Eating healthy foods that help us to look and feel better is becoming increasingly more difficult. According to a recent online article egg yolks which are rich in cholesterol can harden your arteries almost as much as smoking according to a new study. People at risk of vascular disease should not eat egg yolks, contends study lead author Dr. David Spence, professor of neurology at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. Artery plaque levels rise with age but both smoking and egg yolks increased the plaque buildup within the vessels the researchers discovered. People who ate three or more yolks a week, regularly had a marked elevated increase in plaque than those who ate fewer than three yolks a week. It is understandable since one egg yolk by itself contains more than the daily recommended intake of cholesterol. Studies show that a more plant-based diet including less dairy, less red and processed meat, and increased vegetables, beans, nuts, and fruit may improve risk factors. Dr. Kim explains to patients that a healthy diet and exercise program is essential to maintaining a healthy weight. However, patients in this segment of the population can still have small areas in which they are not happy with the contour of their body. These areas most likely include the abdomen, outer thighs, or love handles. For these patients liposuction can be an excellent solution for creating a better body contour and a shapelier figure. As a talented artist, as well as an experienced plastic surgeon Dr. Kim is able to sculpt most any area of the body using liposuction to create results that are often better than a patient could receive through diet and exercise alone. Patients are encouraged to continue a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise in order to maintain their liposuction results for their lifetime.

According to recent online news story patients lie to their doctors for a multitude of reasons. But, the article points out that not conveying the whole truth to the treating physician can have grave consequences. According to the article patients could lie about everything from medications being taken, to employment status, to sexual behaviors. Doctors make every effort to make the patient comfortable relaying the health history by reaffirming their commitment to patient /physician confidentiality. Patients who do not freely communicate their health history and lifestyle habits could actually increase their cost of healthcare. Unnecessary test could be ordered and certain diagnosis missed due to lack of information. Patients who are considering plastic surgery should also be forthcoming with Dr. Kim concerning all health issues that may affect their surgery. This means if patients have had previous surgery with another doctor is imperative that Dr. Kim is made aware of this fact. For patients who are considering body contouring procedures including liposuction, it is important to alert Dr. Kim of previous liposuction surgeries because the underlying tissue may still be very difficult to manage if it is a secondary liposuction on the same area. It is also significant if patients are taking any medications that that information is shared with Dr. Kim. Medications alone will not always disqualify a patient from having surgery; however it is important for Dr. Kim to assess if there are surgery risks related to the medications. Patients are also encouraged to discuss their lifestyle situation, who will be caring for them after surgery, and who will be their support system throughout the plastic surgery experience. Patients who are considering breast augmentation with breast implants should feel confident in explaining their desires to Dr. Kim. Choosing the sizing of implants is a personal decision and patient should have a clear understanding as to which implants will be used.

Breast reduction surgery is often misunderstood. Many people think of it as removing the breast resulting in a disproportionate figure and shape. The reality is the breast reduction surgery greatly improves the lives of many women. For many women extremely large breast has wreaked havoc in their lives and heavy breast tissue has contributed to neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain and grooves in the shoulder from thick bra straps. Many women fear that after breast reduction surgery they will deal with less than attractive breast even if they are smaller. Dr. Kim explains to his patients that utilizing his artistic talents as well as surgical skill he is able to create not only a smaller breast but also a more aesthetically pleasing breast shape. For many patients it is important that the right amount of breast tissue is removed in order to maintain shape, yet their needs to be enough reduction in breast tissue to bring relief to the patient. Dr. Kim makes the incision around the nipple and then with a line from the nipple to the crease or breast fold. In some cases this incisional approach which is known as a vertical incision will suffice and allow Dr. Kim to reduce the breast. In other cases especially if the breast tissue is excessive an anchor incision (which is an additional incision in the breast fold) allows Dr. Kim to create a more compact and better looking breast. Sometimes, if only a vertical incision is made there tends to be puckering in the breast fold which could be a source of displeasure for the patient. Patients are overwhelmingly thrilled with the results of breast reduction and many tell Dr. Kim that they now have the self-esteem and confidence to increase their wardrobe and begin to be more active both socially and physically.

