Pregnancy can be a very trying time for many mothers. Among other worries weight gain is one of the top concerns. According to recent article University of London researchers concluded that eating a healthy, calorie-controlled diet during pregnancy is helpful in preventing excessive weight gain and will reduce the risk of complications. Dietary restrictions were the most beneficial when compared to exercise as well as a combination of diet and exercise. Studies show that in Europe and the U.S., as much as 40 percent of women gain excess pounds instead the recommended weight during pregnancy. Dr. Kim explains to patients who consult with him after pregnancy that making the decision to improve their body contour after pregnancy is an excellent option for improving self-esteem and self-confidence. Many women tell Dr. Kim that after pregnancy they have lost significant volume in their breast and have loose skin on their abdomen. Many patients are also dissatisfied with a sagging component to their breast. Typically Dr Kim will recommend an abdominoplasty combined with a breast augmentation which is commonly known as a “mommy makeover”. For some patients a breast lift may be needed as well. Provided the patient is healthy these procedures can be performed together. For mothers who have gained more weight than they intended to gain a mommy makeover can be an excellent reward after losing the baby weight. The surgical procedure adds the perfect finishing touch.

In the search to find a weight reduction program that actually works it appears as though nighttime fasting (not eating at all throughout the night) may help people to lose weight based on a new study. According to a recent online article Satchidananda Panda, a regulatory biologist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla who led the study published online Thursday by the journal Cell Metabolism said We have to come up with something that is a simple alternative to calorie counting,. Panda and his team put groups of mice on varying eating plans for 100 days. Animals in two of the groups ate high-fat, high-calorie food. 50% of the mice were permitted to eat whenever they wanted, and munch on and off throughout the night and day. The other mice could only have food for eight hours at night, when they were most active. For humans this would mean eating only during the day. The difference in mice was astonishing. Even though they consumed a high-fat diet, the mice who wrapped up their eating day early and were forced to fast for 16 hours were lean .Dr Kim explains to patients that while remaining lean is not a requirement after plastic surgery gaining weight will change their plastic surgery results . Breast Augmentation can change with weight gain by increasing cup size by as much as two cup sizes. Sometimes a breastlift may be need if the breast have begun to sag. By maintaining a stable weight patients have the best opportunity to maintain their best results.

With breast augmentation as the number one spot after procedure in the United States most of the media attention is focused on new breast implants rather than existing breast implants. Every FDA approved manufacturer of breast implants states in their literature the breast implants are not intended to last forever. Like any medical device over time the likelihood increases that they will fail. Patients who have breast augmentation are advised to have their breast implants checked once a year. The reality is that most women never do this. Breast implant exchange is likely to happen over the course of a lifetime of the patient who is had breast augmentation. For patients who have saline implants the majority of breast implant exchange procedures are performed due to a deflation. A deflation is when the outer shell of the implant has been compromised and the saline solution inside has leaked. The saline solution is harmless and is absorbed by the body. The appearance is noticeably smaller after deflation and most women are upset more because of the appearance rather than the actual pain and discomfort. The deflated implant in most cases provided the implant is an FDA approved medical device is covered under warranty and replaced at no charge to the patient. Depending on the details of the warranty some financial payment may be due to the plastic surgeon based on surgical services rendered. Dr. Kim explains to his breast augmentation patients whether they elect for saline or silicone implants that maintaining a regular annual schedule for implant checkup is the best way to assure that the implant has not been compromised. In a small percentage of the cases some patients may develop excessive scar tissue around the implant which is known as capsular contracture. Dr. Kim can perform breast implant exchange as well as correct the capsular contracture together in the same surgery. Patient should be prepared to replace their implants at some point within their lifetime.

