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How to Choose the Best Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Surgeon in Beverly Hills?

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Tummy Tuck Surgeon | Abdominoplasty | Plastic Surgery | Beverly Hills Tummy tuck is a major cosmetic surgery procedure involving excision of excess skin and fat from the abdomen. In some cases, underlying abdominal muscles may also be tightened along with repositioning of the navel. It is essential to choose a fully trained and qualified tummy tuck surgeon who can produce safe and natural looking results, and has a proven track record of success in such procedures.

Dr. Eugene Kim is a double board certified plastic surgeon providing state of the art surgical and non-surgical procedures. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Kim also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor in Plastic Surgery at the University of California, Irvine. He provides tummy tuck surgery to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding locations.

Board Certification and Affiliations

Dr. Kim received his board certification from the prestigious American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). He is also a member of the leading American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). These are prominent indicators to determine the cosmetic surgery expertise and authority of a surgeon. Patients can feel reassured when they choose a surgeon with such certification and affiliations.

To earn a certification from the premier ABPS, the plastic surgeon would have received at least five years of medical training, out of which a minimum of two years would be focused training in the area of plastic surgery. To maintain the certification, the surgeon would also undergo continuing training and education. This rigorous process ensures that the surgeon remains fully updated with the latest surgical techniques in the area of tummy tuck and other procedures.

Hospital Privileges

While an expert surgeon would already have a strong track record of successful tummy tuck surgeries, it is still important to be prepared for emergencies. In the rare event of a complication requiring the patient’s hospitalization, the surgeon should have staff privileges at one or more local hospitals. These privileges are usually accorded only to fully qualified and established surgeons.

Hospitals will run a complete background check before offering such privileges. Therefore, patients can feel reassured when they receive tummy tuck surgery from a plastic surgeon who has hospital privileges. Dr. Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas for tummy tuck and various other procedures.

Experience in Tummy Tuck

Every plastic surgeon is permitted to perform a tummy tuck surgery, but a patient should choose a surgeon with adequate experience in performing this procedure in the past. The needs of patient will be unique, requiring a customized surgical technique. The patient may need traditional full tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck, or circumferential tummy tuck procedure.

Some patients may need a combination of tummy tuck along with other procedures such as liposuction, breast lift, or a mommy makeover. The surgeon should be equipped to perform multiple procedures together in order to minimize complications and achieve optimal outcomes. Patients should review the testimonials and before and after photos of past patients to learn more about the surgeon’s track record with a tummy tuck procedure.

Click here see more plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim on patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

Visit and follow Dr. Eugene Kim on Instagram! See his confident, beautiful patients enjoying life after breast, facial and body contouring procedures.

Breast Augmentation | Breast Asymmetry | Plastic Surgery | Los Angeles A woman’s breasts will develop in response to genetic, hormonal, and weight factors. The right and left breasts may respond differently to the same growth factors, resulting in breast asymmetry. This aspect should be carefully considered at the time of breast augmentation cosmetic surgery.

Dr. Eugene Kim is a highly trained and experienced plastic surgeon providing cutting edge procedures for the breast, body and face. Dr. Kim will use breast augmentation to correct asymmetries while accomplishing the patient’s size enhancement needs. He provides breast augmentation surgery to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding communities.

Asymmetry with Tissue Restriction

Breast development asymmetry may occur with tissue restriction when the growth of one or both breasts is restricted due to the skin and surrounding tissue. Non-expansion of the tissue can prevent full breast development. If the breast tissue growth occurs with this restriction, it will expand the areolar tissue.

This condition is known as a tuberous breast deformity. The degree of severity of this condition can vary from one patient to another, which will impact the breast appearance. Nipple size may also vary according to the asymmetry. While planning for breast augmentation cosmetic surgery, it is important to account for these conditions.

Wide Cleavage

Many women worry that after breast augmentation surgery, the gap between the breasts may become extra wide. However, the gap between the breasts is already determined by her natural bone structure and breast anatomy. With breast implants, the plastic surgeon may be able to narrow the gap between the breasts marginally, but not to a very substantial extent.