The popularity of liposuction has allowed many people to consider areas all over their body where an unwanted thickness or fat pockets create a contour that they find undesirable. Liposuction is a procedure that removes small amounts of fat systematically to achieve better shape and contour. These days, the liposuction procedure has become routine too many patients and sadly the amount of thought and consideration prior to choosing to have the procedure performed in some cases is limited. Although liposuction can be performed on most any area, it is important for patients to realize that some areas are much more delicate than others. For example, the inner thighs can be extremely difficult to contour and in the wrong hands too much fat can be removed and the skin can be left loose and unsightly. Unfortunately once fat is removed through liposuction is very difficult to repair the results by adding fat through fat transfer. Other delicate areas include the knees, ankles, chin, and arms. Dr. Kim uses his artistic ability to sculpt these areas and remove the right amount of fat to achieve the results the patient desires. Artistic ability is important because liposuction is a sculpting procedure that takes away fat and artistic talent gives Dr. Kim the edge in creating what did not exist previously. This is the very essence of artistic talent. Of course, it is important that Dr. Kim also utilize his surgical skill to assure that the results are consistent with the anatomy of the patient’s body and shape. Patient should treat the decision to have liposuction very seriously. Liposuction is a procedure that permanently removes fat; so patient should carefully consider not only the results, but the talent of the surgeon performing the procedure. Dr. Kim encourages patients to schedule a consultation to see if liposuction is a viable option for them.

The traditional spring wedding is no longer the most popular time for women to tie the knot. Fall and winter have also become very popular wedding times. We are fortunate in Southern California that weather is not the key issue when planning the perfect day. Brides to be who are planning a fall or winter wedding should consider planning for any cosmetic surgery enhancements that would help to make their perfect day more beautiful. With proper planning many of the popular procedures can be performed with excellent results healed and ready for the perfect day. The most popular procedures for brides include surgical procedures like breast augmentation and liposuction. Dr. Kim explains that these procedures combined can help brides- to- be not only look stunning in their wedding dress but also to maintain a more proportionate figure well after the wedding. Patients who were considering breast augmentation and liposuction should schedule the procedure about three months before the final fitting for their wedding dress. Most of the swelling from breast augmentation and liposuction will have subsided within four weeks; however allowing extra time helps reduce the stress of any unexpected swelling or contour change that could occur. Brides who were considering injectables like Botox or fillers including Juvederm or Restylane should schedule these cosmetic enhancements no less than 14 days before pre- wedding photos or the wedding day. Patients who typically bruise from the injections should allow a longer period of recovery when scheduling their injectable procedures. Planning a wedding can be a very stressful time and Dr. Kim along with his experienced staff work with brides- to- be to schedule procedures and manage their recovery period so that patients can relax and concentrate on what is most important: their wedding day.

A brow lift or forehead lift can be a slight change that can make a powerful difference. As people age and the skin on the face becomes were loose and lax the brow tends to sag and make a person’s expression seem angry. Generally this is most noticeable when the eyebrows appear low on the forehead. For some patients there is not only a sagging of the brow but also loose and lax skin on the upper eyelid. Dr. Kim explains to patients that the upper eyelids and the brow are corrected in two separate procedures. A brow lift will tighten and remove excess skin which will cause the brow to be repositioned to a more aesthetically pleasing location. Ideally the brow should be even with the bony portion of the skull that protrudes above the eyes. If there is loose and lax skin on the upper eyelids causing a drooping appearance Dr. Kim they recommend a blepharoplasty or upper eyelid lift to be performed at the same time as the brow lift. These procedures performed together cause only mild to moderate discomfort and most patients are able to return to their normal activities in less than seven days. There may be some bruising and swelling after the initial recovery period; however, most patients continue with their regular social activities. Patients who have thinning hair or a receding hairline may still be candidates for a brow lift. Dr. Kim uses his artistic talent and surgical skill to create a well hidden incision if at all possible. Patients are encouraged to schedule a consultation to see if a brow lift or blepharoplasty are the procedures that will help them to achieve the look that they desire.

Finding something that tastes good and is good for you can be challenging even in Southern California. According to recent online news article Greek yogurt is becoming increasingly popular as a low-fat great tasting food option that is not only for dessert. According to the article the food chain Pinkberry is experimenting with Greek yogurt options beyond dessert.

We have a cucumber yogurt which is fantastic. We also have an olive pesto, and we’re also doing a Caprese, said Laura Jakobsen, a senior vice president of marketing and design, at Pinkberry. Since Greek yogurt is usually mixed with fruit and honey choosing savory tasting vegetables is a choice nutritionists are cheering about. According to nutritionist ,Greek yogurt takes away the whey which gives it that rich creamy thickness, and it is almost always lower in sugar and in carbohydrates. It also tends to be very high in protein. In some instances it may have as much protein as a serving of meat or fish which is about 12 to 18 grams. It is important that people avoid too much honey or adding fattening things like chocolate chips. This could counteract the low-fat nutritional benefits. Dr. Kim encourages patients to eat healthy and exercise especially following body contouring procedures like abdominoplasty or liposuction. It is not true that patients cannot gain weight following liposuction or abdominoplasty procedures. Although the fat is permanently removed, patients do have remaining fat cells that can be overpowered and result in weight gain. Although it is likely that the weight gain will be proportionate to the new body contour, for most patients it is not favorable to gain weight after investing in body contouring procedures. Healthy diet and regular exercise is the best insurance that patient results will last a lifetime.

