Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, given Dr. Kim’s experience and expertise from the last 30+ years as a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. A consultation is $125 for all new patients unless referred by a patient/friend/family member, in which case the fee is reduced to $75. The consulation fee will be used as a credit towards any of our surgical or non-surgical services, should the patient chose to move forward. *Must mention patient/friend/family member that referred you.

Individuals in good general health are typically good candidates for cosmetic surgery. It is very important for potential patients to have realistic expectations for their surgery results. During your consultation with Dr. Kim, it is important to openly discuss your previous medical history, plastic surgery goals and any concerns you have, so that he can make an informed and realistic assessment about your candidacy for cosmetic surgery.

As with all surgical procedures, there is some level of risk. It is important to follow all of Dr. Kim’s pre- and post-operative instructions carefully, and thoroughly discuss any and all medical conditions you have prior to your procedure. This way, you’ll be sure you and Dr. Kim are prepared, and that your body is appropriately cared for before, during and after surgery.

Preparing for plastic surgery procedures begins with a surgical consultation in order for you to thoroughly understand what the procedure involves, the course of recovery and the ideal outcome.

For cosmetic surgeries, insurance is usually not involved. Dr. Kim is considered an “out-of-network” provider, so what kind of insurance you have will determine how much (if any) insurance can cover cosmetic procedures. Your Patient Care Coordinator can help you determine if, and to what extent, insurance will be able to help.

Generally 1-2 weeks for most procedures. The length of time it takes to recover varies depending on the procedure performed and the patient. Most patients will require assistance for the first two days following surgery.

The body’s complete healing time differs from initial recovery time, and can take several weeks, months or even a year or more for incisions to fully heal, and for tissues to achieve maximum recovery.

It all depends on what is most appropriate for your particular situation; Dr. Kim will decide what type of anesthesia to use, and will answer any questions you have. We work with professional anesthesiologists from the American Anesthesiologist Medical Group (AAMG). For more information about them, please visit: http://www.aamgpaloalto.com/

Saline and silicone breast implants both have an outer silicone shell. However, the implants differ in material and consistency.

Saline breast implants are filled with sterile salt water. They’re inserted empty, and then filled once they’re in place. These implants are available to women 18 and older for breast augmentation and to women of any age for breast reconstruction.

Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel — a thick, sticky fluid that closely mimics the feel of human fat. Most women feel that silicone breast implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue. These breast implants are available to women 22 and older for breast augmentation and to women of any age for breast reconstruction.

The decision is based on a number of factors, including the patient’s desires, reasons for the surgery, skin type and overall health. During your initial consultation with Dr. Kim, you will have the opportunity to do a “breast sizing” to help determine the right size for you.

Most elective surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis; our patients undergo surgery at the Plastic Surgery Center (PSC) located within the same vicinity of our office. For information about PSC, please visit: http://www.plasticsurgerycenterpaloalto.com

The results of your plastic surgery depend on the procedure. In general, most plastic surgery procedures last a long time, given the patient maintains a healthy weight and overall healthy lifestyle.

The answer to this question varies. For small non-invasive procedure such as dermal injectables and botox, most patients are able to return to normal activities almost immediately. For laser procedures, the type of laser treatment that’s given will determine recovery time.

For lighter laser treatments such as Broad Band Light also known as bbl/ipl/photo facial, recovery takes places between 3 to 7 days. For more invasive laser procedures such as deep perioral laser, laser resurfacing or profractional, recovery can last a couple weeks.

Dermal fillers are responsible for smoothing out and filling in fine lines and wrinkles, particularly in the lower part of the face. Dermal fillers usually last six months to a year later, as the body safely absorbs it.

Botox is great for wrinkles that occur in the upper face – crow’s feet or vertical frown lines between the eyebrows, because it paralyzes muscle and nerve endings, stopping the skin from wrinkling. Botox usually lasts three to four months before the body safely absorbs it.

Botox/Dysport takes a few days to two weeks to fully activate; dermal fillers are instantaneous, though you should anticipate the possibility of bruising or swelling. Plan big events accordingly. It is good to give yourself approximately two to three weeks between your injection appointment and your special occasion, in case you need to have anything touched up, and in case you bruise or swell easily.

To minimize bruising and swelling, you should stop taking ibuprofen, aspirin, Vitamin E, fish oil, and anything that thins out the blood. Always check with your doctor if you are on prescription blood thinners. Additionally, you can begin taking the herbal supplement arnica before and after your appointment to help minimize bruising and inflammation. Eating pineapple, kiwi and papaya is also said to reduce swelling.

Our office offers a five-minute laser treatment & makeup to aide in reducing the appearance of bruising, should you end up with some (call our office for pricing).

Local anesthesia may be used for small areas and general anesthesia is used for the rest. The length of the procedure varies depending on the amount of fat being removed, the size of the patient, and the number of areas being treated. During the procedure, you will be monitored by trained medical professionals who will ensure that you are comfortable and safe.

Liposuction is usually done using a tumescent technique (injecting the area with IV solution with numbing medicine and blood vessel constricting medication) to minimize blood loss and obtain a smoother result. A small metal tube is used to suction the fat. Ultrasound technique is used as necessary to break up the fat in certain areas before suctioning it out. The incisions are tiny and largely hidden in inconspicuous places. The treated areas are kept compressed with a garment to minimize swelling. While the result is immediate, the figure continues to improve for several months.

Individuals who are of relatively normal weight and who are in good general health with pockets of excess fat that have not responded to diet and exercises are the best candidates for liposuction.  Anyone who is significantly overweight should lose weight before considering liposuction. Liposuction is not a means to lose weight.

As with any operation, there is a recovery period during which there may be some discomfort. Most patients are able to move about freely within a few days, and can return to normal activities within about two weeks. Bruising, swelling and soreness can be expected for a least a few weeks.

Liposuction enhances the contour of the body and provides a slimmer profile and better definition of the parts. However, liposuction alone does not remove cellulite, dimples, or stretch marks. While liposuction permanently removes fat cells, if the patient does not lead a healthy lifestyle after the operation, there is a risk that the remaining fat cells will grow bigger making the improved curves of the body less defined.

As a rule, cosmetic plastic surgery is considered “elective surgery” and is not covered by most insurance plans. We offer Care Credit as our only financing option available. You can apply online at www.carecredit.com and find out right away if you are approved. We offer 6 months or 12 months with 0% interest financial plans.One of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures, liposuction sculpts the body by removing undesirable fat that has not responded to diet and exercise from areas such as the back, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, knees, chin, neck and upper arms.  Liposuction reveals the natural contour of the body that had been concealed by the collection of excess fat in unnatural spots.