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I will review the science of aging and what we can potentially do about it as well as what technological advances are occurring right now.

The three most common hallmarks of aging are cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurocognitive decline.

Once we have any one of those diseases, we engage in the healthcare system. Let's face it, health insurance is disease insurance or payments related to the disease. In our modern society, healthcare is disease care.

It is not my intention to criticize modern healthcare; I am simply laying out the facts. Most healthcare expenditures and efforts are used in the management of disease, not prevention.

1) Cardiovascular Disease: Detecting Before a Heart Attack

We know we have cardiovascular disease when we have a heart attack or stroke, or some early warning signs such as angina or TIA (transient ischemic attack or a mini-stroke).

But what if you could detect your relative risk of developing a heart attack or stroke years in advance?

We know your doctor uses a combination of assessing your risk factors such as family history, weight, lifestyle factors such as smoking, and very rudimentary tests such as cholesterol level.

We have been doing this for decades, and although we might put off heart attacks a few years, the rate of death from heart attacks is the same as it was 50 years ago.

There are about 800,000 heart attacks a year, and one in five of those heart attacks are silent, meaning the person did not know they had a heart attack.

In people less than 65 years old, about one in four deaths every year are from heart attacks or stroke and two of 10 deaths every year are from cardiovascular disease.

We have the technology available now to predict who is healthy, and who is likely to progress at a faster rate than the general population when it comes to developing a heart attack or stroke.

This CAT scan measures the number of calcium deposits in your coronary arteries or the arteries around your heart. This is a perfectly accurate test for predicting future cardiovascular disease compared with people of your age and sex. A problem with a calcium score is that it is less accurate in women and African Americans. Additionally, the calcium score cannot be used to determine the regression of cardiovascular disease accurately.

CIMT (carotid intima-media thickness) is an ultrasound that measures the wall thickness of the arteries in your neck. The thickness of these walls predicts the likelihood of you developing cardiovascular disease in the future. This technology also allows your results to be compared to other people of your age and sex. Additionally, this ultrasound picks up plaques or hardening of the arteries which we can use to track progression or regression of cardiovascular disease.

There are two aspects of the CIMT. One is the thickness of the wall compared to other people like you. A thicker wall means more cardiovascular disease and a thinner wall means less. The second aspect of the CIMT is the plaque or areas of hardening. If you have plaques in the carotid arteries, you are at more risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Both the thickness of the wall and the amount of plaque can be tracked over time to see if you are getting better or worse in your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. In other words, if you have cardiovascular markers such as a thicker wall or plaques, with management targeted directly towards reversing heart disease when successful, the wall will become thinner, and the plaques will shrink.

What do your genes say about your risk of developing cardiovascular disease? More targeted therapies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease can be spelled out in your genetic code.

This testing is not covered by insurance because it is not considered cost-effective compared to current approaches of treating heart attacks and strokes when they occur, as well as treating people with elevated cholesterol medications regardless of knowing whether they will benefit.

It is well known that with conscientious effort, early cardiovascular disease can be reversed. This is a combination of lifestyle changes and medication therapy. This can be guided by understanding your genes and knowing where you're at right now.

2) Cancer: Preventing in Advance with MRIs

We already do screening for common cancers such as skin cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, and prostate cancer. This screening does have an impact on reducing mortality from these common cancers. However, we all know someone who died of a less common cancer such as pancreatic, sarcoma, ovarian cancer, bone cancer, brain cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer.

The purpose of cancer screening is not simply to tell you if you have cancer or not, but to tell you as early as possible so you can seek medical treatment. There is a clear link between detecting cancer early in surviving versus detecting cancer in late stages and dying.

Full-body MRI is the term used to do an MRI of the brain, the abdomen, and the pelvis as well as an MRI or CAT scan of the chest. This type of examination is the ability to detect cancers in the early stages that are not detectable with conventional means as well as vascular abnormalities such as aneurysms.

The purpose for consideration of full-body MRI is to detect diseases in the earliest stages. Insurance does not cover this because it is not considered cost-effective versus the wait-and-see approach that healthcare currently uses for less common cancers and diseases.

Genetic testing can also be done to determine what types of cancers you are most at risk for.

3) Neurocognitive Decline (Dementia & Alzheimer’s)

There is a gene called APOE that can predict the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. APOE 2 genes mean a lower risk of Alzheimer's. APOE 3 means an average risk of Alzheimer's, APOE 4 means an increased risk of Alzheimer's (about 20% of the population has APOE 4).

