Some recommendations are being made for women concerning heart failure symptoms that fall short of addressing the needs of women specifically. According to recent online article women and men share many of the same symptoms when it comes to heart disease but when considering heart failure women have their own unique set of warning signs they should be aware of. Congestive heart failure accounts for 159,000 women dying every year this is four times as many as breast cancer. Women don’t have the typical symptoms, said cardiologist Dr. Ali Tabrizchi. The symptoms for women are easy to ignore and include: tiredness, shortness of breath, swelling or unexplained weight gain. Many patients just get used to the symptoms and the shortness of breath they may attribute to lack of exercise or aging. Tabrizchi says “even if you only have one of these symptoms you need to be evaluated for underlying heart disease.” Dr. Kim requires all patients to provide a medical history prior to having any plastic surgery procedure. Older patients are required to obtain medical clearance from their primary care physician prior to having plastic surgery procedures. As an ASPS plastic surgeon patient safety is of the utmost concern. Many women who are considering procedures like abdominoplasty or facelift could find that not all doctors performing plastic surgery procedures will require medical testing clearance prior to surgery. Patients are cautioned that the requirement for pre-surgical testing is in the interest of patient safety. While plastic surgery complications are extremely rare they can happen. The best way to ensure that health risks are minimized is to be as certain as possible that the patient is in excellent health. Dr. Kim provides every patient with written detailed information including the risks and benefits of plastic surgery.

Globally the warning has been issued that lack of exercise can be as fatal as smoking. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article globally people are falling so far behind on exercise that the problem has become a global pandemic, resulting in nearly 1/10 of the deaths worldwide and killing almost as many people as smoking, researchers warned this week in a series of studies published in the Lancet. According to the studies nearly a third of the adults fall short of the exercise that is recommended for them and the problem is magnified for girls and women who according to the studies are less active in boys and men researchers discovered. The results of inactivity are deathly. Lack of exercise is associated with worldwide killers include heart disease, breast cancer, and colon cancer. It is estimated that if just one quarter of and active adults increase their exercise level more than 1.3 million deaths would be prevented worldwide on an annual basis researchers claimed. According to the researchers half an hour of brisk walking five times per week is all that is necessary. Dr. Kim shares with his patients that a lifestyle which includes regular exercise and a healthy diet will allow his patients to enjoy their plastic surgery results for the majority of their lifetime. Patients who have had body contouring procedures including abdominoplasty or liposuction should be cautious concerning their lifestyle choices. These procedures do not eliminate the possibility of gaining weight as some may mistakenly believe. There are fat cells that remain and they can in fact be overpowered, which if the patient is not careful they are susceptible to gaining weight. While this would change the original body contour created by the surgery, provided the patient does not gain an excessive amount of weight, the body contour that was created by Dr. Kim will remain intact. Most patients who have had body contouring procedures with Dr. Kim are extremely pleased with the results long-term.

As men enter the baby boomer generation they are much less likely to seek routine medical care and screening. Prostate screening has been avoided by many men mostly because of fear of an early diagnosis. According to recent news article the conclusion of a recent groundbreaking study found that most men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer are expected to live just as long if they simply watch their cancers rather than have them surgically removed. This was based on the results of a landmark clinical trial that could change the medical approach to a disease that affects one in six men currently. The study focused on cancer still combined to the prostate and should encourage patients who are anxious to avoid distressing side effects of the surgery which include urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction-but the goal is to still protect their lives which cancer experts emphasize. This study could change the way early prostate cancer diagnosis is treated. Currently it is aggressively removed surgically or treated with radiation therapy. The results of the clinical trial-the largest ever and the first since widespread PSA screening-could be welcomed news from in diagnosed with early prostate cancer. More studies will need to be completed and men are encouraged to continue prostate screening as recommended by their primary care physician. Just as men should embrace their overall health as they age they should also embrace opportunities to look as young as they feel. Dr. Kim helps his male patients understand that plastic surgery can be a pleasant experience for men. Popular procedures like abdominal liposuction and gynecomastia surgery can create a svelte and toned body and give a more youthful and energetic appearance. Abdominal liposuction can contour the abdomen and eliminate love handles that could spill over the waistline. Gynecomastia surgery allows Dr. Kim to remove excess male breast tissue and fat on the chest that can be embarrassing and unsightly. These procedures can be combined provided the patient is healthy. Dr. Kim encourages men to schedule a consultation to see if male plastic surgery procedures are a viable solution for them.