If the surgeon makes an excessive attempt to narrow the gap between breasts, it may lead to a complication such as symmastia, or make the nipples point to the outside of each breast. If inframammary folds are asymmetric prior to the breast implant surgery, they are likely to remain in the same condition after the surgery.

The surgeon should make the patient aware of such pre-existing developmental conditions and the limitations and possibilities with breast augmentation. Dr. Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas for breast augmentation surgery.

Breast Mound Differences

Breast development process may stop at any stage of growth. In some cases, the development of the breast mound may stop at different stages. This can cause asymmetry between the two breast mounds. The surgeon may recommend differently sized breast implants to correct this asymmetry.

Some patients may need a breast lift along with implants to reposition the nipple and areola to a more symmetric level. Women who are able to achieve correction of their pre-existing developmental conditions with breast implants are usually the happiest patients.

Areolar Asymmetry

The highlight of the breast mound is the nipple and areola complex. In a few cases, asymmetry may exist in the areolar size or position. Variation of the position, which is called the high-low variation in the areolar position, can particularly be magnified after breast augmentation. The surgeon should help the patient keep realistic expectations from breast augmentation in such cases.

Breast Augmentation | Plastic Surgery | Los Angeles | Beverly Hils The natural shape of a woman’s breasts is a key determinant in how the breasts may appear after a breast augmentation cosmetic surgery. At the time of pre-op consultations, the breast surgeon should explain this correlation appropriately so that the patient has a clear understanding of what to expect from the surgery.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim is a highly trained and experienced provider of breast implant surgery. Dr. Kim will prepare a customized surgical plan after taking into account the breast shape and other parameters. He provides breast augmentation to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding communities.

Shape of Nipples

Nipples are mostly centered on the breast mound. With the insertion of breast implants, the nipples will be typically pushed forward. If the nipples are upward pointing, they will tend to maintain that direction. Outpointing nipples will usually be pushed out a little more. While performing breast augmentation cosmetic surgery, attention should be paid to the position of nipples in order to produce desirable outcomes.

Breast Size and Weight

If the woman has a thin body profile and lesser amount of breast tissue, then her augmented breast mound will primarily be only breast implants. In this situation, the plastic surgeon may recommend anatomically shaped implants only. In other cases, the amount of breast tissue may be relatively higher, which can be suitable for both round and anatomical shaped implants.

Implant sizes are available in the range of 120 cc to 960 cc. The right size of the implants should be chosen to create natural looking results with breast augmentation. If the breast tissue availability is smaller, the surgeon may not recommend very large implants because it can cause the skin to stretch and lead to implant rippling.

Symmetry

If the breasts are asymmetrical in shape or size, the same condition may occur even after the augmentation procedure if no attention is paid to this anomaly. While breast implants cannot create the perfect breast shape, the degree of asymmetry can be reduced by choosing appropriately sized implant for each breast.

The surgeon will also have to make subtle adjustments to the implant position in order to create more attractive and symmetrical breasts. Shape variations in the breasts are a common characteristic, and a skillful breast surgeon will be able to use the implant procedure to minimize or eliminate those variations. Dr. Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas for breast augmentation.

Rib Cage and Breast Bone

The shape of the rib cage and the breast bone will also make a difference to the results of breast augmentation surgery. In many cases, the woman will have outpointing areolas on the breast mounds. This variation is typically found in cases where the woman has a differently shaped rib cage and wider breast bone. If the rib cage is significantly curved and the breast bone is wide, the breast mound as well as the nipple areolar complex will point outwards.

Breast Augmentation | Cosmetic Surgery | Los Angeles | Beverly Hills Breast anatomy is unique to each individual, and plays an important role in determining the outcome of breast augmentation cosmetic surgery. The breast surgeon will try to customize the procedure after taking into account the patient’s breast anatomy and her personal aesthetic needs.

Dr. Eugene Kim is a board certified plastic surgeon providing breast augmentation and several other procedures for the breast, body, and face. Dr. Kim provides these procedures in a state of the art practice environment to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding communities.