An early predictor of dementia or Alzheimer's disease is the size of the hippocampus, a structure in your brain. As the hippocampus shrinks your risk of getting dementia increases. This can be measured with an MRI of the brain.

If you are at risk for Alzheimer's because of your genetics, or your hippocampus has shrunk compared to other people your age there is action you can take. There is a concept called neuroplasticity where you can restore the volume of your hippocampus to a more youthful level.

In my opinion, these are the three most important hallmarks of extending our healthspan. Knowing your risks, knowing where you're at right now, then targeting therapies and lifestyle changes specifically aimed at what you are most at risk of developing.

If we can detect the presence of cardiovascular disease well in advance of developing a heart attack, or detecting cancers before they get out of hand, or seeing who is at risk for neurocognitive decline, we can live healthier lives. There is no doubt that exercising and eating right and going to your doctor for routine screening are all beneficial.

Modern technology has given us so many things, yet healthcare tends to lag and is dictated by insurance companies, the government, and big pharmaceutical manufacturers. However, you still have the choice to make your own decisions when it comes to your health.

In future blog posts, I will review breakthroughs that are occurring right now on slowing down or reversing aging. In the meantime, we need to keep ourselves healthy because the technology and medications for antiaging are right around the corner, and in some cases are already here.

How can we use the technological advances occurring right now to reverse aging? Dr. Mok reviews the three most common hallmarks of aging: cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurocognitive decline. He discusses our options to help prevent these diseases years in advance.

Slowing Down or Reversing Disease & Aging with Dr. Mok

The Future is Now: Slowing Down & Reversing Disease & Aging 

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a common cosmetic procedure that can help to flatten the abdomen by removing excess fat and loose skin. Although tummy tucks are one of the most-requested cosmetic procedures by women after a pregnancy, others who are unsatisfied with their abdominal appearance following fluctuations in their weight or a recent surgery can benefit from this procedure as well.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, tummy tuck procedures have increased 70% over the past twelve years, which means that there are many people who are satisfied with the results they have seen in themselves as well as their family and friends. But there’s another procedure available, called the CombiTuck, a combination of liposuction and a tummy tuck, that offers a much shorter recovery time and lets patients go back to normal life in as little as a week. Here is how to determine if a CombiTuck procedure is right for you, along with what to expect during and after the procedure so that you can make an informed decision.

Ideal Candidates for a CombiTuck Procedure

A CombiTuck is a surgical procedure that can offer permanent tummy-tightening results for the right candidates. However, it is important to know that as with any type of surgery, the ideal candidate will be in good health and at a stable weight. It is also best for a candidate to be either a non-smoker or willing to stop smoking at least several weeks before the procedure. This will help to ensure the best recovery and healing possible. Due to the fact that fluctuations in weight will alter the abdomen’s appearance, it is also recommended for women to wait until they are done bearing children before they undergo the procedure. A CombiTuck procedure requires a layer of fat to be present to be most effective—very thin women may require a more traditional tummy tuck procedure.

During your initial consultation with the surgeon, your body type will be assessed, along with the results you are seeking. Using this information, your doctor or cosmetic surgeon will help to determine which type of procedure will work best for your needs. A complete abdominoplasty is needed when loose skin and fat exists above the naval and may involve moving the bellybutton. A partial tummy tuck is a shorter procedure with a smaller incision, yet it is only effective on the right candidate. A CombiTuck procedure combines the benefits of liposuction and partial tummy tucks, allowing for a procedure with less cutting and trauma for the tissues.

Before your CombiTuck procedure, it is best to avoid drastic dieting or other changes in your health. If you smoke, you will be asked to refrain from smoking for at least two weeks before your procedure. The day prior to your surgery, you may be given pre-op instructions that include stopping certain medications or fasting overnight. Making a few preparations around your home can also help you to recover better your procedure. Choose loose clothing to wear during the first few days of recovery and arrange for someone to stay with you for the first night at home so that you will have any help you might need and can be comfortable.

After your surgery, your incision will be wrapped in bandages and gauze to promote healing. According to the ASPS, you may also be given a compression garment to help minimize swelling and support your abdomen through the healing process. The resting period can be as little as a week to ten days for CombiTuck procedures. It is important to follow your recovery instructions so that you will be able to heal correctly and maintain your results.

