One of the hardest things about rhinoplasty is that it has a very long recovery period. Though you are generally able to return to work within about a week, and return to all your favorite activities in less than 12 weeks, your healing is not yet complete. It often takes six months and may take up to a year for the healing to be complete and your final results to be visible. Before then, you may experience a number of minor problems

One problem that impacts people during the recovery period for rhinoplasty is minor breathing problems. Depending on the reshaping that was done and if you experience some minor complications, the interior of your nose may be swollen for an extended period of time, which can constrict your nostrils, making it hard to breathe. Ironically, this can be especially true if part of the goal of the surgery was to improve your breathing, and allergies can make this even worse.

As the swelling and other healing progresses, your results will continue to change. We encourage you to discuss any concerns you have about the appearance of your nose at any time. We will evaluate the progress of your results and help you to understand what changes to continue to expect.

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, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

Rhinoplasty is a procedure whose results are essentially permanent. If you have a successful rhinoplasty, you will not need another one to address the same cosmetic problems. Your nose may continue to change shape as a normal part of the aging process, but it will not revert to its old shape. In general, then, having a rhinoplasty performed at a young age makes sense, since it will give you the most time to enjoy the results. But there are a few things to consider to determine what is the ideal age for your rhinoplasty.

What age can you have rhinoplasty

The first issue is maturity. You cannot have a rhinoplasty until your nose has reached full maturity. This means that your nose should have largely finished growing. In general, this is about age 15 for girls and 16 for boys, but it can vary from individual to individual. Make sure you talk to your doctor about whether your nose has finished growing before seeking out a rhinoplasty.

For minors, of course, parental consent is required for a rhinoplasty. If your parents do not consent, you will have to wait at least until you are age 18 to have your rhinoplasty.

Finally, it’s not a bad idea to check your emotional, intellectual, and financial maturity prior to getting a rhinoplasty. Make sure you are looking for a rhinoplasty for you, and not to impress or get back at anyone. (This is actually not a question of age–it’s something everyone should ask.) Next, make sure you are prepared to take the time to understand the procedure, its possible complications, and your role in getting the best results possible. If you’re not prepared to do your part, it may not be the right time for your rhinoplasty. And when it comes to plastic surgery, it’s good to make sure you can afford it before you have the procedure. Realistically, evaluate your budget before agreeing to the 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, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

A deviated septum is when the wall that divides your nostrils is crooked rather than straight, causing the nostrils to narrow at various points. If you are wondering whether you have a deviated septum, you may be wondering what are some of the more common symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Nasal blockage in one or both nostrils
• Frequent nasal congestion
• Frequent nosebleeds
• Frequent sinus infections
• Regular facial pain and sinus headaches
• Postnasal drip
• Noisy breathing during sleep (mostly infants and children)

Deviated septum symptoms

Because these symptoms are common to a number of other conditions, they are often attributed to colds, “creeping crud,” or whatever’s going around. They may be attributed to seasonal or year-round allergies. Colds and allergies can worsen symptoms of a deviated symptom, but if you are constantly suffering from these symptoms, perhaps a deviated septum is to blame.

Surgery to correct a deviated septum (called “septoplasty”) can be combined with rhinoplasty to correct the appearance of your nose at the same time you are correcting its function.

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, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

All surgeries can impact the level of sensation you’re able to feel in the affected area. Depending on the region and type of surgery performed, the body can become more or less sensitive through the healing process. Some loss of sensation following breast augmentation is normal, although the degree of sensitivity varies by individual.

It is important to note that sensation is typically temporary and feeling will return as healing progresses.

Factors That May Affect Sensation

The swelling that occurs during healing from breast augmentation is one factor that can cause loss of sensation. The body builds up fluid in the area of the surgery as a way to protect itself. The swelling can put pressure on the nerves, generating changes in sensation. Sensation returns gradually as the swelling goes down.

The type of incision and the placement of the breast implants play a role in the changes of sensation following breast augmentation surgery. Changes in sensation of the nipples will occur if the incision is placed using the periareolar incision option, which is made around the areola.

Studies have shown that changes in sensation of the breasts are more common with the subglandular placement of the breast implants, in which the breast implants are placed above the muscle.

In most cases, sensation returns to normal as you heal. If you feel long-term loss of sensation or extreme variances in sensitivity, you should inform your plastic surgeon.

If you would like to learn more about breast augmentation, please contact Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim at E. Kim Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, eyelashes are the frames. But what do you do when those frames appear lank and emaciated?

If you have abnormal or limited eyelash growth, you may have eyelash hypotrichosis. And Latisse may be your solution for growing longer, thicker eyelashes.

Latisse is not for everyone, and a consultation with Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim will determine if Latisse is right for you. Latisse is the only FDA-approved treatment for inadequate eyelash growth, and it is available only by prescription.

Latisse eyelash growth

Latisse is thought to work by increasing the number of eyelash sprouts and extending their growth phase, providing longer, lusher and darker eyelashes. The Latisse clinical study showed that treatment was effective in nearly 80 percent of participants after four months of use; full results are typically seen within two months of nightly use.

