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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Cosmetic Rhinoplasty Procedures: Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Cosmetic Rhinoplasty Procedures: Ethnic RhinoplastyCertain aesthetic features are specific to a particular ethnicity. Every member of a specific race does not share these characteristics. However, at times, people who share these ethnic features choose to undergo plastic surgery to modify these characteristics.

Rhinoplasty is a popular treatment among patients whose race-related characteristics include a broad nose. People with Asian and African heritage usually consider nose reshaping surgery to reduce the wide appearance of their nostrils.

 

The Big Picture

It is vital that the surgeon follows a customized surgical approach to address the unique anatomical and aesthetic needs of ethnic noses. They should not modify the nasal appearance to a point where it entirely changes an individual’s appearance.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie provides rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities.

 

Enhancing the Appearance of the Nose in Ethnic Patients

In ethnic rhinoplasty, the nose surgeon surgically modifies the nose to create a shape that is more harmonious and proportionate to the other facial features of the patient without altering their appearance in a drastic manner.

Rhinoplasty on Asian, African American, and Hispanic patients should take into account the different internal and external characteristics of the ethnic nose.

An experienced and skilled ethnic nose surgeon will determine whether the nose requires major changes to the internal structures to improve its external appearance and attain an aesthetically desirable appearance.

The ethnic nose requires special attention due to its distinct characteristics. For instance, African American, Asian, and Hispanic patients usually have rounder, fuller, and less protruding nasal tips.

These patients may be seeking to lengthen and refine the nose tip to enable it to appear narrower and taller. In addition, ethnic rhinoplasty can also modify excessively wide or flared nostrils.

 

Ethnic Rhinoplasty Techniques

Ethnic rhinoplasty involves the plastic surgeon using specialized techniques such as modifying the cartilage and bone shape inside the nose, making the nostrils narrower or sourcing cartilage from other regions of the body for grafting to develop a longer nasal tip.

Some surgeons choose to use synthetic implants due to their ease of placement. But in some cases, they can only use the patient’s own cartilage for safe and predictable outcomes. This also reduces the risk of complications, and migration or extrusion typically associated with synthetic implants.

Patients from Middle Eastern ethnicity often choose nose reshaping surgery to reduce the nasal hump, refine the nose tip, and attain a nose shape that is more proportional to other facial characteristics.

Candidates of African American descent seek nose surgery to refine a wide nose bridge, narrow wide nostrils, and develop a weak nose tip by using a cartilage graft sourced from another area of the body.

Hispanic patients may consider rhinoplasty to reduce the size of a very prominent nose bridge. On the other hand, they may require a stronger facial profile which can be achieved by augmenting a very flat nose. The cosmetic surgeon will refine a full or thick nasal tip to restore the focus on the other facial features of the patient.

 

Conservative Approach

It is important for the surgeon to develop a conservative surgical plan for ethnic rhinoplasty patients. This procedure should preserve the features that give an individual their uniqueness and distinctiveness and not comprise ethnic legacy. Ethnic rhinoplasty should only subtly enhance the natural beauty of the patient.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.


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Cosmetic Rhinoplasty Procedures: Ethnic Rhinoplasty

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