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The dish on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills hits home when they make the news mostly because in Beverly Hills it’s hard not to connect plastic surgery with our geographic location. The latest media frenzy came as a result of Kim Richards, who on the show is known to abuse prescription drugs and alcohol, made a trip to her plastic surgeon on the show. The plastic surgeon refused to give her more Botox because of her known addiction issues. This led some to wonder if Botox or other injectables are contraindicated for plastic surgery. The story on an online message board clarified that scientifically there is no reason to avoid injectables, even for those with prescription drug and alcohol addiction. This is only to say that the medicines will not cause specific related complications. The article also looked at the fact that patients with a known history of alcohol and drug abuse should share that with their plastic surgeon prior to surgery. If a qualified plastic surgeon allows the patient to have surgery, the plastic surgeon will help to monitor their pain medications following surgery, while taking into consideration their predisposition for drug dependency. Dr. Kim is careful to help patients realize all surgical procedures are serious and that it is imperative that they discuss their medical history with him in detail prior to surgery. This includes the more popular procedures such as breast augmentation and liposuction. Although these procedures are performed in a relatively short amount of time ,they are still surgical procedures and in order to avoid complications and ensure the best patient experience patients must be honest and forthcoming with medical information provided to Dr. Kim. Dr. Kim reminds patients that celebrity information should be considered for entertainment purposes only.

According to a recent study Americans are not short on self-confidence when it comes to their looks. A recent online article in the Orange County Register  reported that most Americans rate their looks at considerably above average, with one in three grading themselves an 8, 9, or 10 on a 1-10 scale, and more than half giving themselves a 7.The study was conducted by www livingsocial.com . According to the study people were less impressed with those around them, with 50% saying their city’s residents are overweight, only 46% saying the women in their city are beautiful and just 36% saying that men in their city are handsome.

Other responses: People in my city dress badly (28%); People in my city have bad personal hygiene (19%) and people in my city are superficial (36%). According to the expert from living social.com, people judge the people around them much harsher than they judge themselves. Dr. Kim explains to patients that meeting and exceeding their expectations is among his top priority. For patients considering procedures such as breast augmentation or liposuction a realistic assessment of their desires and the look that they expect following surgery is an imperative part of the consultation process. Patients must be realistic concerning the limitations their body brings to each procedure no matter how hot they think that they are.. For instance, a patient considering breast augmentation who is very thin and does not have enough of her own breast tissue may have the recommendation to use silicone implants versus saline implants, This is because of the likelihood for rippling that could be visible. For liposuction patients they need to be at or near their ideal body weight in order to achieve the best results. Patients who feel that they are unattractive prior to surgery should not choose cosmetic surgery as a means to the most attractive.  Plastic surgery is an enhancement based on what you already have and is limited in the results it can deliver.

Traditional medicine has begun to see a shift towards alternative therapies. According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times more doctors are electing for these procedures in their own lives and therefore offering the therapies to their own patients. Alternative therapies could include anything from massage to acupuncture to Jazzercise.  According to the article complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, combines the methods with traditional medicine. The point is that the alternative therapy helps to treat a symptoms without medicine. Doctors who work in hospital integrative medicine departments or use CAM methods in their own practices say their referrals from other physicians have been steadily increasing, though many physicians are still reluctant to suggest it. But doctors agree that patients themselves are the ones who have pushed much of the change in health care. Most are reluctant  to include cosmetic plastic surgery as alternative therapy when talking about non-traditional solutions. The reality is in some cases it can in fact be considered alternative therapy. For example laser resurfacing procedures performed by Dr. Kim can provide impressive results for patients suffering from acne scarring or discoloration due to sun damage and other environmental factors. Also, medical grade skin care treatments can provide therapeutic relief for dull and lifeless looking skin. Patients who benefit from alternative therapies continue to embrace cosmetic surgery procedures including breast augmentation and liposuction because there are limitations to the results patients can expect from alternative therapies.

