Notice of Data Incident
August 1, 2023

Dear Patients:
We post this Notice pursuant to the United States Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) to inform you about a data incident involving an unauthorized release of patient Protected Health Information (“PHI”), as that is defined by HIPAA, at Gary Motykie, M.D., a Medical Corporation and Gary Motykie, M.D. (“Practice”), a covered entity under HIPAA.

PHI, as defined by HIPAA, is information that is “created, received, maintained, or transmitted by or on behalf of the health care component of the Covered Entity.” § 164.105 (a)(2)(i)(D). Information that is created or received by a Covered Entity and that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual; or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of healthcare to an individual is considered PHI. PHI is required to be protected when transmitted or maintained in any form by a Covered Entity. Individual identifiers (including but not limited to name, address, telephone number, fax, email address, social security number, medical record number, etc.) maintained in a designated record set along with health information (including but not limited to x-rays, images, scans, physician notes, diagnoses, treatment, eligibility approvals, claims, remittances, etc.) are collectively considered PHI.

Event Description:
On or about June 6, 2023, an initial technical analysis of the Practice’s information technology network determined an unauthorized release of PHI occurred to an unknown third party. The initial analysis determined that the unknown third party accessed the Practice’s network. It was further determined that the unknown third party acquired some of the Practice’s patient’s unencrypted PHI and that party was not authorized to do so and did so in an unlawful manner.

The information that may have been accessed or acquired during this unauthorized access included:

  • First and last name 
  • Social Security Number (if provided)
  • Address
  • Driver’s license or identification card number
  • Financial account or payment card number, in combination with any required CVV code
  • Intake forms, which may include medical information and history
  • Images taken in connection with the services rendered at our office
  • Health insurance information (if provided)
Steps Taken to Address:
Upon discovery, the Practice took the following immediate steps to address the situation:
  • Computers and servers replaced
  • Network passwords changed
  • Endpoint detection, virus, and malware detection tools and software installed on workstations and server
  • Limitations concerning Internet access
  • Access controls put in place for users based on role and responsibility
  • Server policies in place
  • Device locking mechanisms
  • Multi factor authentication enabled
  • Network segregation efforts
  • Encryption of devices
  • Additional workforce training
Risk Assessment:

The Practice conducted a risk assessment to evaluate the potential harm to potentially impacted individuals. Based on that assessment, it is determined that there is a high risk of harm. It is essential for potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant in monitoring their personal accounts and data and promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement or their financial institutions.

Assistance and Resources:
Starting on or about June 22, 2023, letters were mailed to patients providing the following resources to assist the potentially impacted individuals, offering at no cost:
  • two (2) years of no cost Triple Bureau Credit Monitoring/Triple Bureau Credit Report/Triple Bureau Credit Score/Cyber Monitoring services.
  • the services also include reviewing whether Information appears on the dark web and alert the individual if such Information is found online.
  • proactive fraud assistance to help with any questions in event a potentially impacted persons becomes a victim of fraud.

Steps to Prevent Future Incidents: We deeply regret any inconvenience or concern this Incident may cause. The Practice is taking numerous steps to help prevent similar Incidents in the future. We will continue to review and enhance our security measures, policies, and employee training.

If you failed to receive your letter in the mail, and/or if there is a concern your mailing address has changed since you were a patient at the Practice, please contact 1-800-405-6108 or call our office immediately at 310-246-2355 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific time, Monday through Friday.

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Body Lift Procedure Steps

Body Lift Procedure StepsPeople with significantly sagging skin in specific areas of the body can benefit from body lift plastic surgery. This condition may occur due to aging or after a pregnancy or a major weight loss.

A few key steps are involved in the body lift surgery, which may slightly vary depending on whether upper body, lower body or both areas are treated in the same procedure.

The surgeon will discuss all aspects of body lift during the pre-op consultation, and will educate the patient about the steps involved in the procedure. It usually helps to reduce pre-surgery anxiety levels when the patient knows how the procedure will be performed.

Dr. Gary Motykie is an experienced cosmetic surgeon providing body lift and other procedures to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities and cities in this part of the state.

 

Steps in Lower Body Lift

Lower body lift surgery is more popular, and it may address areas such as the waist, abdomen, thighs, buttocks and hips. The surgeon will perform skin and tissue tightening in multiple areas in a single procedure. As a first step in the procedure, the patient will be administered anesthesia once they are inside the surgery room.

Thereafter, the surgeon will place discreet incisions in pre-determined locations. To provide a gentle lift to the thighs and tighten the buttocks, an incision will be created in the lower waist area. If the procedure is combined with abdominoplasty, the incision will be circumferential around the waist. The pattern and length of incisions will be decided according to the degree of lift needed and the patient’s personal preferences.

Once the customized lower body lift plastic surgery is completed, the surgeon will close the incisions in multiple layers over the drain tubes to mitigate stretching and swelling. The underlying tissue will have deep sutures to support the new contours. Traditional or dissolvable sutures may be used to close the incisions.

 

Steps in Upper Body Lift

Following anesthesia, the surgeon will create an incision under the arm or along the back of the arm. If a significant lift is required, the incision may run from the elbow to the armpit, and may even extend along a part of the upper chest wall and towards the back. Through the incision, the surgeon will remove loose skin and tissue.

If the patient needs a breast lift, it will require an incision to be placed around the areola border, which extends from the lower half of the areola down to the inframammary fold. Another incision will be placed under the breast crease. Excess skin and tissue will be removed to lift the breasts to a tighter, more youthful level.
Lower and mid back lift will involve incisions on both sides of the middle back, or in case of women, the incisions will be made close to the bra line.

The surgeon will remove excess skin and tissue through the incisions. Incision closure will be the final step, which can be done with tape, skin adhesive or sutures. Outstanding and percipient cosmetic surgeon Dr. Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for body lift surgery.
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Body Lift Procedure Steps

To see more services and treatments provided by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Motykie in Beverly Hills | Los Angeles and his team please visit:

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