In order to maintain results, you must continue use of Latisse. If you stop regular use of Latisse, your eyelashes will return to their original appearance, although some patients are able to reduce treatments to two or three times per week after achieving full results.

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, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

Restrictions after rhinoplasty vary based on the extent of your procedure and factors related to your overall health. Flying and exercise are restricted after rhinoplasty because of the possibility of post-operative bleeding. The restrictions in activity are in place to limit the risk of bleeding and to ensure your comfort.

Dr. Eugene Kim will discuss your post-operative instructions and any restrictions that he feels are necessary to ensure a great recovery following your rhinoplasty. Dr. Kim will place a nose splint on your nose after your rhinoplasty to aid in healing and protection. The nose splints are typically removed the week following surgery.

If you are flying into Beverly Hills for your rhinoplasty, you will need to speak with Dr. Kim about when you can fly home. It is generally advisable to wait at least seven days before flying.

Similarly, exercising too soon after your rhinoplasty may cause discomfort, additional swelling and possible bleeding. Light exercise such as walking is beneficial to the healing process. You can typically perform moderate exercise within two weeks following surgery. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for approximately a month.

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, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

Latisse is FDA approved to increase the thickness, darkness, and length of your eyelashes. Treatment with Latisse involves nightly application of the medication to the base of the upper eyelashes. Application of Latisse is similar to applying liquid mascara.

You will begin to see results within four to six weeks. Results continue to increase over the course of treatment, and full results will be apparent within 16 weeks.

Lengthen the growth cycle of your lashes

Latisse is thought to lengthen the growth cycle of your lashes. To maintain results, Latisse must be continually applied, although you may be able to reduce the application to every two or three days after full results are seen.

Stopping regular use of Latisse will cause your eyelashes to revert to their original appearance. Depending on your individual results, experienced Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and Latisse provider Dr. Eugene Kim may recommend a reduction in your treatment.

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, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

When it comes to mammograms, women with breast implants should approach them in the same manner as women without breast implants: as an annual event beginning at age 40 (or earlier if there is a family history of cancer).

Some women with breast implants are reluctant to undergo a mammogram due to fears that the screening will rupture or otherwise damage their breast implants. Although the presence of breast implants can make mammogram imaging more difficult, mammograms on women with breast implants are typically conducted in a way that pushes the breast implants away from the breast tissue so a greater amount of breast tissue can be visualized without exorbitant stress or damage to the breast implants.

In most mammograms of women with breast implants, additional images are taken from multiple angles to provide a more complete image of the breast. You will likely be asked by your mammogram technician if you have breast implants; if not, it is important to bring the presence of your breast implants to your technician’s attention so he or she can provide accurate visualization.

If the mammogram reveals irregularities, your technician or personal doctor may recommend an MRI to provide a more comprehensive view of your breasts.

If you live in the Beverly Hills, Los Angeles or Newport Beach, California, areas and would like to learn more about the possibilities of breast augmentation, please contact experienced cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim.

Many people think it is a good idea to take a cosmetic surgery vacation. After all, you want to take time off from work, and should have someone help you during the first days of recovery, right? What better place to do that than at an all-inclusive resort or hotel? And if you have to be resting anyway, why not rest at the beach?

The above logic is sound, but there are some important things to keep in mind.

Don’t sacrifice quality of treatment

First, make sure that wherever you are going, you are not sacrificing the quality of treatment you are receiving from the surgeon. This can be true if you are having cosmetic surgery performed in another country where there may not be the same standards for surgical training and certification that there are in the United States. It may be impossible to verify whether the person you are working with is a board-certified plastic surgeon, a general surgeon posing as a cosmetic surgeon, or something else altogether. For these reasons, it’s often best to keep your cosmetic surgery vacation in the United States.

Chosen a Plastic Surgeon

It’s also best to work with a plastic surgeon you choose for his or her skills, not because of the destination. Thus, if you find a surgeon you want who happens to be in a desirable locale, then, by all means turn it into a cosmetic surgery vacation. It’s never a good idea to pick a vacation spot and then just pick a surgeon who happens to be in the area. Choosing your plastic surgeon is the most important decision you will make about your cosmetic surgery procedure, and it’s best to take no shortcuts when making it.

Make sure that your surgeon makes adequate provisions for your consultations and follow-up appointments. You want to talk to your surgeon in person at least once before your actual surgery. And you want to have at least your first follow-up appointment with the same doctor to ensure your healing is progressing at the desired rate.

Don’t travel alone

Finally, don’t travel alone. Even if your selected surgeon offers nursing facilities for the first day or two of recovery, it’s still best to have someone with you for the entire time until your first follow-up. It is also important to have someone travel with you when you return home.

If you follow these guidelines, cosmetic surgery vacations can be a positive experience that you can enjoy while getting a plastic surgery procedure that will improve your appearance and self-confidence.

At E. Kim Plastic Surgery, we invite you to consider us for your cosmetic surgery vacation in sunny Beverly Hills, California. Please call or email us today to find out how we can help you.