribed pain medication. Most patients in retrospect are so happy with their procedure that they rarely complain about the pain once they see the results.  If laughter helps to overcome pain, then maybe patients should laugh while recovering.  According to My Fox Los Angeles having a good laugh with friends can help us to deal with pain — proving laughter really is the best medicine — a UK study out Wednesday found.

Watching just 15 minutes of comedy with others increased the pain threshold by an average of 10 percent, a team of researchers, led by the University of Oxford, England, discovered.

You have heard the saying that the early bird gets the worm.  A new study says that they are also skinnier and happier.  Dr. Kim reminds patients that cosmetic plastic surgery is for patients who are basically healthy.  Patients have the best experiences when they are in their best physical health.  Some may wonder why someone who is physically healthy would even consider plastic surgery.  The truth is procedures such as a facelift or even breast augmentation provide patients with results they could not achieve any other way.  Having a facelift does not mean a person is delusional about the aging process.  Most patients choose facial rejuvenation because it allows them to look as young and energetic as they feel. Breast augmenation is a choice many women make so that  they will feel more confident in their wardrobe choices.  Rarely do women make extreme choices in terms of their desired size.  Most women make moderate choices and look very natural.  While being an early riser may help people to be skinnier and happier, plastic surgery also enjoys the distinction of happy patients. According to ABC 7 researchers in Britain found that people who stay in bed longer have a higher chance of feeling depressed or stressed and becoming overweight.

As the fall season is set to begin flu season is upon us.  Most medical professionals are urging every adult to get the flu shot .  It is understandable that patients would skip the shot and consider it unnecessary.  Dr. Kim explains to his patient as they are scheduling surgeries for the fall and winter months that it is very important that they remain healthy in order to keep their selected surgery date.  Patients who are scheduled for longer procedures such as abdominoplasty or facelift could have serious scheduling conflicts if they were to get sick with the flu. Most patients take off about two weeks for recovery after these procedures. If they were to get sick with the flu, their surgery would have to be re-scheduled and patients who have jobs with work schedule could need to delay their surgery for months. There is also the risk of getting sick with the flu after surgery when patients are more susceptible to germs. Patients could have a very uncomfortable experience recovering from surgery and the flu at the same time. A flu shot does not guarantee that patients will not get the flu , but it can help reduce the risk. According to KTLA but as the memory and urgency of the 2009 flu pandemic fades, health officials want to make sure Americans continue to turn up for their annual flu shots by offering them in more places and in new forms, including vaccination with a tiny needle designed to make the experience as painless as possible. Eight million more Americans got vaccinated against the flu last year. That is the most people who have ever been vaccinated in this country, Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, said at a news conference.

In our world of quick and easy we often lose sight of the seriousness of medical procedures specifically surgery. Wanda Sykes recently shared with the Ellen show that she had undergone a double mastectomy following a routine breast reduction surgery. According to Sykes it was during this surgery that they discovered pre-cancerous cells in her breast tissue that was removed.  Sykes elected for a double masectomy in hopes of preventing breast cancer later in life.  Dr. Kim performs breast reduction surgery and explains to his patients that the procedure is not routine.  Breast reduction takes about three hours to perform and Dr. Kim is careful to use his artistic skill and experience to create the best possible shape and breast size for the patient. It is important for patients to understand that the breast tissue that is removed is sent to pathology as a precautionary measure.  Patients should follow all breast health screening guidelines after surgery.  Wanda Sykes situation is not typical and the path she chose is not commonly chosen.  According to KTLA in Sykes’ case, she told DeGeneres that she didn’t want to take any chances, especially since cancer runs on her mother’s side of the family. Apparently, she did not reveal whether she has a mutation in her BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which increases a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer from 12% to about 60%.

“I had both breasts removed, because now I have zero chance of having breast cancer,” she told DeGeneres.
Well, not exactly. A double mastectomy certainly reduces one’s risk of breast cancer, but it doesn’t actually eliminate it, according to theMayo Clinic.

There has been some celebrity buzz about Jessica Simpson and the mystery about her plans for a breast reduction.  While rumor is that she thinks her large breasts make her look fat, for many women this is truly the way that they feel.  Dr. Kim explains that breast reduction surgery has a dual benefit.  For many women, it helps to alleviate back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and for many women numbness in the fingers.  This of course, would be the first important benefit.  The second benefit which is just as important, is the fact that for many women buying a bra or clothes off the rack is virtually impossible.  Breast reduction surgery takes about 2 1/2 hours and for some patients they may choose  to add a small implant for firmness and shape. Some call this the plus, minus procedure.  For some patients, Dr. Kim may perform liposuction on the sides of the chest for better shaping. Whether Jessica Simpson chooses breast reduction or not, this procedure has one of the happiest and most satisfied patient populations.According to The Orange County Register Simpson herself used the Twitter message service on Sept. 7 to declare, “Been getting lots of questions about this alleged breast reduction…not to worry…I LOVE MY BOOBIES!! They aren’t going anywhere!”