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TV’s Kate Walsh bares all. How she stays this hot at 44,” is boldly displayed on the red-lettered cover line on the March issue of Shape. Inside the magazine, the “Private Practice” actress is quoted as saying, “We live in a strange time when getting plastic surgery is as common as dyeing your hair. But in my profession, I need a malleable face. Everyone has her line in the sand. I draw mine at facials and laser treatments.” She adds, “If others want to go a step further, it’s their call.”We read something very similar from Gwyneth Paltrow in Harper’s Bazaar recently. Paltrow said she’ll pass on the Botox in favor of doing  “little things, like lasers.”

Neither Walsh nor Paltrow have said what type of laser treatments they get. But going the laser route seems to be the new excuse that will allow celebs to end the plastic surgery speculation. There are different lasers for all kinds of skin problems, from zapping freckles, red splotches or broken blood vessels to the more involved work of resurfacing the skin to get rid of wrinkles. Prices vary greatly from as low as  $350 to $3,000  twice a year. Dr. Kim advises patients that lasers are limited in what they can deliver to patients. They are an excellent adjunct to most surgical procedures; however patients should not believe that they are going to receive results identical to a facelift or brow lift just from using lasers. This is not to say that the results cannot be impressive. Lasers over the years continue to be perfected and offer some excellent results with minimal downtime. Dr. Kim explains to his patients the importance of maintaining their most youthful appearance by selecting both surgical and nonsurgical procedure combinations.

Body piercing is a controversial part of today’s fashion.  According to The Los Angeles Times one of the most broad-based health examinations of body piercing researchers found that the fanatically admired fashioning statement is comparatively safe albeit about 20% of piercings come to be infected. Northwestern University dermatologists analyzed the all-comprehensive safety complications and medical consequences of piercings focusing on the ear, nose, mouth, nipple, navel, and male and female genitalia. They found infections, notwithstanding treatable were by far the most common abnormality followed by allergies, loss of blood, scarring, and blocking of medical procedures such as X ray, or ultrasound. The study was arranged because of a counsel at the Rehabilitation Institute in Chicago that’s exploring the helpfulness of magnetic tongue studs to benefit people with quadriplegia in using computers and functioning wheelchairs. But the safety of a tongue stud is a competent question. Who knows what other anatomic sites for piercings could be adapted in the future?  Dr Julia Minocha a coauthor of the paper said in a news release” If a sensor in the tongue can be used to drive a wheelchair other devices that we haven’t even thought of yet might also work.” The authors of study marked that there are deficient regulations on who can perform piercings and no accepted guidelines for health and safety. To conduct their study researchers visited piercing parlors to talk with industry professionals and watch them work. Dr. Kim informs patients who are considering cosmetic surgery that they will be required to remove nipple piercings, genitalia and belly piercings prior to surgery. Patients who are having breast augmentation or abdominoplasty are sometimes concerned if they have existing piercings about the probability that they will need to re-pierce the area. Patients are generally advised to wait six months before piercing the area. Patients are welcome to consult Dr. Kim prior to the piercing to determine if their healing is complete following their cosmetic surgery procedure.

The obesity epidemic has been a controversial topic for over a decade in the US. As the blame has been shifted from restaurants, to farmers, to medical professionals a new study shows that holding physicians responsible for managing the habits of obese patients could be setting the physicians up for failure. According to recent Los Angeles Times article the authors of the study announced Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded that physicians efforts to elevate their obese patients fitness by promoting lifestyle metamorphosis might do better to accept a more legitimate expectation; a token shrinkage of patients waist circumference and the deterrent of  additional weight gain. That disheartening abstract comes just three months after Medicare, the nations healthcare safety net for seniors announced it would compensate primary care physicians for providing obese patients comprehensive behavioral therapy to lose weight and adjust their health. Increasingly, physicians who have been told they can be an effective prod to healthy behavior modification in their patients are beginning ways to assume that duty. They are incorporating nutritional and weight loss counselors into their practices and honing their own roles as propellant agents for accelerated health improvement and weight loss. Unfortunately, in the effort to show the positive attributes of maintaining a healthy weight, plastic surgery is repeatedly frowned upon as a vain endeavor. Patients would benefit from knowing that there are prospective patients who have consulted with Dr. Kim and learned that once they lose the weight they are a good candidate for procedures including abdominoplasty and breast lift which can totally reshape their body and improve their self-esteem. Patients rarely hear the truth about patients who choose plastic surgery and the fact that they are overwhelmingly happier and more self-confident. Patients who choose plastic surgery after weight loss rarely gain the weight back, especially if they have made the investment out-of-pocket. Plastic surgeons have the ability to inspire patients to change their lifestyle as well as how they view themselves. This can be more powerful than any government reimbursement to facilitate human behavioral changes.