Sugar can be one of the greatest contributors to weight gain. Reducing the sugar in your diet according to recent article could be easier than we think. According to the article the average American takes in 22 teaspoons of added sugar every single day; this equates to about 355 calories which equals about 70 pounds of sugar every year. Besides weight gain, sugar also causes many other health problems. There are ways to reduce sugar without compromising taste. According to dietary experts most of us take in 3 to 4 times the recommended amount of sugar on a daily basis. The American Heart Association recommends that women get no more than six added teaspoons of sugar and men should get no more than nine added teaspoons. Research has proven that too much added sugar in the diet can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, as well as cancer. There are choices that we can make to substitute sugar that are fairly easy. For example, choosing shredded wheat over frosted wheat cereal saves 2 teaspoons. Choosing a honey and yogurt combo can be a sweet treat, or plain Greek yogurt with blueberries is an excellent choice also. The most important thing is to look at labels and not marketing slogans. Dr. Kim empathizes with his patients who were trying to maintain a healthy diet. He explains that unexplained weight gain or increased fat could be due to hormonal changes especially as women and men age. It is important to make proactive decisions concerning increased weight early before it is out of control. For some patients liposuction is an excellent option for removing fat cells that tend to form on the abdomen. Dr. Kim has the talent of an artist combined with the skill of an ASPS plastic surgeon. This benefits patients by creating natural looking beautiful results.

Having the perfect nose may not seem like a big deal to most people, but if you do not like your nose and profile it can be a something that you look at every time you see a picture of yourself or look in the mirror. For many patients the idea of having rhinoplasty or what some call a nose job is a a way to have the type of nose they desire. For patients who are considering rhinoplasty is important that they are able to communicate what they consider to be their perfect nose. Dr. Kim is careful to explain that while there is no such thing as a perfect nose, in many cases he can help to enhance the shape and contour of a patient’s nose. Patients need to communicate to Dr. Kim not only what they don’t like about their nose, but also what they would like to see as a change in the shape and contour of their nose. It is important that patients describe not only the overall shape of their nose in the changes they would like to see, but also the shape and position of the nostrils. It is also important that they communicate what they like or dislike about their profile and overall shape of their face as it relates to their nose. As an artist and plastic surgeon Dr. Kim explains that rhinoplasty surgery is often combined with chin augmentation using a chin implant. For some patients this not only helps to improve their profile but also it enhances the shape of the nose as it relates to the face. Dr. Kim further explains that while rhinoplasty surgery focuses on the nose alone it is important to take into consideration how the rhinoplasty surgery will affect the look of the entire face. Patients who are considering rhinoplasty are encouraged to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kim.

Nobody likes to be in pain. Pain medication can have side effects that are a concern for patients. According to a recent news story there are some supplements that claim to help ease pain. According to the article there are anti-inflammatory plants and herbs. They are believed to work the same way as NSAIDs so therefore they can create some of the same risk including bleeding and upset stomach. However the side effects are considered to be less severe than taking NSAIDs. People who are taking the medications for blood thinning are strongly cautioned to check with their primary care physician before using any pain managing supplements. Vitamin D is one of the supplements that claims to help with chronic pain. Gluclosomine sulfate is believed to help with arthritic pain. It is also believed to slow the progression of osteoarthritis. Acetyl-L-carnitine is known to ease nerve pain. This pain supplement also claims to repair damaged nerves and over time help nerves regain sensitivity. Bromelain is known to reduce both information as well as paint. It is not certain how it is absorbed into the digestive system and more research will need to be done. Dr. Kim explains to patients that while pain and discomfort is part of most plastic surgery procedures patients do very well with the recovery process. Patients who are having breast augmentation or abdominoplasty are more likely to experience greater degrees of pain and discomfort. Dr. Kim has an empathetic approach and it is his goal to help patients through the recovery with minimal pain and discomfort. In most cases prescription pain medication is written for patients and Dr. Kim listens carefully to his patients to determine the best way to minimize pain for each patient. Patients are not advised to take any supplements that are not approved by Dr. Kim in combination with their prescription pain medications