For those who are uncomfortable with the feel or appearance of their abdomen, a tummy tuck or CombiTuck procedure can offer significant benefits. If you’re considering a tummy tuck procedure, schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon who can assess your lifestyle and needs. By taking the time to make an informed decision, you will be better prepared so that you can get the most out of this life-changing procedure.

A CombiTuck procedure offers permanent tummy-tightening results for the right candidates. But how do you know if you are a good candidate? Find out here. 

Is a CombiTuck Procedure Right for You? | Allure Medical

Is a CombiTuck Procedure Right for You?

Summer is just around the corner. With each warmer day, we are dreaming about time at the beach, long walks outside and picnics. But all that fun in the sun can definitely take a toll on our skin, leading to unsightly wrinkles, age spots and, potentially, skin cancer.


We all know the basics – wear your sunscreen and reapply every couple of hours. However, this is really just the beginning. There are additional steps we all need to take to ensure that our largest organ – our skin – is well taken care of and stays as healthy as possible. As a medical dermatologist, I’m constantly asked about the best way to enjoy time outside without taxing our skin too much. Below are the tips I give my patients, my family and friends and practice myself. Let me know how these work out for you!

Staying hydrated means more than just drinking enough water; try using a cool water mister to rehydrate (bonus tip – water misters are fantastic to carry along on airplanes, hotels or anywhere else where the air is dry – goodbye parched looking skin!)

Are you a former sunbather? Vitamin C is an antioxidant that prevents free radicals in skin cells which contributes to aging; try using a good topical cream with Vitamin C to help combat those signs! We have several options available in our 

It’s not just your waistline that loves fruits and veggies – your skin will benefit as well! These provide antioxidants and vitamins that will replenish your skin and help it glow.

Hats are not just for winter! Choose a sunhat with a 2-3 inch brim all the way around and you will reduce your head and neck exposure by as much as 70%. Baseball hats don’t provide this level of protection. Worried about staying stylish? Thought so. I love this company, 

, that makes sun-proof hats and clothing that are also fashionable.

Sunscreen. You might not be using enough, or the right kind, or at the right times! Remember these tips:

If you are prone to breakouts, find one that is oil-free

Apply a golf-ball size amount to the whole body and apply two layers to the neck and face

Keep some sunscreen in your car – you should make sure to wear sunscreen even when you’re driving

Don’t forget to put sunscreen on the tips of your ears, lips, and in the part of your hair

Metal based sunscreens offer the most protection (look for the ingredients zinc oxide and titanium oxide). They might appear pasty (it’s still better than wrinkles!) and there are some newer sheer formulations available, so check those out also.

Always wear sunglasses, and opt for a pair that blocks 99% of UV rays; they are not only good to protect the skin around your sensitive eye area, they might reduce your risk of cataracts.

Choose a spray tan over a tanning booth. The most common ingredient in sunless tans is 

 (we’ll call it DHA for short!). DHA is a colorless chemical that interacts with the amino acids in dead skin cells to produce a brown color change. Since these dead skin cells are constantly being shed, the color change produced by DHA usually lasts about five to seven days. Spray tans do NOT protect you against the suns harmful rays, contrary to what some may think!

Wear light colored clothing to reflect the sun and help keep you cool. An extra benefit to this is that mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors! Save the perfumes and fragrance for another time and the bugs might leave you alone all together.

Last but not least – if you do get a sunburn (ouch!), try these tips to offer some relief:

Aspirin or Ibuprofen can help calm down the inflammation

Apply refrigerated aloe vera to the affected areas

Dip a wash cloth in skim milk for a cool milk compress

This is what sun can do to your skin! This person was repeatedly exposed to

sunlight from behind a window on just one side of their face – check out

There are steps we all need to take to ensure that our largest organ – our skin – is well taken care of and stays as healthy as possible.

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Blog

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$4,995 Breast Augmentation - No Hidden Fees

$8/unit Xeomin®

$399 Lip Filler Treatment

$8/unit Botox®

$8/unit Botox®

$8/unit Xeomin®

Lip Filler Treatment for $399

Blog

The Future is Now: Slowing Down & Reversing Disease & Aging

Is a CombiTuck Procedure Right for You?

Beyond the Basics: Sun Safety for Summer