The buzz about gel nails appears to be more hype than fact. According to a recent local news article gel and acrylic manicures are a booming trend in nails. For the cost of about $30 each, the technique uses ultraviolet light and plastic bonding resins to create strong and super shiny nails that last for weeks and are resilient to chips, cracks or breaks. But there safety comes into question. Concerns about UV exposure or fungus have made some consumers wonder about safety. These manicures are safe, and the products are safe, says a prominent dermatologist, who has conducted clinical trials on fungal nail preparations, skin-cancer detection and cosmetic procedures. They are a great way to grow out your nails. It’s like a shield on top of your nails if done properly. The right way for the procedure to be performed involves clean instruments, liberal application of sunscreen to protect fingers and hands from UV light and, most importantly, proper removal that will not strip the top layers of the nail. Dr. Kim reminds patients that while the nails may look beautiful it is also important to maintain youthful looking hands and also arms. Medical grade skin care that is applied to your face should also be applied to your hands. Sunscreen should be applied on a daily basis as well. For hands that have lost volume dermal fillers like Juvederm or fat transfer may be an option. Facelift patients should be especially conscientious about their hands. These patients should avoid a stark contrast in appearance between their new youthful looking face and their hands.

With every plastic surgery the goal is to have an excellent outcome an excellent patient experience. For some patients the results can be less than they expected and this can lead to anxiety and extreme angst. For some patients after making an effort to resolve the situation with their operating surgeon they choose to seek breast revision surgery through a different plastic surgeon. Dr. Kim consults with patients who have had breast augmentation surgery elsewhere and have been dissatisfied with their results. Usually the patient’s complaints are based on capsular contracture (or excessive scar tissue surrounding the implant), breast implants that appear to “sit too low” or breast implants that appear to “sit too high”. Patient should feel comfortable speaking with Dr. Kim about their concerns as they relate to their original breast augmentation. Sometimes patients feel guilty as if they made the” wrong choice” or didn’t do enough research. The truth is a breast augmentation complication can happen even in the best circumstances. As an artist who combines surgical skill Dr. Kim is assess the patient situation and determine a solution that will help the patient achieve as closely as possible the results that they expect. Patient should understand that a secondary surgery even in the best circumstances has a slightly higher risk of complications. Typically, secondary breast augmentation does not have as much pain and discomfort as the initial procedure however patients should know that the final results may take longer to manifest. Patients who have concerns over their initial breast augmentation are encouraged to arrange a consultation with Dr. Kim to determine if breast augmentation revision surgery is right for them.

When you are on your way to the beach with your new swimsuit and you look in the mirror one last time it is likely that you will look at your thighs and either be thrilled or disgusted. There has been a lot in the news lately concerning cellulite but people often overlook the value of shapely and toned looking thighs. For the patient who is in shape, exercises regularly, and is good about their diet and exercise, yet still have a thickness to their outer and inner thighs this can be extremely frustrating. Many patients with this dilemma tell Dr. Kim that they exercise with weights and specific exercises that promise to make the thighs look thinner and more toned. In many cases the patient is actually causing the thighs to look larger by increasing the size of the muscle. Dr. Kim explains that for the right candidate liposuction can be an excellent option. Liposuction is a sculpting procedure which as an artist and plastic surgeon Dr. Kim is able to sculpt the thighs using different size liposuction instruments to create a natural looking and toned appearance. The outer and inner thighs are two of the most difficult areas to achieve impressive results and the skill and expertise of the plastic surgeon is heavily dependent upon the overall outcome. Specifically the inner thigh area tends to have a degree of laxity to skin and it is important for the surgeon to be skilled in handling this area very delicately. Dr. Kim explains to patients the risks and complications that are associated with liposuction, however, patients are informed that complications are rare and that most patients are thrilled with the results Dr. Kim is able to achieve

Most women would agree that motherhood is one of the best feelings in life. But, pregnancy and childbirth can leave many women with a body they are no longer proud of. For many women this would include lost volume in the breast, a sagging component to the breast, loose and lax skin on the abdomen, and in many cases stretch marks. Some would say the stretch marks are a” badge of honor”, “well-deserved”, and just part of life. For those who have that position, and are happy, that’s great! For others, maintaining your most youthful appearance and having more wardroom choices is important. There is no reason to accept a post-pregnancy body if you are not happy with the way you look when you look in the mirror. Dr. Kim consults with many women who have made the decision to return to their pre-pregnancy body contour and shape. Typically, Dr. Kim will recommend what is known as a mommy makeover. The mommy makeover consists of some type of breast augmentation combined with an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. For most patients the breast augmentation is either a breast lift combined with breast implants, or a breast augmentation using breast implants. Depending upon the degree of sagging to the breast a breast lift may or may not be needed. For the abdomen Dr. Kim will typically recommend an abdominoplasty which will include removing the loose and lax skin as well as tightening the abdominal muscle for a flat and more aesthetically pleasing stomach. The mommy makeover is a very popular procedure and the overwhelming majority of women are thrilled with the results.