Anatomical Characteristics of the Breast

Prior to finalizing the plan for breast augmentation cosmetic surgery, the surgeon will evaluate the breast anatomy. The breast region is covered by skin layers, which include superficial nerves and blood vessels. Dermis is the deepest skin layer, which provides strength to the skin. The thickness of dermis will vary from one woman to another.

Women with the thickest dermis will usually have the best skin. The skin also contains elastin fibers that enable the skin to stretch and remain elastic. If the breast skin goes through a prolonged period of stretching, like in pregnancy, the elasticity may reduce and the skin may become thinner. This will often cause the breasts to droop. Sometimes the breast may expand too fast for the skin to adapt to the new size, resulting in stretch marks.

The plastic surgeon will have to take all these conditions into account while recommending the appropriate size and shape of breast implants. If the breast skin and tissue have become thin or have lost some degree of elasticity, heavier implants will cause lower pole fall-out. Dr. Kim will pay attention to all these aspects while creating a surgical plan for breast augmentation. He receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas.

Nipple-Areola Complex

The outermost layer of the breast skin includes the nipple-areola complex. The colored areola tissue differs from other parts of the skin because of its gland structures. The area is typically thinner and stretches more than the skin. The size of the areolas can vary from one woman to another, and the position of the nipples will also differ. If the nipples are too low or downward pointing, it may require breast lift in conjunction with breast augmentation.

Inframammary Fold (IMF)

One of the key aspects of breast anatomy from the perspective of breast augmentation surgery is the inframammary fold (IMF). This breast fold is generally where the ‘underwire’ of a bra rests. The anatomical structure of the fold will exist even when the breasts may appear too small to cause a fold. This fold is significant because the breast implant will usually sit on this fold.

If the breast implant is placed appropriately by the surgeon, the fold will provide support to the implant. While positioning the implants during surgical placement, the surgeon should pay attention to the IMF. If it is not attended to properly, the shape of the augmented breasts may

Breast Augmentation | Body Shape | Plastic Surgery | Los Angeles When considering breast augmentation cosmetic surgery, the patient should know that her unique body shape will have an impact on how the final results appear. The breast is located on the chest, and more precisely on the top of the muscles of the chest wall. Below the chest wall muscles are the ribs. The ribs connect to the body at the spine.

The body shape of a woman influences the shape and position of the breasts. An experienced plastic surgeon will explain these aspects to the patient during the pre-op consultation process. The surgeon may make use of breast augmentation before and after photos for this purpose. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim provides breast augmentation to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding communities.

Curvature of the Spine and Ribs

Most women will have a curvature in the spine or ribs, which will impact how their breasts appear on their chest. It is one of the less evaluated areas when a patient is being examined for breast augmentation cosmetic surgery. However, the fact is that the impact of the chest wall will be magnified on the breast shape and position once the breast implant is inserted.

Breast bone, ribs, and spine form the foundation on which the breasts rest. If these elements are asymmetric or curved differently, then it is possible that the breasts are pointing in divergent directions. In such a case, when the breast implant is inserted, the resulting breast mound can be substantially affected by this platform.

The curvatures of the spine or ribs will also cause one of the shoulders to droop when the woman is standing up. Before and after photos of breast augmentation can give a clear idea of these conditions. Dr. Kim is a highly trained and experienced plastic surgeon receiving patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas for breast augmentation surgery.

Posture

If the spine and the overall body shape are curved, it can impact the woman’s posture. This will become noticeable in most cases because one shoulder or hip will be higher than the other. If a collarbone or a shoulder is higher than the other, it will lead to asymmetrical breasts or breasts at different heights. An experienced breast surgeon will take these aspects into account while creating the breast implant surgical plan.

Rib and Breast Bone Anomalies

The breast bone or sternum and the ribs usually come together to form a barrel that will be a little flat on the front side. Ribs may form different shapes at times. One or the other side of the ribs may protrude out further than the breast bone. Sometimes the breast bone may not be flat and may protrude out further than the ribs.

