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This time of year it is not unusual to get the warnings about unwrapped candy and razor blades hidden inside of apples, but accoording to a recent  Wall Street Journal Health blog licorice has been added to the FDA’s dangerous list of candy. But wait, before you throw away all of the Good-n-Plenty it should be noted that this warning only applies to excessive amounts being eaten and for people with previous heart conditions. The FDA warns that eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks can possibly lead to an irregular heart rhythm.The culprit, the FDA says, is a sweetening compound called glycyrrhizin, which can lead to a drop in potassium levels. And that, in turn, can cause arrhythmia as well as high blood pressure and edema.It is not unusual for everyday food to have unintended consequences to the health of patients. This holds true for seemingly harmless vitamin supplements and over-the-counter medications.  While they may be effective for your health, many are prohibited prior to surgery.  Dr. Kim explains to his patients who are considering plastic surgery that there are several vitamin supplements and over the counter medications on the list of medications to avoid prior to surgery. These include vitamin E, fish oil, and aspirin which many Americans take on a daily basis.  Patients considering popular procedures such as breast augmentation and liposuction will often be unaware of the fact that these medications should be stopped prior to surgery.  This can delay the surgery date so patients should prepare for their surgery date based on a minimum of a three week time frame between their consultation and surgery.Plastic surgery is a very safe and satisfying experience provided the patient and doctor follow the proper safety guidelines.

In a world of political correctness it seems silly to remind patients to be honest with their doctor. But, since we are talking about truth and reality is many patients do not realize the importance of telling the truth to their physician. A recent article in the Huffington Post highlighted the reasons why omitting the truth, or lying is hurtful to the patient. According to the article You and your physician are a team working together to keep you healthy, says Wellness Advisor Beth Reconti T M.D.  Always bring up drinking, just like any other lifestyle habit, including cigarettes and exercise. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that collecting medical information and health history helps him to better assess if the patient is a good candidate surgery. This information not only includes lifestyle and family history of illness, but also previous surgeries. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for patients to omit previous surgeries including liposuction and rhinoplasty. Sometimes they are embarrassed and do not want to let the plastic surgeon know that they have had previous surgery in that area. Without this information the doctor is inclined to believe that the patient is having surgery for the first time. Unfortunately when the surgeon performs the surgery that is when they realize that there is an abundance of scar tissue from previous surgery. This can not only affect the results of the surgery but also can add additional surgery time and possible cost to the patient. Dr. Kim is committed to providing a comfortable environment so that patients can freely share information in confidence.

The extra hour of sleep that we were able to catch this weekend for many was an added bonus. But, a recent article online pointed out some of the ways daylight savings time actually affects our health. According to the article we’re more likely to sleep soundly during the fall and winter, but are less likely to do so in the leap forward during spring and summer. More darkness in the fall and winter can help control natural appetite urges, since the body is instead preparing to rest. The tendency towards longer and better hours of sleep in the winter can also help you lose weight(if you  have enough willpower to stay away from the winter holiday parties). When clocks fall back, many don’t leave the office or day job until after it’s dark. “If people are working inside all day, they’re not receiving their daily intake of vitamin D,” says New York dermatologist Dennis Gross MD “Vitamin D replenishes skin hydration, boosts elasticity, radiance and luminosity, stimulates collagen and helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” adds Gross. Fortunately in Southern California the sun is out most of the days. Even a lunchtime stroll can be beneficial in getting the vitamin D necessary to benefit beautiful skin. For most of us, the end of daylight savings time overall is positive. Dr. Kim helps his patients understand that lack of sleep can have a profound affect on a person’s appearance. It is not uncommon to have bags beneath the eyes and droopy eyelids which clearly cause a person to look tired. Dr. Kim explains that the eyelids can look dramatically younger with a blepharoplasty procedure. This procedure removes the excess skin on the eyelid as well as the bags beneath the eyes. In some cases if the brow has begun to sag Dr. Kim may recommend a brow lift as well. Once patients have surgery it is important that they maintain a healthy sleep pattern to preserve their results long-term.