The Internet has allowed patients to look at plastic surgery from a global perspective. When many think of traveling to other countries when they think of traveling for plastic surgery, the reality is many people travel within the United States to have surgery with Dr. Kim. There is no doubt that the location Beverly Hills California has some attraction and draw but the reality is patients choose Dr. Kim cause the surgical skill and artistic talent. Patients who were traveling from out of town are encouraged to contact Dr. Kim early in the process. Dr. Kim and his staff will work diligently with the patient utilizing frequent communication to determine as much information prior to the patient traveling to Beverly Hills as possible. Depending on the procedure being considered and the patient’s health history Dr. Kim will determine how many days the patient will need to remain in Beverly Hills before and after surgery. For procedures such as breast augmentation, liposuction, or rhinoplasty Dr. Kim may not require the patient to stay in Beverly Hills for recovery for an extended period as these procedures are shorter procedures and do not have a recovery that tends to be more involved. Abdominoplasty and facelift will undoubtedly require more recovery time within a close proximity to Beverly Hills. Patients should consider detailed preparation prior to surgery. Every surgery is an involved process and patients should approach the process with seriousness. Dr. Kim and his staff are experienced in assisting patients with everything from lodging to postsurgical care once they return to their home. Dr. Kim, his staff, and Beverly Hills welcome out-of-towners for an excellent surgical result as well as patient experience.

We try to stay on the positive side when it comes to plastic surgery. There is so much negativity and prominent poor examples of plastic surgery, that exploiting them even further is not our intent. After a recent appearance at the West LA pride parade Lil’ Kim(a well-known Grammy award-winning rapper) sparked a host of rumors concerning her plastic surgery. We believe that few people would doubt that she had plastic surgery the better question becomes- why did she continue to have plastic surgery? According to a recent gossip article online, most of their readers are of the opinion that Lil’ Kim looks horrible. Unfortunately, the procedures that are suspected to have been performed become questionable when a celebrity either goes too far, or utilizes the wrong procedure and gets an undesirable result. Speculation is that Lil’ Kim had a brow lift and possibly cheek implants. She is suspected of having injectables either dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, or perhaps even Sculptra Cosmetic. It is suspected that she had a rhinoplasty with nostril reduction(which appears to be extreme and unnatural) and possibly a lip reduction. Dr. Kim consults with some patients who are concerned about the possibility of looking like a celebrity with undesirable results after having plastic surgery. Dr. Kim assures his patients that as an artist and an ASPS plastic surgeon part of his consultation process and recommendation incorporates the aesthetic portion of the surgery. In other words, Dr. Kim’s assessment is heavily reliant upon the anticipated aesthetic beauty of the plastic surgery procedure if it is performed on the patient. Dr. Kim and his staff pride themselves in candid discussions with their patients to help the patient determine which procedures will truly provide an aesthetically pleasing result long-term.

It’s been a long time coming, but the first prescription diet drug in many years has finally been given FDA approval. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article The FDA has given its approval for the marketing of the weight-loss drug lorcaserin, the first prescription weight loss medication to achieve the FDA’s approval since the department approved orlistat in 1999. After it receives clearance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the drug will be brought to market in the United States using the commercial name Belviq. The medication achieved marketing approval as a drug for the treatment of chronic weight management in adult patients with a BMI or body mass index of more than 30, or for patients who have a BMI of 27 or more with a weight-related condition that could include high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. Dr. Kim explains to patients who struggle with weight loss that fluctuating weight following procedures including liposuction and breast augmentation can negatively affect the patient’s results. This includes both significant weight gain as well as subsequent weight loss. Patients who have had breast augmentation may find that with significant weight loss their breast size could be reduced and as a result could show rippling of the breast implants, especially in patients who are extremely thin and have saline implants. Significant weight gain for patients who have had breast augmentation could cause the bust size to increase and subsequently there could be a new sagging component to the breast. Patients who have had liposuction could find with significant weight gain their results are no longer as pleasing as they were initially. As a general rule the rare numbers of patients who gain weight after liposuction tend to gain proportionately and are still satisfied with their results. Dr. Kim advises patients to maintain a stable and healthy weight for the best long-term results of all cosmetic plastic surgeries.

