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The obesity epidemic has prompted the pharmaceutical companies to search for obesity drugs that would help consumers lose weight. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article one of the most promising obesity drugs to come along in a long time appears to destroy bone. Research published this week shows the hormone, called fibroblast growth factor 21, causes bone loss while it burns fat. This is a huge setback and disappointment. For many researchers this drug was able to burn fat better than previous drugs in development. Two studies, one published last week in the journal Cell, and another published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used mice to examine the effects of FGF21. Over a two-week period, mice that were fed the compound lost 78% of their spongy bone. Mice bred to lack the hormone completely had large gains in bone mass. The goal will be to find in obesity drug without harmful side effects. So far, this has eluded researchers. When an obesity drug is found people who benefit from it are likely to have the same drawbacks and their appearance as people who lose weight from other sources. It is likely that many patients will seek post massive weight loss plastic surgery. Dr. Kim explains to patients who have lost large amounts of weight that plastic surgery is an excellent option for removing skin and achieving a better appearance. Most patients can benefit from procedures including abdominoplasty and breast lift. Patients should understand that Dr. Kim is a plastic surgeon who is skilled in not only achieving the best possible aesthetic results but also in providing the safest options available.

When people think of the economy and are looking for measures of its increase or decrease plastic surgery is often an indicator. According to a recent Orange County Register report the ASPS is reporting a modest increase in plastic surgery procedures performed over the past year. According to the story the ASPS says 13.8 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures — both surgical and minimally-invasive such as Botox or filler injections – were performed in the United States in 2011. Also, 5.5 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed last year, up 5%, as well. Cosmetic surgery went up 2%, with nearly 1.6 million procedures in 2011, the ASPS said. Dr. Kim is fortunate to have established a practice based on skills that are unique. Dr. Kim is one of the few ASPS plastic surgeons who is a true artist. Dr. Kims artistic skill includes sketching and drawing. This talent uniquely positions him to combine his medical training with artistic talent and achieve superior results. The economy has affected plastic surgery across the board and is seen most evidently with breast augmentation, liposuction, and facelift. These are the more popular procedures and have many non- plastic surgeon providers offering the procedures. Dr. Kim has remained steadfast in offering the best plastic surgery options available, competitively priced, without compromising safety. This philosophy has allowed him to continue to thrive regardless of the condition of the economy.

It would not be Southern California, specifically Beverly Hills if we did not address plastic surgery at the Grammys. Of course, we know that plenty of celebrities have chosen different cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. According to the Orange County Register plastic surgery was well represented Sunday night at the Grammys. Speculation swirled as to whether or not Nikki Manaj had a rhinoplasty, and there was applause for Jane Seymour and what most agree was a very natural looking 61-year-old. Cyndi Lauper was criticized for what the readers felt was too much plastic surgery and a very unnatural look. Paul McCartney appeared to also have had obvious plastic surgery which should not come as a huge surprise after a well-publicized divorce and new marriage. While watching celebrities at the Grammys and guessing which procedures they have had done is tongue-in-cheek fun, the reality is they are in the spotlight and do not represent the majority of the population. Dr. Kim helps his patients to realize that the goal is to help each patient achieve their best appearance. This is personal and will change as patient’s age. For example, patients in their early 20s who consult with Dr. Kim for breast augmentation may have very different desires then patients who are in their 50s consulting with Dr. Kim for breast augmentation. Dr. Kim is careful to take not only the patients health and lifestyle into account but also their expectations prior to making a recommendation. Most patients are thrilled to have the opportunity to enjoy their best appearance regardless of their age.