Liposuction continues to be one of the top procedures sought after by patients. Most patients who call to inquire about liposuction are interested in the procedure with the idea of reducing their overall body weight. The truth is liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. It is important that patients understand this especially in the US population in which 30% of the people are considered overweight or obese. Liposuction has become extremely competitive over the years and many doctors who are not plastic surgeons perform the procedure. In Florida a recent law was passed to prevent doctors from performing the procedure in facilities that were not accredited. This law was as a result of deaths from liposuction procedures in which safety measures were not followed. Due to the popularity of the procedure many patients believe that it is not a big deal and that anyone can perform liposuction. Dr. Kim explains that liposuction is a sculpting procedure. In sculpting artistic skill is needed and Dr. Kim is a true artist. In a sculpting procedure fat is removed and unfortunately there is no easy way to replace the fat if the result is not aesthetically pleasing. In order for patients to have a natural and toned appearance following liposuction is necessary for Dr. Kim to use special techniques and liposuction instruments to create a smooth result. Liposuction done correctly is not a one size fits all procedure. As a true artist and experienced ASPS plastic surgeon Dr. Kim takes the necessary time to create an enviable result. When it comes to expert results and safety it does matter who performs your liposuction procedure.

As women age it is not uncommon for them to face the recommendation for a hysterectomy. According to a recent online article hysterectomies A common operation in the United States, hysterectomies are now embracing technology as many surgeons begin to use robotics as another tool to help perform their jobs better. NorthShore University Health System has two robotic surgical systems that assist with hysterectomies and related gynecological procedures, one at Evanston Hospital and another at Skokie Hospital. In McHenry County, Centegra Health System recently publicized that it is offering the robotic procedure for hysterectomies .this type of use of the technology is increasing worldwide, from 69,000 procedures in 2009 to 110,000 procedures in 2010 and 146,000 procedures in 2011. Most of the procedures were performed in the United States, said Angela Wonson, spokeswoman for Intuitive Surgical, manufacturer of the robotic da Vinci Surgical System. Many women who have had a hysterectomy performed consult with Dr. Kim in search of a solution for this and lax skin that appears more evident after surgery. For some patients after the hysterectomy hormonal shifts causes the weight to be less proportionate and many women complain to Dr. Kim that they are unhappy with their body contour. For these patients Dr. Kim will typically recommend an abdominoplasty combined with liposuction to improve the shape and contour of the body. Dr. Kim assures patients that abdominoplasty combined with liposuction is one of the best ways to improve body contour long-term.

What we eat has everything to do with our health and our appearance. According to a recent online article a national magazine reported that Americans spend around 30 billion dollars every year on is wasted products that help to keep the weight off. The bad news is that most of the money because the products are not effective. Research has shown us that there are superfoods that will help us to fight off sugar cravings and even increase our metabolism. According to the article, here are some superfoods that can be incorporated into our diets right now: First on the list, Apples, some studies have shown that the antioxidants in apples could help protect against extra belly fat. Avocado, is a great replacement for foods like mayonnaise because it is a substitute for bad fats. Also, Beans, this very flexible food is low in calories, and contains cholecystokinin. Cholecystokinin is a digestive hormone that has the characteristics of a natural appetite suppressant. Beans are also known to lower cholesterol because of their high fiber content. Eggs ,watermelon, yogurt, and grapefruit round out the list according to the article. Dr. Kim helps patients understand that while an excellent diet and exercise are critical to a healthy body it is just as important to pay attention to our appearance. Many patients find that fighting the signs of facial aging can be more difficult for those with a lean body mass. Dr. Kim explains that facial fillers and Botox will make a noticeable difference in the signs of facial aging. Patients may choose more invasive long-term procedures like facelift, brow lift, or blepharoplasty.

The concept of people being more committed to getting healthy when they do it together is not new. But, according to a local article employers are now making the push for healthy lifestyle a unified preferred direction. According to the article Kaiser Permanente one of the largest employers, and a coalition of unions led by the United Healthcare Workers are trying to tackle the problem of unhealthy workers. They recently came into agreement under a contract that creates a unprecedented incentive for workers to get in better shape, testing the idea that peer pressure may be a more effective way to promote healthy lifestyles than solo rewards or penalties.The Kaiser deal is indicative of widespread effort by employers to retard the growth of healthcare cost, in part by shifting more of the fees onto their employees, in part by lessening the demand for treatment. Plastic surgeons have known all along that peer pressure works not only as an incentive to stay healthy but also an incentive to maintain your best appearance. Many patients come to see Dr. Kim as a result of a referral from a coworker or friend who is thrilled with their plastic surgery results. This happens quite frequently for patients who have had varying procedures including breast augmentation, facelift, and liposuction. As the nation and employers struggle for creative ways to incentivize employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle they may want to consider incentives to help patients take advantage of cosmetic surgery procedures which are proven to have a positive effect on the lives of most people. While we are bias, the data supports that the reward of a healthy lifestyle is connected to a healthy, energetic, and youthful appearance.