Breasts will normally rest on the ribs next to the breast bone. Therefore, if the foundation varies, the breasts will appear different on the chest. These anomalies are likely to magnify once breast implants are placed. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize and address these issues prior to breast augmentation surgery.

Breast Augmentation Inciscion | Breast Plastic Surgery Los Angeles Breast augmentation cosmetic surgery is a highly customizable procedure, with choices available for the type of implants, the location and size of incisions and the placement position of implants. The operating surgeon will discuss various possibilities with the patient during the initial consultation in order to determine the appropriate surgical plan and incision sites.

Dr. Eugene Kim is a board certified plastic surgeon providing breast augmentation and other procedures of the breast, body and face. Dr. Kim will engage closely with the patient during the consultation process to ensure that best decisions are made. He provides breast augmentation to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and other areas.

Incision along the Areola

One of the common choices for incision in breast augmentation cosmetic surgery is the areolar incision. In this case, the resulting scar will merge with the border of the areola. The surgeon will also have better control over implant placement with this incision method. The surgeon will create an incision along the bottom edge of the areola. When the implant is inserted through the incision protective ‘sleeves’ will be utilized to protect the breast ducts.

Incision at the Base of the Breast

An inframammary incision at the base or fold of the breast can be placed where it is easily hidden. When the incision is placed in this location, the plastic surgeon will create a breast pocket in which the implant will be positioned. The implant is inserted through the incision and centered behind the nipple. This type of incision is more commonly used when the patient has chosen silicone gel implants. Dr. Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby communities for breast augmentation.

Incision in the Armpit

A transaxillary incision or an incision in the armpit may be used in case of saline implants. The surgeon will place the incision and create a channel to the breast. A breast pocket will be created behind the breast, and the empty saline implant will be inserted into position. The surgeon will fill the implant with a saline solution through some tubing until it achieves the pre-determined size.

TUBA Incision

TUBA or trans-umbilical incision may be used in case of saline implants. This incision is placed around the edge of the navel. Through the incision, the surgeon will insert an endoscope to create a breast pocket for the implant placement. The empty saline implants will be positioned into the pockets through the incision. The surgeon will fill the implants through a small tube, and remove the tube and endoscope. The incision will be then closed with sutures.

Transabdominal Incision

A trans-abdominal or TABA incision may be used in cases where the patient plans to undergo breast implant surgery in conjunction with an abdominoplasty procedure. In this case, the surgeon will create an incision for the tummy tuck surgery, and use the same incision to place the breast implants. This allows for a less invasive procedure and results in less scarring at the end.

Blepharoplasty Before and After | Eyelid Plastic Surgery Los Angeles Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is a procedure designed to reduce the aging signs around the lower and upper eyelids. During the initial consultation, the surgeon will evaluate whether the patient needs lower or upper eyelid cosmetic surgery or both. The surgeon will also educate the patient about various aspects of the procedure.

At the initial stage, many surgeons prefer to show blepharoplasty before and after photographs to the patient. This helps to explain the potential effectiveness of the procedure in a better way, and allows the patient to make an informed choice. Dr. Eugene Kim is a double board certified plastic surgeon providing blepharoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding communities.

What are Blepharoplasty Before and After Images?

Before and after images in case of blepharoplasty refer to a pair or group of pictures pertaining to an earlier patient who has gone through the same procedure with successful results. The pictures include images taken before the surgery and after the surgery at a stage when the temporary swelling and bruising has been eliminated and full results of blepharoplasty are visible.

The cosmetic surgeon will obtain these photographs with the patient’s consent and present them before new patients in an appropriate manner. The surgeon’s goal in this case is to use the photographs as a visual tool to describe different aspects of the eyelid cosmetic surgery to new patients.

Benefits

When a woman or man is considering lower or upper eyelid surgery, they may only have a vague idea of how the procedure will enhance the appearance of their eyes and face, and how it may help to meet their overall aesthetic goals. Some patients may need a more comprehensive procedure, while others may only need a maintenance surgery to address minor signs of aging.