As we approach the New Year many articles will promote weight loss and fitness ideas. Women’s Health Magazine is no exception. According to a recent online article an author of a recently released book promises to give you the inside tips on how to lose weight with positive thinking. According to the article your thoughts are what will guide you to success or to failure. If you’re in the wrong state of mind, you won’t stick it out through the exercises or follow the eating plan. It’s up to us to go against the grain. Taking personal responsibility for what you do, think, feel, say, and eat are all a part of inducing change. The article suggests that if you commit to changing the way you think, that will change what you eat, and in exchange you will lose the weight. It doesn’t claim that it will be easy but the article encourages us and tells us that we can do it. So, for those who are seeking better contour in their skinny jeans Dr. Kim is able to recommend liposuction. Amazingly the liposuction procedure can sculpt the bulges on the outer thighs, flatten the stomach, and create a shapely and more aesthetically pleasing body. The results Dr. Kim is able to achieve could not be obtained through diet and exercise alone. Thinking yourself skinny may sound too good to be true; but, Dr. Kim achieves enviable liposuction results on a consistent basis.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you have seen the marketing ads, billboards, and radio commercials for the last 15 months promising a thin body with the Lap-Band procedure. According to a recent article in the Beverly Hills Courier LA County officials are calling for truth in advertising for 1-800-GET-THIN the marketing arm for physicians offering the Lap-Band procedure. The FDA warned the marketing firm  LLC and eight Southern California surgical centers last week that their advertising for the so-called Lap-Band procedure failed to reveal all the risks involved. The agency said they must pull the misleading ads. FDA’s concern is that these ads glamorize the Lap-Band without communicating any of the risks, said Steven Silverman, an FDA compliance director, when he announced the warning. The marketing firm claims that it is impossible to include everything in a commercial. One of the complaints many Lap-Band patients have following the procedure is that they have excessive amounts of loose skin on their bodies which is not only unattractive but can also be uncomfortable. Dr. Kim explains to patients who have lost significant weight that the excess skin in the abdominal area can be removed through an abdominoplasty procedure. He cautions his patients not to have the surgery performed until they are at a stable body weight for a minimum of three months. Patients can expect a dramatic difference once the loose and redundant skin is removed. In some cases Dr. Kim is able to also perform liposuction to improve the overall contour. Dr. Kim is committed to providing educational and informative information to patients prior to surgery. Marketing and advertisements should never be a substitute for medical information when patients are considering surgical procedures.

When Tom Cruise appeared with his much younger wife for the Mission Impossible premiere everyone was aghast at how young Tom looked. Of course, here in Southern California we knew that he had help to maintain his youthful looks. Speculation ran throughout the media. The Orange County Register reported that the Daily Mail suggests that Tom Cruise has been getting Botox injections and quotes a source as saying the actor also borrows from wife Katie Holmes’ cosmetic drawer. It says: “With no wrinkles visible on his smooth forehead, Cruise seems to have the appearance of a man significantly younger — with only the slight increase in laughter lines around his eyes giving away his age.” It’s interesting when speculation swirls because someone looks too good! Dr. Kim encourages his patients, especially the male patients, to be proactive about maintaining their youthful looks. One lesson we can learn from celebrities like Tom Cruise is that small things done along the way go a long way. For men, at the very least Botox injections and injectable fillers like Restylane can do wonders. Around the age of 40 men should also consider blepharoplasty ( eyelid lift) for a more open and alert look. In some cases a brow lift may also be necessary in order to complete the look. Men should not be afraid that after surgery they will look feminine. As an artist, Dr. Kim is careful to preserve the masculinity of the face for men while enhancing the attributes that signify youthfulness. Let’s face it, not only in Southern California but throughout the world a youthful and beautiful appearance goes a long way!

There has been a warning issued to women in France regarding breast implants and concerns over their probability of rupture. According to newsmax an online health publication, French health officials said the government plans to recommend to the 30,000 French women with PIP implants that they be removed. The eight cancer cases involved mainly breast cancer. The now-bankrupt Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) was shut down and its products banned last year after it was revealed to have been using non-authorized silicone gel that caused abnormally high rupture rates of its implants. Facing financial difficulties, the company, once the world’s third-largest producer of silicone implants, replaced the medical-grade silicone in its implants with industrial-strength material. The implants were not sold in the US according to the Associated Press. While this incident does not directly affect most plastic surgery patients in the United States it is important to note that there are procedures performed in the United States outside of plastic surgeons offices that do not meet the guidelines set by our government. We read about these when things go terribly wrong, but one must wonder how many go under the radar. Dr. Kim emphasizes to every patient the value of his American Society of Plastic Surgeons board certification. While it is not necessary to be an ASPS plastic surgeon to perform plastic surgery in the US, it is the recommended standard for excellence and the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Medical Association. Less than 3% of all medical doctors are plastic surgeons. Dr. Kim is proud of the extensive training required by the board that allows him to differentiate himself from other doctors who perform plastic surgery procedures. Dr. Kim performs breast augmentation with both silicone and saline implants and follows all guidelines as required for informing patients of the benefits and risk of the procedure as well as the implants. Patients should also note that breast augmentation although it is a popular procedure can yield varying results based on the skill and expertise of the surgeon. Dr. Kim expertly performs breast augmentation, breast lift, as well as breast reduction. Dr. Kim is careful to acknowledge the artistic side of his profession and embraces not only a great result but also a safe and enjoyable plastic surgery experience for the patient.