Breast augmentation is a personal decision that many women consider across the country every day. The reasons for choosing breast augmentation vary greatly from patient to patient. For most women, it is a choice to improve their body contour, increase the size shape and contour of their bust line, and allow for better more appealing wardrobe choices. For those who have wondered why women choose breast augmentation they should consider the difficulty many women have in finding clothes that they like that also look good on their body. This can be very frustrating especially if you are at or near your ideal body weight and your hips are disproportionate to your bust line. It is also frustrating if you are a small woman who wears a smaller size yet the top of most outfits are gaping when you wear them. It disappointing when a woman has her eyes set on a special outfit, business suit, or low-cut blouse ventures to the dressing room and realizes that there is no way the wardrobe selection will work. Dr. Kim has conversations during consultation with many patients who express their frustration with wardroom choices. Breast augmentation using either saline or silicone breast implants increases a woman’s wardrobe choices by as much as three times. Patients who are candidates for breast lift combined with breast augmentation report the same satisfying increase to their wardrobe selections. It is also important to realize that the types of clothing worn after breast augmentation can change dramatically when a woman feels good about her figure, shape, and contour. Dr. Kim encourages women to schedule a consultation appointment to discover if breast augmentation is a positive option.

We have not heard from Heidi Montag in quite some time. She became a media sensation when she publicized her multiple plastic surgeries performed in the same procedure. At the time she was thrilled with all of her surgeries and recommended them highly. Fast forward to now, she is back in the news and a recent online article reported that in an interview she blames her liposuction for what she considers newly developed cellulite. Now, as a self-proclaimed plastic surgery expert she recommends people do not have liposuction and instead choose diet and exercise to shed excess pounds. Experienced plastic surgeons have long advised patient that liposuction does not cause cellulite. Cellulite is primarily a genetic condition and can be found prominently in the population that has not had liposuction. Most medical professionals agree that liposuction is a nonfactor for patients who have existing cellulite. In other words it does not cause cellulite however it does not treat it either. Liposuction performed incorrectly can cause dimpling of the skin but this is not cellulite. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, so reducing weight (as Heidi suggested) will not take care of specific areas were patients are concerned about small areas of fat. Dr. Kim is a true artist with artistic ability that can be displayed on canvas as well as on the body. This talent proves valuable when combined with his surgical skills and expertise Liposuction results are heavily dependent upon the plastic surgeon performing the procedure and patients must realize that it is a sculpting procedure. The correct amount of fat must be removed systematically to achieve the best long-term results. Dr. Kim encourages patients to schedule a personal consultation with him to determine if liposuction is an effective solution for their specific situation. Recommendations from celebrities and their personal experience should not override the value of a personal consultation.

It would be virtually impossible to find any medical professional that did not recommend sunscreen on a daily basis no matter where you live on the planet. In sunny Southern California is virtually a no-brainer. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article In May, the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., committed to health and the environment, released its annual Sunscreen Safety Guide. Overall it is in favor of using sunscreens, but it also highlights concerns, which, as a result have raised some serious debate. It’s frustrating, says Dr. Darrell Rigel, a professor of dermatology at New York University, who worries that the EWG could be weighing in on environmental concerns too heavily in its studies and results. People don’t wear sunscreen because it’s environmentally friendly. They wear it to protect themselves from cancer. …” The most dangerous thing is that people will become apathetic and not wear sunscreen at all. In general EWG concluded that sunscreen can be a line of defense but argued that the proof is not definitive that it is the most effective line of defense against the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. Of course, medical experts disagree. Dr. Kim encourages patients to wear sunscreen on a daily basis. As an experienced and seasoned ASPS plastic surgeon Dr. Kim has seen firsthand the effects of excessive sun exposure. It is proven to cause premature sun damage and wrinkling. There are options available to help reduce the signs of sun damage including laser surgery, and medical grade skin care products but the reality is the best defense is a good offense. Patient should also note that performing procedures like facelift or brow lift become much more difficult when the patient has existing sun damage.