The chemicals in cosmetics have been under fire for quite some time. According to recent ABC news report both lipsticks and perfumes are raising concerns about the chemicals contained within them. According to the article the concern began with testing done by the FDA that showed traceable levels of lead in top name lipsticks. The FDA did point out that the lead levels were not dangerous but nevertheless the lipsticks did test positive for elevated levels of lead. Consumer advocacy groups are outraged by the nonchalant attitude of the FDA and feel as though no level of lead is acceptable. Perfumes also are known to carry chemicals that alone are considered dangerous.” There are no FDA standards in regulating the amount of chemicals in products, saidStacy Malkan, co-founder of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. ”Companies don’t even need to know the chemicals that they are putting in their products. When these companies are asked about these chemicals, they argue, ‘it’s legal, so it’s OK,’” said Malkan. “That’s why we’re calling for the FDA to set a standard and give guidance to these companies for the best manufacturing practices.” It is not surprising that some people would find the regulation of chemicals in cosmetics  used primarily by women a necessary plight. Dr. Kim cautions patients against blindly believing that anything that bears an FDA approval is safe and effective. The FDA approval lets consumers and patients know that the device or product has passed the FDA standards at the time of testing. It is not an absolute. In cosmetic plastic surgery many devices have been presented to the market as alternatives to liposuction. Some are FDA approved and therefore patients could believe that they will work affectively for them. The truth is for procedures like liposuction that are extremely dependent upon the expertise and knowledge of the plastic surgeon, results can vary regardless of which method of liposuction is used. Dr. Kim encourages patients to consult with him and consider the best liposuction options for the patient based on long-term studies, his own success with his patients, and proven safety methods. FDA approval has its place, but nothing should replace the one-on-one conversation with an experienced ASPS plastic surgeon.

Microchip technology is familiar for people who have pets. According to a recent Los Angeles times article microchip technology may soon be helping us to help patients monitor their meds better. According to the article scientists say they have devised a new way to give patients their medicine: through a fingertip-size microchip embedded in the body that doctors can control remotely via a wireless connection. The drug chip, more than a dozen years in the making, was used to deliver bone-strengthening hormones to women with advanced osteoporosis who otherwise would have needed daily injections. After four months, the chips were safely removed from the patients bodies, scientists reported Thursday at a meeting in Vancouver of the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science. The concept of delivering medications for patients in a time release fashion to wireless remote can be groundbreaking especially for surgical patients. While this technology is still under development it does lend to interesting possibilities for plastic surgery patients. Patients who are considering procedures such as abdominoplasty and sub pectoral breast augmentation are likely to experience pain and discomfort that is a bit more intense than other plastic surgery procedures. Currently there are options such as a pain pump to help patients manage the pain. It is not unheard of to consider that one day patients may be able to choose microchip technology short term to easily manage pain and discomfort associated with these procedures. Dr. Kim is committed to carefully researching new technology and techniques to help manage his practice and patient outcomes better. Dr. Kim carefully manages practice growth with the goal of exceeding the expectations of his patients.

Currently there is a lively debate in psychiatric circles that questions whether loss of a loved one is truly depression or normal reaction. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article the debate is beginning to heat up as manuals are being created to help psychiatrist developed a consistent diagnosis for patients who are suffering from grief. Opponents of the concept of combining grief and depression as a single diagnosis say that pharmaceutical companies are behind the suggestion of widening the definition of grief to include a diagnosis of depression. With this diagnosis, medical doctors are armed with the basis to prescribed lucrative antidepressant medication. This would of course allow the pharmaceutical companies to broaden their net of suitable candidates for depression medication. The debate is likely to continue; however, most experts agree that patients should allow time to grieve after the loss of a loved one. Dr. Kim encounters patients who in some cases have lost a loved one and are considering plastic surgery as part of their approach to a new life without their loved one. Sometimes, outsiders can view this as using plastic surgery to overcome grief. For most patients this is not the case. Usually they have been through the grieving process and plastic surgery is an excellent way to draw the line and look optimistically towards the future. For many patients this includes facial rejuvenation procedures including facelift, brow lift, or blepharoplasty. Although losing a loved one is always painful focusing on feeling good and living a new life helps many patients to move on.

Wrinkles are a part of the aging process nobody ever likes to see appear especially on their face. According to a recent online article in Self magazine there are different types of wrinkles and different ways to handle each one. According to the article  Atrophic crinkling rhytids are fine lines on the face that are almost parallel to each other.
These appear on different areas of the face and body, but usually disappear when skin is stretched transversally or your body position changes. These wrinkles usually come from loss of elasticity: Since these wrinkles are because of the loss of collagen, patients are advised to protect the skin by using sunscreen. Moisturizers also work as a temporary fix. Permanent elastic creases  are deep creases and lines that are usually the result of extensive sun exposure over the years. Smoking is also a huge contributor to these types of wrinkles. Dynamic expression lines come from facial movement. These would be laugh lines or lines from squinting. These are the lines that respond to injectable treatments like Botox or fillers. Gravitational folds are the wrinkles that come as a result of the gravitational pull of loose and lax skin. These are the wrinkles that respond best to a facelift, brow lift, or eye lift. Dr. Kim makes it a point to help patients understand that eventually every person has the effects of one or all of these types of wrinkles. The good news is that cosmetic plastic surgery is an extremely effective way to rejuvenate the face and slowdown the signs of aging.