In some cases, the plastic surgeon may recommend eyelid surgery in conjunction with brow lift or another facial procedure. In all such situations, it can be difficult for a patient to make the right choces. With the help of blepharoplasty before and after photos, the surgeon will be able to address these issues effectively. Dr. Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas.

Realistic Expectations

An experienced surgeon will like to use blepharoplasty before and after photos at the very outset in order to remove any misplaced notions from the mind of the patient, and enable them to have realistic expectations.

Once the patient knows exactly what the procedure can or cannot do for them, they will typically achieve better satisfaction levels from the results. It will also mitigate the risk of any disappointment or misunderstanding that the patient may face.

Photos Online

Blepharoplasty before and after photos can be provided on the surgeon’s practice website for free access to all. New patients can easily review the photos online in the comfort of their home or office, and then make a final decision about visiting the surgeon’s office for a blepharoplasty consultation. Using digital technology a potential patient will have a better grasp on what to expect. This will minimize any surprises from occurring and help the doctor and the patient be on the same page before the procedure begin

Breast Implant Sizes | Breast Augmentation Plastic Surgery Los Angeles One of the key reasons behind the popularity of breast augmentation cosmetic surgery procedure is that the procedure can be closely customized to match with the unique aesthetic needs of a woman. A range of types and sizes in breast implants enables significant customization of this procedure.

Double board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim provides breast implant surgery to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding communities.

Factors to Consider in Choosing the Size

Breast implants are available today in a wide range of sizes from 120 cc to 960 cc. When selecting the implant size, the patient should take into account several factors as follows:

Unique Aesthetic Needs

In most cases, breast augmentation cosmetic surgery is performed for aesthetic enhancement. Some women may like to augment the size of their smaller looking breasts to make them more proportionate to the rest of the figure. Some other women may already have normal sized breasts, but may seek to make them more voluptuous looking with implants. Size selection will vary in each case as per the woman’s individual needs.

Natural Breast Tissue

To achieve optimal results with breast augmentation, the implant size should be chosen in relation to the amount of extra breast tissue available. This extra tissue will be needed to cover the implant smoothly without causing rippling or other concerns. In cases where only limited tissue is available, larger implants should be avoided.

Size of the Frame

The patient’s size of the frame or the breadth of the chest and shoulder will vary in each case. Breast implants should be chosen such that the base of the implant fits comfortably into the available width of the chest and the frame size.

Individual Lifestyle

Breast implant size should not be chosen with a short-term view, but in the light of the long-term activities and lifestyle of the woman. An experienced plastic surgeon will account for these aspects before making the right recommendation of implant size. For instance, women who like to engage in physically straining or aggressive sports, exercise, dance or other activities should choose smaller or moderate implant sizes.

Symmetry between the Breasts

Breast implant procedure is not just meant to enhance the size of breasts, but also to ensure they appear symmetrical and visually attractive. Sometimes a woman may require implants just to improve the symmetry between the breasts.

If the natural breasts are unevenly sized, the woman may need differently sized implants on each side. Dr. Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas for breast implants.

Implant Profile

Women seeking a moderate breast profile should choose implants that have minimal projection. These implants may be more appropriate for women with a wider chest. Women seeking a little higher profile may go for moderate-plus projection.

These implants may be better for women with a small, narrow chest. Some women may prefer to have maximum breast projection and prominent cleavage. These candidates may benefit from high profile implants, which have a smaller base and higher projection.

Breast Implant Sizes | Breast Augmentation Plastic Surgery Los Angeles The choice of breast implants is one of the most important decisions in breast augmentation cosmetic surgery procedure. The final results will be determined to a significant extent by the type and size of implants that the patient selected. Therefore, it is essential to engage closely with the surgeon and make the right choice of implant type and size.

Dr. Eugene Kim is a double board certified plastic surgeon providing breast augmentation and various other procedures of the breast, body and face. Dr. Kim will discuss all about implant sizes and qualities during the pre-op consultations and help his patients make the appropriate choices. He provides breast implant surgery to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding communities.