In a perfect world getting hired would have nothing to do with your looks. According to a recent Los Angeles Times  article, in these competitive times plastic surgery has become the choice of many. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons the age 40-54 makes up approximately half of all cosmetic procedures. For the first time since preceding the recession in 2007 facelifts saw an ample upturn in 2007 increasing by nine percent. The procedure is recently in the top 5 predominate surgeries being performed replacing tummy tucks. Injectables like Botox persevere to be habitual as being a bit of an expeditious fix that doesn’t necessitate much time out of work and is relatively inexpensive compared to a more invasive procedure. The ASPS reports injectables grew by 12 percent last year. Nearly 14 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures both surgical and minimally invasive were performed in the U S in 2011. That s up five percent since 2010. So, should plastic surgery be advised when it comes to getting hired? Mimi Fuger a volunteer program coordinator with Career Steps West Michigan with more than 2 decades of Human Resources experience says in part to remember going under the knife is not just a career decision but a way of life choice. Fuger and other volunteers at the non-profit organization help job seekers learn tips and tricks to land employment. The group also works with those looking to change-over or adjust up their career. Appearance is an essential ingredient in the job quest process Fuger told FOX News in part. If youre healthy and attractive and take care of yourself no matter what age you are, that is going to be the preceding characteristic. Fuger added in part, though there may be considerations Career Steps West Michigan encourages its clients to seek a more holistic disposition in adjunct to revising the resume and brushing up on interview skills. It is understandable that no one would advise plastic surgery as the ace in the hole for landing a job, but the reality is  that the competition is stiff. Dr. Kim advises patients to create a plan to choose procedures that will be most beneficial in achieving their most youthful appearance, when the goal is to stand out in the interview process. These procedures typically include blepharoplasty, brow lift, and Botox injections. While a facelift may be part of the plan at a later time for some patients it is not the best immediate recommendation. Dr. Kim encourages his patients to consult with him, and together they can create the most appropriate plan for helping the patient achieve their goals.

In Southern California, especially here in Beverly Hills it is not uncommon for women in their 20s to have occasion to use the services of a plastic surgeon. If you are a celebrity, it is almost certain to have been part of the process. Recently Lindsay Lohan has been in the news for more than her criminal antics. Many speculate that she has had an overabundance of plastic surgery. The promos leading up to her Saturday Night Live appearance clearly showed a modified Lindsay Lohan. She also appeared on the Today show with Matt Lauer sporting her new face. Media outlets which included publications such as US weekly, the Daily Mail, and The Orange County Register were quick to chime in and comment on Lindsay’s obvious different facial appearance. Some plastic surgeons commented and speculated as to which procedures they believe she may have had done. The overall consensus was that whatever she had done it was too much of it. Dr. Kim points out that it is important to remember that what we see from celebrities is more often than not the exception. Most 25-year-olds are not overindulging in injectables or other facial cosmetic procedures. It is not uncommon for women in that age group to have breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty and or use a limited amount of injectables. Dr. Kim is careful to help patients maintain a youthful and natural appearance. This is not only his preference, but it is the preference of the average patient. Most would agree without any personal knowledge of Lindsay Lohan, she is far from average.