Can you be obese and still healthy? This appears to be one of the most controversial questions on the internet today. According to an online women’s magazine a host of nutrition experts, doctors, and readers all have varying answers to this loaded question. According to the article most of the controversy is based on the fact that there are no universal numbers to definitively account for a person being labeled as obese. Typically, the BMI which is calculated based on a person’s height and weight, is the measure used to determine if a person is obese. A new campaign called Healthy at Every Size is committed to teaching women to have healthy lifestyle habits regardless of the number on the scale. According to this campaign people can be healthy even if their weight does not fall in line with height and weight charts currently utilized. Dr. Kim explained to patients who are considering buying a contouring procedures that their best results will be when they are at a stable body weight. This includes both liposuction procedures as well as abdominoplasty. Dr. Kim uses his artistic skill combined with his medical expertise to sculpt the body in specific targeted areas using liposuction. For most patients this includes not just sculpting, but also shaping for the best most aesthetically pleasing results. For patients who are having an abdominoplasty, it is important to note that liposuction can be combined to provide enhancement for the entire waistline. The excess skin from the abdominal flap is removed liposuction is performed on the love handles and lower back. Most patients are thrilled with the results as they are dramatically better than could be achieved through diet and exercise alone. These procedures are not weight loss procedures; however, most patients are satisfied with a more proportionate figure.

We’ve all heard the expression; you have to play the cards you’re dealt,this usually in conjunction with genetics. According to a recent CNN news report this is not entirely true. When it comes to dementia and other memory loss conditions according to the news story and studies it appears that a proactive approach to health can greatly reduce a person’s chance of developing memory loss disorders later in life. This is great because many people fear that their lives will be forever changed for the worse as they age. This is especially true for those who have seen their parents have health conditions that cause their deterioration right before their eyes. According to the article a healthy diet,regular exercise, and mind challenging activities that begin at midlife can make a substantial difference in whether or not a person develops memory loss disorders. Genetics can be very powerful when it comes to our appearance. It is much more difficult to overcome the genetic shape of our nose for example. Dr. Kim explains to patients in this scenario that even though he can perform a rhinoplasty  and improve the shape and overall appearance of the nose, he is still limited by the genetic shape of a person’s nose. This is why it is important for patients to understand that cosmetic plastic surgery is in enhancement rather than a replacement. This also holds true for patients considering breast augmentation. Some patients are under the impression that the surgery will create changes that are beyond the scope of the surgery. For example, the shape of the chest wall cannot be changed with breast augmentation surgery. Patients who have the best overall experience with cosmetic plastic surgery understand the limitations and have realistic expectations.

Most of us would have never have thought that there would be a sport known as competitive eating. But, thanks to reality TV not only is it a past time at the county fair, but also a sport. According to a recent MSNBC article there is little to support as to whether this new phenomenon is bad for our health, mental or physical. According to the article this bizarre sport has a league of its own, known as Major League Eating, an international ranking of its top competitors and it appears to have inspired the reality TV show, Man Versus Food. There are no solid studies that can prove medical danger when people involve themselves in these competitive contest.  Many could include eating enormous amounts of oysters, hot dogs, doughnuts or other food items. Regardless of how we feel about overconsumption of food, for the purpose of winning a contest, one fact remains: gluttony in our society is frowned upon. For many people obesity is synonymous with gluttony. Therefore, laughing at this type of contest is like laughing at one of the biggest problems facing our society today. Dr. Kim celebrates patients who have successfully lost weight and managed to keep the weight off. Maintaining a stable weight is extremely difficult especially after weight loss. After the weight is lost many patients suffer from extreme loose skin on the abdomen. Often this results in an abdominal pouch of skin and fat that makes it very difficult to find clothes that fit well. In this situation Dr. Kim will typically recommend an abdominoplasty which will allow him to remove the excess skin, tighten the muscle, and create a flatter abdomen. He may combine liposuction with the procedure on the love handles and lower back to complete and enhancement of the waist.

