The words low calorie look great on a menu. But will people really choose to order those selections? The promise of eating less calories to be skinny does not hold true for everyone. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that proper diet and regular exercise are only part of the equation. Some patients have stubborn areas of fat that do not respond to diet and exercise. Dr. Kim treats these areas which usually include the lower abdomen, love handles, lower back, and outer thighs with liposuction. This allows him to remove small amounts of fat while sculpting and contouring the body. As an artist Dr. Kim is able to achieve results that are superior compared to diet and exercise alone. After the procedure patients are encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle including proper diet and exercise. Having more low-calorie choices at restaurants can help. According to ABC7 one of the biggest surprises for diners is finding out their favorite foods, even salads, can run over 1,000 calories. While some patrons don’t even glance at the new calorie postings on the menu, many chains aren’t taking chances at losing customers due to calorically pricey plates.

A recent study linked the inactivity from watching TV to cutting years from a person’s life. Of course, this also leads to obesity and other health concerns. Dr. Kim stresses the importance of an active lifestyle especially for patients who have invested in body contouring procedures like abdominoplasty or liposuction. It can become very easy to lose focus on a good diet and exercise program when patients look great after surgery. Dr. Kim warns patients that they can regain weight even after liposuction. Their contour can change dramatically especially if they gain a large amount of weight. Patients do not have to become obsessive about their exercise and diet; however, a moderate and consistent program works best for most patients. It is best to avoid inactivity for long periods of time daily. According to My Fox LA watching too much television can be just as bad for people’s health as smoking or obesity, according to an Australian study published Tuesday.

Experts from the University of Queensland, in Brisbane, found that on average, every hour of television a person watches reduced the viewer’s life expectancy by almost 22 minutes.

The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, concluded that after the age of 25, six hours of daily viewing could cut a person’s lifespan by almost five years.

It may prove to be true that vanity is the source of sanity. Here in Beverly Hills, California there is no shortage of examples of vanity. Dr. Kim shares with patients the goals of cosmetic plastic surgery. Rarely is it only about feeding a person’s quest to be the best looking person in any given situation. Usually, patients want to feel better about the way they look and boost their self confidence. Patients who choose to have facial rejuvenation procedures including facelift for blepharoplasty sometimes struggle with the idea of making an investment in their looks. However, after making the decision many patients say that it was the best decision they ever made because it benefited so much more than their looks. Patients look the most attractive when they feel confident about their looks. So in many ways vanity can be a good thing. According to The Los Angeles Times The desire to look good can be a powerful motivator for achieving health and fitness.

People are hard-wired to strive to look better because it brings benefits throughout life, be it in mate selection, employment opportunities, salary or life in general, I was told by Gordon Patzer, a professor of business administration at Roosevelt University in Chicago and the author of six books on the physical attractiveness phenomenon.

Patzer explained that there is actually a beauty premium paid to good-looking people. On average, in the U.S., they make 5% more than average-looking people, who in turn make 10% more than those deemed unattractive. So anyone who transforms from hippo to hottie can expect to earn nearly 16% more a year. No wonder beauty is such big business.

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.

There are two different types of IUDs available in the United States: one made out of copper (sold under the name ParaGard), and Mirena, which releases the contraceptive hormone levonorgestrel. IUDs are inserted into the uterus, where they can prevent pregnancy for up to five or 10 years.

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.