The idea of traveling abroad until now was mostly for pleasure. Thanks to the Internet and global access, consumers are now comfortable with traveling most anywhere without much forethought. This thinking is what has allowed India to become a medical tourism attraction.  According to a recent industry article, in accompaniment with budget costs, India boasts world class medical facilities and English speaking doctors according to the Vancouver Sun. They announced that medical tourism is becoming more customary in India specifically the cosmetic surgery component which business experts say is growing between 20 and 30 percent annually. It is anticipated that the number of medical tourists in India is expected to reach one million this year. While there are no statistics accessible concerning problems arising from plastic surgeries performed abroad, complications such as serious infections and even casualties are not unheard of according to The Huffington Post. As seen with the exorbitant case of rupture in the French PIP breast implants, what is regulated and standard in other countries is not all the time passable in the US, and for competent reason. It is affirmed that over 300,000 women have had PIP implants around the world and many are coming forward to be subjected to them replaced or explanted. A recent survey in the medical publication Aesthetic Surgery Journal established that over 80% of US plastic surgeons polled have dealt with complications from surgery performed abroad. The predominance of patients had breast augmentation and body contouring procedures and most needed many operations and hospitalization due to their complications. The number one complication was infection, followed by dehiscence or rupture, improper contours, and hematoma. Dr. Kim cautions patients that when leaving the country they must consider not only the surgery, but also the fact that follow-up care will be limited at best. Even in the best case scenario complications can arise from surgery. Patients should be leery of what they consider to be a bargain. Patients who have needed additional care within the United States after having plastic surgery abroad typically triple their cost based on what the procedure would have cost in the US initially. Patients who are considering breast augmentation abroad not only need to be clear about the type of implants and the manufacturer ,but also concerning the warranties and if in fact they transfer to the US.  Body contouring procedures including abdominoplasty and liposuction are huge gamble, as the travel back to the US is several hours by plane, and after these procedures the risk for blood clots are increased. The risks in most cases outweigh the illusion of financial benefit.

Actress Cate Blanchett has maintained for a long time that she is against plastic surgery.  She has said on numerous occasions that the thought of it scares her. She says that she has “pity” for young women who have it. She’s quoted in Fashion etc.: ““There’s been a decade or probably more of people doing interventions on their faces and their bodies, and now people are seeing that [in the] long term, it’s not so great,” she said. “I’m not sitting on a soapbox telling women what they should and shouldn’t do. I just know what works for me. I’d be too frightened about what it means long-term. Looking at women in their 20s doing this stuff, in the end all you see is the work. It doesn’t fill me with admiration; it fills me with pity.” There have been reports in the news lately concerning young women in their 20s who believe that Botox injections will somehow prevent them from getting wrinkles. Most medical experts including Allergan the makers of Botox say that there is no evidence that Botox is a preventative measure for wrinkles. Celebrities who choose not to have plastic surgery (or at least talk about it) seem to be rare and in a small way earn publicity by doing so. Cate Blanchett drew her line in the sand a long time ago against plastic surgery procedures. While that seems to have served her well, it is hard to understand why she has pity on those who choose plastic surgery. Dr. Kim reminds patients that celebrity endorsements or warnings concerning plastic surgery should always be taken with a grain of salt. It is their job to be in the spotlight and that is always the main purpose for everything they say and do. The majority of consumers embrace the idea of plastic surgery as a way to help fight the appearance of aging. The most popular surgical procedures include facelift, blepharoplasty, and brow lift. Dr. Kim is careful to help patients maintain their most natural appearance while improving the signs of facial aging by an average of 10 years. In most circles that is nothing to pity.

Cosmetic surgery has enjoyed a roaring surge back into the spotlight, According to a recent Los Angeles Times article there has been a surge in lifts, upper arm lifts ,lower body lifts, butt lifts, breast lifts, and some of these procedures have experienced development of close to 600 percent in the secondary decade according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons which recently released its 2011 statistics. A rise in bariatric surgeries which reduce the size of an obese person’s stomach could be driving many people who have lost significant weight to seek lifts to get rid of loose hanging skin according to society President Dr Malcolm Roth, who also is the chief of the division of plastic surgery at Albany Medical Center in New York. The rise in lifts contrasts with dips in other more customary cosmetic surgery procedures including liposuction which dropped along with the economy though numbers suggest a rebound said Roth. Cosmetic surgeries were up 5% percent over 2010. Minimally obtrusive surgeries such as Botox, and fillers have been recording increased numbers all through the decade, perhaps in part because of the dashed economy  says Roth  because they’re more affordable and don t necessitate as much time off from work. Technological advances in the interim have boosted the success and influence in laser treatments. In Southern California cosmetic surgery procedures that include most every type of lift have always been top priority in most practices. Dr. Kim advises patients that lifting procedures including facelift and breast lift are not only for patients who have lost significant amounts of weight. Often times these lifting procedures are necessary primarily because of the aging process. Even patients who are good about diet and exercise, and are healthy will lose fat beneath the skin surface as part of the aging process. For this reason, fat transfer and dermal fillers are an excellent source for facial rejuvenation. Dr. Kim reminds patients that the key to natural looking facial rejuvenation is starting at the beginning of noticeable aging.