On this very last week of the year, Beverly Hills is abuzz with not only the rich and famous that the world can view on television, but also patients from Southern California and around the world who plan to consult with Dr. Kim as part of their New Year’s resolution for a new , and more youthful looking appearance for 2012. Traditionally this week is a busy week as patients set aside convenient days on the calendar to schedule cosmetic surgery procedures. Many patients are looking for either mid-January which will encompass a federal holiday for Martin Luther King’s birthday or mid February  which will encompass a federal holiday for Presidents’ Day. Both January and February will allow the extra day for recovery and works well for procedures including breast augmentation, liposuction, blepharoplasty, and in some cases rhinoplasty. In some cases rhinoplasty patients may have swelling past the 3 to 5 days that would be allowed under a federal holiday. Depending upon the patients work duties, returning to work could be delayed. Dr. Kim cautions patients to carefully review their work schedule and to be aware of the limitations that may be required immediately following surgery. Most patients recover from plastic surgery relatively quickly and without complication. The new year is an excellent time to consider plastic surgery procedures; especially in Beverly Hills with Dr. David Kim. Dr. Kim welcomes out-of-town patients  and pays special attention to both preoperative and postoperative instructions to help patients enjoy the same exceptional plastic surgery experience local patients enjoy.

Many have heard it said that 40 is the new 30. Unfortunately, thanks to celebrity news and Photoshop some people actually believe this. It is easy for women to feel the pressure in a competitive work environment and relationship dating pool to look younger. Looking younger is part of it but feeling younger is just as important. The new baby boomers understand the value of exercise and as a whole are living healthy lifestyles and exercising regularly. But, even with the best exercise programs and totally organic food the aging process is still in full effect and showing signs on our faces and bodies. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that the best way to assure that our bodies will cooperate with the appearance that we desire is to approach plastic surgery procedures as a process rather than one specific procedure designed to rejuvenate the face and body. Dr. Kim recommends patients consider Botox and injectable fillers at the very minimum as a method for smoothing lines and wrinkles on the forehead as well as adding volume to lines and wrinkles on the face. He also recommends that patients consider body contouring and the appearance of their breast for the best overall figure. Patients could consider both breast augmentation and liposuction, which in many cases can be performed together. It is rarely too late to begin addressing these areas which can make a tremendous difference in the youthful appearance of the patient. Provided the patient is healthy Dr. Kim encourages his patients to embrace plastic surgery as part of the solution to the appearance of the aging process.

As we approach 2012 with the hopes of an improving economy a consumer may question which plastic surgery procedures make the most sense both economically and for long-term aesthetic value. The answer can vary greatly based on the patient and the patient’s desires. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that in competitive work environments which still exist, facial procedures can make a dramatic difference on a person’s first impression during a job interview. Dr. Kim recommends patients look at their face and concentrate on each individual area that causes them to look less youthful. For most patients the eyes, both of the upper eyelids as well as bags and circles beneath the eyes almost always show signs of aging. In this case, Dr. Kim would recommend it blepharoplasty which can treat the upper eyelids by removing a small sliver of skin which, once sutured is virtually undetectable. Most patients also choose to treat the lower eye area removing the” bags” under the eyes allowing the patient to look much more rested and youthful.  The recovery time is relatively short(less than 10 days) and the pain is considered mild. For some patients who also have a low brow, Dr. Kim may recommend a brow lift in conjunction with the blepharoplasty. These procedures are affordable and an excellent value for patients who need to compete in the workforce as the economy improves and better job opportunities become available. Southern California, especially Beverly Hills and Los Angeles are famous for high standards and value placed upon a youthful and energetic look.