Size Range

Over the years, breast augmentation cosmetic surgery has evolved and the quality and range of implants have also improved dramatically. Patients have a much wider choice today to suit their individual aesthetic goals and unique anatomical needs. Not only the implant qualities in terms of saline, silicone and ultra-cohesive silicone implants, but also implant sizes, shapes, textures, and profiles range has expanded.

Breast implants are usually not measured in terms of the bra cup size, but in terms of cubic centimeters. A wide variety of sizes ranging from 120cc to 960cc are usually available. The surgeon will assist the patient to determine the most appropriate size in her case. Dr. Kim is a leading plastic surgeon providing breast implants to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas.

Determining the Right Size

Based on the guidance of the surgeon, the patient would choose one implant size to begin with. Therefore, she would compare it with slightly bigger and slightly smaller sizes to identify the most appropriate size. In most cases, the patient will be able to narrow the size options to one or two sizes fairly quickly.

In some cases, the woman may not have sufficient breast tissue, and the surgeon may advise her that she may experience about 10 percent loss of breast volume within a year. The difference of 10 percent of an implant in the size range 250 to 450cc would be about the same as the difference between two sizes. Therefore, the patient may go for one size more than what she actually wants.

Women who are very concerned about too small or too large implants can find it difficult to select the right size for them. In general, smaller implants are preferred by women who have a slim body or an athletic appearance. They prefer to be discreet about their breast enhancement. Such women may usually do best to choose the implant size ranging between 180cc and 250cc.

Similarly, women who seek larger sizes are generally more comfortable with sizes between 400cc and 500cc. While choosing larger sizes, it is important to recognize that the implant size should be compatible to the internal breast base width. This will avoid unnecessary stretching of the skin and prevent implant rippling.

Breast Implant Surgery after a Mastectomy

Breast implants procedure may not only be performed as a cosmetic surgery, but also as a part of breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. Saline or silicone gel based implants are used for breast implant surgery to recreate a natural shape of one or both breasts after a mastectomy.

In some cases, breast implant procedure may be performed along with the mastectomy, while in other cases it will be performed later as a separate procedure. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim provides breast implant surgery and various other procedures to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding areas.

Surgical Procedure

If the breast implant insertion is to be performed at the same time as mastectomy, the plastic surgeon will place the implant beneath the chest muscle after the breast surgeon has removed the breast tissue. To perform such immediate reconstruction, sufficient tissue should be available to cover the implant.

In case, the mastectomy involves a substantial amount of skin removal or the patient undergoes a staged approach to breast reconstruction, the plastic surgeon will place a tissue expander between chest muscle and the skin after the breast tissue has been removed. A tissue expander is a balloon-like implant, which stretches the skin to create space for the final implant.

The expander includes a port, which will enable the surgeon to add increasing amounts of a saline solution over the next few months until the skin is adequately stretched to accommodate the implant. Dr. Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby locations for breast implant and other procedures.

Delayed Reconstruction

Mastectomy surgery will usually take about two to three hours, but if an implant or tissue expander is inserted at the same time, it will take an additional one hour to complete the procedure. For patients who are going to have a delayed reconstruction, the surgery to insert the tissue expander may be performed in about four to six months after the mastectomy.

If several months or years have passed since the mastectomy, it may still be possible to go for tissue expansion and breast reconstruction procedures. It will depend on how much skin is left in the surgery site and what is the condition of scarring. During the tissue expansion procedure over several months, the patient is likely to feel minor pain or pressure for a few hours after each infusion of saline solution to expand the skin.

Recovery

Breast implant procedure, whether it is performed as a cosmetic surgery or as a part of breast reconstruction, will usually be done using general anesthesia. The treated area will be covered in bandages following the surgery. Drainage tubes may be inserted to collect excess fluid from under the skin. The patient may be required to wear a special surgical bra for several weeks.

If the mastectomy and implant reconstruction are performed together, the patient may have to stay overnight at the hospital. If the implant is placed later, the patient may go home the same day. The patient may take about two weeks to return to their normal routine or go back to work.