Most medical reports in recent years advise new mothers to breast-feed their babies. When mothers are reluctant to do so there is speculation as to their motive. A recent industry article looked at the perception of breast augmentation being ruined after breast-feeding. It addressed rather women were concerned with sagging after making an investment in breast augmentation surgery. According to the article researchers followed 160 mothers with breast implants to gauge their success with the feeding method. They found that 86 percent of those who failed at breast-feeding thought that it would make their breasts look worse. On the other hand, among those who successfully nursed their babies, only 13 percent believed that it would affect the appearance of their breasts. Dr. Kim discusses in detail with patients who are considering breast augmentation their plans for children and breast-feeding. Most patients have breast implants that are placed behind the muscle which would not interfere with the patient’s desire to breast-feed. It is important to note that the breast tissue and how it responds to increase and decrease in size from pregnancy is unpredictable. It is virtually impossible to tell a woman with certainty, if she has never had children, how her breast will look after pregnancy whether she has breast implants or not. The article does not adequately address the fact that a breast lift  can be performed while preserving the implant after pregnancy if the patient so desires. Overwhelmingly most patients who breast feed with breast implants are fine with their breast after having children. Most patients do not proceed with a second surgery. It is unfair to believe that women who have breast implants are any more likely to refuse breast-feeding solely because of their investment in breast augmentation.

A disturbing report  article reported that The International Diabetes Federation predicts  at least one in 10 adults could have diabetes by 2030, according to its latest statistics. Although this prediction is based on international statistics it is still quite a disturbing figure. The study encompassed both types of diabetes which includes adult onset diabetes, as well as people born with the disease.It  is projected that the numbers will rise not only because of obesity but also because of an aging population.Most of the projected cases are expected to be Type II diabetes which is linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. For these patients to develop diabetes  it is unnecessary considering the fact that the causes are, in fact for the most part preventable. Dr. Kim encourages his patients who have successfully lost weight to be proactive about their appearance. Celebrating weight loss is only one half of the equation. Just as important is making sure that the patient feels good about how she looks. Often patients have loose skin on their abdomen or sagging breast after weight loss. This may bother them tremendously and they seek the advice of Dr. Kim to have the skin removed. Dr. Kim may recommend a breast lift and possible breast implants to help the patient return to  more full and a voluptuous breasts. Dr. Kim may recommend an abdominoplasty as a solution for loose skin on the abdomen. This procedure also gives Dr. Kim the ability to tighten the muscles and makes for a flatter more aesthetically pleasing abdomen. Maintaining a healthy and stable weight is not only a health concern but it also helps patients to increase their self-esteem and self-confidence.

Most foods that we consume especially those that taste good, have ventured out to prove that they are good for you. It appears as though chewing gum is no exception. For many years sugar free chewing gum has given the impression to many consumers that because it is sugar-free it must promote weight loss. According to a recent news story there is no significant data that supports any findings that sugar-free gum promotes weight loss. According to the article the eight-week study included 201 overweight or obese adults, who were told to chew gum intermittently throughout the day as a deterrent from eating snack foods. By the end of the study there was no significant difference between those who chewed the gum and those who did not. Expecting a piece of gum to help a person lose weight is asking a great deal. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that effective weight loss is only achieved and maintained through commitment. Patients who have made a commitment and lost the weight sometimes seek the assistance of Dr. Kim to remove the excess skin that may be left sagging after weight loss. This is most evident in the breast and the abdomen. For these two areas Dr. Kim recommends a breast lift  possibly with implants)and an abdominoplasty. In some cases these procedures can be performed together. It is important that patients maintain a healthy and stable weight following their cosmetic plastic surgery procedure to ensure the best long-term results.

In southern California criticism of celebrities is just part of our landscape. A recent online industry article made a point of a recent interview with Nancy Pelosi. Sadly according to the article the focus was more on her face then what she had to say. There was speculation as to whether she had Botox, fillers, a facelift or all of the above. The article implied that voters could be swayed by the idea that politicians are not natural looking. Of course, in the same article it was decided that voters wanted politicians to have fresh and youthful looking faces. One commentator stated that Nancy Pelosi looked too good to be her age. Unfortunately, for celebrities and politicians alike, being in the spotlight opens you up to this type of scrutiny. Dr. Kim reminds his patients that most of us are not under this type of microscope. Most of Dr. Kim’s patients desire a subtle more natural looking approach to plastic surgery. This includes not only facial procedures but breast augmentation as well. Contrary to what people see on reality TV or in tabloid newspapers most women do not choose extremely large breast implants and then wear extremely low blouses. Even in Southern California and Beverly Hills most women desire breast augmentation that is proportionate to their height and weight. Dr. Kim is careful to explain to his patients their options and helps them to achieve results that meet or exceed their expectations. Celebrities and politicians are not always the best example of the population as a whole when it comes to their appearance.