In sunny California preventing skin cancer is always an issue. According to a recent article aspirin may be one of the surprising ways people can help to prevent skin cancer. According to the article, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers could help to provide protection against skin cancer, according to a new research article. The discoveries, reported in the journal Cancer, were made after scientists analyzed 19 years of skin cancer records in northern Denmark and performed a comparison of the rates of skin cancer in participants who took one or more of these drugs with those who did not take either drug. They found that people who had ever used NSAIDS (meaning more than two prescriptions) were 15% and 13% less likely to have gotten squamous cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma, respectively. The reduced risk was stronger in those who taken he drugs for extended periods of time or more intensively. Dr. Kim stresses to patients the importance of caring for their skin on a daily basis. Sunscreen is an absolute must even on the rare day in Southern California when the sun is not shining. The sun rays are directly related to the increased risk in developing skin cancer and with common sense can be avoided. Premature aging is also inevitable with excessive sun exposure. While Botox and facelift procedures can help to reduce the signs of aging and minimize wrinkles, once skin has endured excessive Sun damage it is virtually impossible to remove 100% of the effects. When it comes to avoiding premature aging and skin cancer proactive steps toward prevention are the best options.

The cost of prescription drugs for most people is a sore subject. Insurers have become less willing to allow patients to enjoy full coverage for costly name brand drugs. According to a recent article Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna and other health insurers are dramatically shifting more prescriptions for the more difficult conditions to a new category which will require customers to bear the burden of a larger share of the medication’s cost. An abundance of patients in California and across the nation who are prescribed expensive prescription drugs every month for serious conditions including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and other ailments are facing real pain at the pharmacy. Until recently, most of these patients usually paid relatively small co-pays for the advanced drugs. As a result, pharmacy bills are going up — on top of insurance premiums. Patients who are scheduled for plastic surgery are likely to be prescribed certain medications throughout the surgical process. Most patients are prescribed an antibiotic, prescription strength pain medication, and in some cases a muscle relaxant and something for nausea. Dr. Kim with his discretion will decide which prescriptions are best for each individual patient. Due to the increasing cost of prescription medications it is more important now than ever for patients to utilize generic prescriptions whenever possible or discuss with Dr. Kim if substitutions are available as an option. Breast augmentation and abdominoplasty patients who are likely to have muscle tightness due to the muscle work involved in the procedures are likely to be prescribed a combination of muscle relaxers and prescription pain medication to be taken together. If finances are an issue, it is important to know the cost of each medication prescribed, and ask Dr. Kim if substitutions that are financially more appropriate are available.

As we age, both our vision and the appearance of our eyes can change dramatically. According to recent online article some nutrients can delay the inevitable vision loss and possible eye disease that can occur as we age, more and more research suggests. Unfortunately most claims by supplement manufacturers about the magic powers of eye-friendly antioxidants are usually more hype than truth. Of course carrots have long been believed to be a magical sight enhancer, other foods, including dark, green leafy vegetables, could have an even greater impact on your eyes. Studies over the last few decades suggest that people whose diets are high in proven effective antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, zinc, or carotenoid plant pigments such as beta-carotene or lutein are at less risk to develop common age-related eye diseases, said Julie Mares, a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Dr. Kim encourages patients that along with vision patient should also consider the appearance of their eyes as they age. Droopy eyelids are quite common as patient’s age; however, many believe they should wait until it impairs their vision before they should consider blepharoplasty. The reality is addressing droopy eyelids before they are a vision related concern is much more effective because the laxity of the skin is better for younger patients. Also, it gives Dr. Kim the opportunity to treat both droopy eyelids as well as the lower eye area which often includes bags and loose skin. Your eyes should express not only health and vitality but also youthfulness.