In recent years we have seen the economy change the way most every business functions. Financing, both the good and the bad, has been the source of many changes. Financing has been offered for plastic surgery for a couple of decades and there have been both good and bad experiences as companies have come and gone. The choice to finance plastic surgery is a serious one and should be considered carefully. Dr. Kim offers outside financing options with reputable companies that are specifically dedicated to medical financing. The decision to finance plastic surgery should be independent of the plastic surgery decision. Dr. Kim explains to each patient his recommendation concerning the plastic surgery procedure they desire. Patients who are considering procedures like breast augmentation should consider first the breast augmentation procedure and their desire to choose Dr. Kim to perform the procedure. Once they have decided Dr. Kim is their choice to perform the procedure then if the funds are not readily available they should consider financing options. Patients should be aware of the details of their financing option and should be clear on additional financing charges and interest rates that apply to the loan. Dr. Kim’s staff is well trained to help patients navigate the financing process and is more than willing to help with questions patients may have. Some finance companies offer credit that can be used on different visits for injectables, or second stage procedures like abdominoplasty or additional liposuction. If this is something that is important to you Dr. Kim encourages patients to share that information with his staff while they are pursuing financing options for the patient. Whether to finance your plastic surgery or not is a personal decision each patient must make for themselves. It is significant to note, that many patients have chosen financing for plastic surgery over the past years and they overwhelmingly have been pleased with their decision.

Revisions in plastic surgery can cause patients a great deal of anxiety and angst. Plastic surgery is not a perfect science and even when doctors operate to the best of their ability and patients are on their best behavior revisions could be needed sometime closely following surgery. Generally patients are advised to return to the original operating plastic surgeon when at all possible. When that is not possible or it is not the patient’s choice Dr. Kim invites the patient for an initial consultation. Patients should be aware that when consulting for a secondary surgery patients should if at all possible bring their medical records and any other supporting information that will help Dr. Kim during the consultation. They should also be aware that secondary surgeries carry a slightly higher risk with regard to possible complications. It is important for patients to have the right mindset and not to be concerned with blame or regret when the goal is to improve upon the results if possible. Breast revision surgeries tend to be the most popular since breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure. Patient concerns could range from dissatisfaction with breast implant size, to severe rippling or asymmetries. Dr. Kim explains to patients that when at all possible his goal is to minimize the extent of surgery required. With breast revision surgery there could be a need to perform a capsulectomy( removing excess scar tissue) as well as exchanging breast implants. Each of these procedures could add time to the surgery which could also increase surgery fees. Dr. Kim’s patients are able to benefit from his natural artistic ability combined with surgical expertise when performing revision surgery. It is important for patients to have realistic expectations prior to their breast revision surgery and understand that the goal is to improve upon the existing result is much as possible. Dr. Kim encourages patients who are considering breast revision surgery to schedule a consultation to discover which solutions are best for them.

The summer heat even in the sunny dry heat of Southern California can be brutal to the body and the skin. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article it is very important that people hydrate their body to avoid serious health concerns. According to the article some drinks prove to be better for our health than others and some people need more fluids in the system to stay healthy according to says Dr. Marc I. Leavey, an internist at Mercy Medical Center and Lutherville Personal Physicians. For dehydration that comes as a result of exercise combined with heat cool water is the best option. If the dehydration as a result of total fluid loss for example from diarrhea or vomiting then an electrolyte solution or drinks like Gatorade or Pedialyte can be useful when used as the package guidelines direct. However; most adults do well with water only. Salt tablets are not recommended as they can lead to hypernatremia or too much salt in the body. Energy drinks are not recommended. They contain excessive amounts of caffeine which in turn stimulate the kidney to produce excessive urine when exercising which causes even more dehydration. They can also cause the same reaction as a laxative when exercising which of course would have undesirable effects. When heat and exercise are combined the pulse rate often rise and the caffeine in energy drinks pushes it even higher which can be extremely dangerous at high-levels. Just as the body needs to be hydrated; such is the same for the skin. Dr. Kim advises patients to utilize medical grade skin care products to maintain a healthy balance in the appearance and texture of the skin. Skin that you is exposed to extreme heat without lack of moisture is subject to premature aging. Dr. Kim uses expertise for facial rejuvenation procedures including facelift, brow lift, and blepharoplasty.