In our industry, especially in Beverly Hills, our days are filled with critiques by media experts concerning celebrities and their appearance. The latest appears to be Julianne Moore who was on the red carpet promoting the premiere of the HBO special “The Game”. In the production Julianne Moore plays Sarah Palin. The buzz around the media included a multitude of complements for her youthful appearance. At 51 years of age her skin appeared flawless and she did not have the telltale signs many celebrities have with plumped lips and unnaturally tight faces. So, whats the problem? Well, now  they write about whether or not we think this is natural; or great plastic surgery. A recent blog post in the Orange County Register, posed the question to a group of plastic surgeons. Of course, they were speculating based on photos but nevertheless they all weighed in. Many plastic surgeons say the best compliment they can have besides a referral is a patient who returns, and tells them that no one knows that they had the procedure performed. This is especially the case for facial rejuvenation procedures. Dr. Kim is careful to explain to patients that the extent of their surgery is partially based on their own desires. For example, some patients may choose to have a blepharoplasty and only address the concerns of the eye area even though they have a drooping brow and would benefit much more from a brow lift combined with a blepharoplasty. For this reason, it is unfair to judge the plastic surgery results of a celebrity, or any other person who we have not had complete knowledge of their recommendation from the plastic surgeon, as well as the choice that they made based on that recommendation. Dr. Kim finds that most of his patients follow his recommendation because of his extensive before-and-after photo gallery, as well as his artistic ability, is demonstrated not only in the photo gallery but also within his personal drawings and sketches. While it is fun to watch celebrities we must always remember especially when it comes to plastic surgery that they exist for our entertainment not our research.

According to the Washington Post there may be a danger lurking with popular gel nails. Nail salons and beauty magazines are buzzing about gel manicures. Customers love them considering they dry essentially instantly, and shine like patent leather plus don’t chip for two weeks. Salons get to charge more than double the price of a customary manicure, and then have repeat commerce when the customer returns to have the polish removed. “Artificial UV light does magnify your exposure for developing skin cancer and for early aging of the skin” says Anna M Bender a dermatologist at Johns Hopkins University. So people could use a sunscreen to try to block the UV from their bordering skin. People should reach for a sunblock that contains zinc or titanium oxide rather than a typical sunscreen.  Those ingredients shield the skin from UVA rays, the kind emitted by nail lamps, albeit many sunscreens protect only against UVB light. “Even broad spectrum lotions may not overshadow the full UVA spectrum” Bender says. Halting a manicure to slap on sunblock would be exceptionally unusual behavior according to Lonnie Nguyen owner of Cleveland Park Day Spa and Toe Tally Nails in the District.  Not one of her clients at either business has ever stopped the procedure to apply sunblock for UV protection. In fact the only attention her customers have shown about gel manicures is the unbelief that they will not smudge. Skin care includes proper care of the hands. Many say that you can tell the age of a woman by looking at her hands. Dr. Kim reminds his patients that the same attention given to premature facial aging should extend to a womans hands. The overwhelming majority of patients pay attention to their nails by having regular manicures some of which include gel manicures. Patients should also be mindful of utilizing the same medical grade skin care treatment they use on their face on their hands. Dr. Kim may recommend light laser treatments to help maintain youthful looking hands. Patients who decide to have a facelift should automatically include antiaging products and procedures for their hands. Most would agree that it can be quite shocking when the face looks youthful and the hands look old. Dr. Kim is committed to recommending the best overall treatments for his patients.