Plastic surgery especially facial rejuvenation has been presented as a solution to looking younger, yet until now there were few studies that actually proved it. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article patients on average, in the case of one Canadian doctor,  looked 7.2 years younger. According to this study patients who had multiple facial rejuvenation procedures including facelift, eyelid lift, and brow lift had the most significant reduction of the signs of aging. The participants who rated the photographs of patients were first-year medical students. They had no connection to the patients whatsoever. This helped the results to remain objective. “Our results show a modest but significant reduction in perceived age after aesthetic facial surgery,” the co-authors wrote. “Although motivations for aesthetic surgery may vary, a prevailing concept includes the desire to achieve a more youthful appearance while maintaining one’s unique attributes and identifying characteristics.  Given these expectations, a mean 7.2-year reduction in perceived age is indeed consistent with this goal.” Dr. Kim has witnessed his facial rejuvenation patients enjoy the benefits which include looking an average 10 years younger than their stated age. Patient should note that this study reviewed the results of one doctor’s patients. Facial rejuvenation results are heavily dependent upon many factors one of which is the doctor’s expertise and skill. Dr. Kim as an artist and surgeon combines both of these talents, and is able to deliver superior results to his patients.

According to ABC news story men and women who shoehorn themselves into skin tight jeans and battle to button their trousers or knot their neckties extra tightly might unknowingly endure nerve destruction, digestive disturbances, and even potentially deathly blood clots. Theyre victims of fashions hidden health hazards. Even some beloved accessories like waist cinching belts can compact delicate nerves in the abdomen or disallow breathing and deny heart and brain of needed oxygen. In 2003, Parmar published a description of tingly thighs “in three mildly obese women who wore low-rise jeans throughout the previous few months. Their discomforts resolved after four to six weeks avoiding hip huggers and wearing loose-fitting dresses, according to Parmars 2003 correspondence in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Many women complain about thighs that are rubbing together when they walk. This does not always mean that the person is fat, sometimes it is just a targeted area that is thicker than the patient would like. Dr. Kim recommends liposuction as a solution to removing thickness on the inner thighs. Dr. Kim uses his artistic skill combined with his medical expertise to achieve optimal results. Patients should be aware that the inner thigh area is one of the most difficult areas to treat. The skin tends to be rather thin and in some cases surgeons could remove too much fat thus causing the skin to wrinkle. Dr. Kim emphasizes to his patients that liposuction results will vary greatly from surgeon to surgeon and patient to patient. Patients choose Dr. Kim not just because of proven results, but also because of his commitment to safety.

Few can deny the power of social media specifically Facebook. Because of the nature of the medium it has had a profound effect on relationships. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article the relationship status feature of Facebook appears to be intrinsic to the success or not of countless romantic relationships between young people according to new research. A potentially unfavorable gender discrepancy emerged, however females revelation that they are in a relationship was not as significant to their male partners compared with how females felt concerning male partners indicating they are in a relationship. The study showed that couples do have fights over the relationship status feature on Facebook which is in all likelihood linked to feelings of jealousy, dedication, and dominance specifically for females the studys authors said. Patients who have had cosmetic plastic surgery should consider the way they use social media as well as their friends when determining how much information they would like to share concerning their procedure. Dr. Kim and his staff are committed to patient privacy and do not share patient information without express consent from the patient. However, patients must take into consideration that if they have a cosmetic procedure such as breast augmentation or rhinoplasty and their friends ( Facebook or otherwise) know about it there is a possibility they could post the information on Facebook. Patients should take privacy seriously and understand that with the popularity of social media sites and the Internet what is shared with one person is likely to be shared elsewhere. Dr. Kims patients are thrilled with their results and share their experiences through many different mediums. Dr. Kim is grateful for the referrals and expression of positive experiences from his patients.