Skin cancer is not a disease that is talked about as much as other cancers. But, the seriousness of the disease and the ease of preventing it should be talked about often. Excessive direct sun exposure has been known to cause skin cancer. According to a recent KTLA news report the dangers extend to animals as well. According to the news report scientists have discovered the wild fish are contracting skin cancer from ultraviolet radiation. About 15% of coral trout located in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef were found to have cancerous lesions on the scales. They’re said to closely resemble the Australian population. Two and three people who live in Australia are estimated to be diagnosed with skin cancer prior to the age of 70. This is the highest rate in the world. Skin cancer is associated with the fact that Australia is directly under the biggest hole in the ozone layer. Scientists were surprised to make the discovery of skin cancer in the fish. Initially they thought the patches were some sort of infection and later found them to be melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Dr. Kim emphasizes to patients that sunscreen should be worn on a daily basis to block dangerous UV rays that are known to cause skin cancer. Moles that have changed color, gotten larger, or are bleeding should also be removed. Many patients have Dr. Kim perform mole removal because of their concern for the appearance of the incision and subsequent scar. Patients who are having procedures like breast augmentation or facelift and have moles in the area where the procedure will be performed, should consider having the moles removed at the same time they are having surgery. Other patients may contact the office to schedule an appointment.

Dieting methods are not new. They change and tend to trend from time to time. Currently, the new dieting methods do not encourage extreme food deprivation. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article new dieting methods can be confusing encouraging the consumption of more protein, more carbs, let’s gluten and everything else in between. Gluten-free diets have become the celebrity craze and celebrities including Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian credit their weight loss to a gluten-free diet. No surprise here, eliminating gluten means eliminating high calorie cookies, breads, and cakes. All of the new cookbooks and diet fads emphasized the necessity to review food labels carefully. Dr. Kim empathizes with his patients who are desperate to lose weight. He helps them understand that dieting is not necessarily the answer and that they should not become fixated on a certain number for the scale. It is better to focus on contour shape and the best most comfortable weight for their body frame. Often patients are concerned with weight loss when the reality is what they do not like about their shape and contour is not related to their weight. For patients who are within their ideal body weight yet they have fat pockets distributed throughout their body, liposuction can be an excellent solution. As an artist as well as an ASPS plastic surgeon, Dr. Kim is able to sculpt the body and create and remove fat from unwanted places helping to create a more proportionate body shape and contour. It is important for patients to understand that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. It will help patients to achieve better results than they could through diet and exercise and alone. In order to maintain the results for lifetime it is imperative that patients are good about diet and exercise throughout the rest of their lives.

As the United States continues to be a melting pot cultural appearances continue to change as well. It is not unusual for people to desire a change in their appearance that is considered an ethnic identifying mark. For different populations the ethnic markers vary. For instance, for some Asian patients there is desire to change the shape of the eyes slightly to create a more open appearance. For some Italian, Jewish, or Armenian patients their nose is considered an ethnic identifying marker from their perspective. The ethnic markers are not limited to the eyes and the nose, for some African-American and Hispanic patient’s their shapely bottoms and curves are considered part of their ethnic markers. This subject is not to be confused with stereotypes; these are mostly based on the patient’s own perceptions. Choosing to have plastic surgery should always be about the patient and their desires not what others think about the validity of their concerns. Many of these patients tell Dr. Kim that their goal is not to change the ethnic appearance of their face or body, the goal is to enhance their appearance and help them to feel better about themselves. Dr. Kim explains that whether he is performing a blepharoplasty for an Asian patient, rhinoplasty for an Italian patient, or liposuction for a Hispanic patient, he is committed to carefully listening to the desires of the patient and working with them as closely as possible to achieve the results that they desire. It is not his goal to change their minds or to create a more “mainstream appearance “if that is not what they desire. Dr. Kim is able to utilize his substantial artistic talent combined with exceptional surgical skill when creating desired results for ethnic patients who are concerned about achieving the results that they desire.

It is about that time a year when some people start to consider whether or not they should attend their high school or college reunion. Social media has made this more popular mostly because of the curiosity people have in finding out what people look like and what is going on in their lives. Dr. Kim often consults with patients who are panicking about their upcoming class reunion and want to know which procedures they can have done ”quickly” that will help them look their best. Dr. Kim explains that noninvasive procedures including Botox and dermal fillers like Restylane or Juvederm can be helpful; however, their effectiveness is limited, and they are temporary. Patients who are considering procedures like breast augmentation or abdominoplasty need to consider the recovery time that is likely if their intention is to be completely healed prior to their class reunion. It is very common for patients to have these procedures performed together and the recovery time is likely to be about six weeks before the patient is socially acceptable without any” telltale signs” of cosmetic plastic surgery. Dr. Kim’s patients tell him that making the investment in plastic surgery prior to their class reunion was one of the best decisions that they ever made. Patients say that they were able to attend their reunion with greater self-confidence and an increased self-image. It’s obvious when attending a class reunion that everyone has gotten older, but there is no doubt that it feels great when patients are able to look better than they did when they were in school. Dr. Kim encourages patients to schedule a consultation well in advance of their class reunion if they are considering plastic surgery procedures. Dr. Kim will help the patient schedule the procedures in accordance with their schedule so that patient expectations are met.