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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Liposuction Surgery vs Laser Liposuction

Liposuction Surgery vs Laser LiposuctionTraditional liposuction plastic surgery can help to enhance contours by reducing excess fat in targeted areas of the body. This treatment is sought-after by patients who want to improve their body shape and achieve a slimmer, sculpted appearance.

However, some patients may be wary of choosing an invasive procedure such as liposuction. For such patients, the plastic surgeon may provide a less invasive liposuction alternative technique such as Smart Lipo or laser liposuction.

Smart Lipo makes use of safe and proven laser technology to produce heat energy that liquefies stubborn fat deposits and helps eliminate them from the affected areas in a powerful yet gentle manner. Board certified plastic surgeon  Dr. Gary Motykie provides liposuction to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities.

 

Key Differences

There are some key differences between traditional liposuction and Smart Lipo. These differences are as follows:

  • Traditional liposuction cosmetic surgery is typically undertaken using general anesthesia. This type of anesthetic procedure is more complex and involves a recovery period as well as necessitates the services of an anesthesiologist. On the other hand, laser liposuction is usually performed using a local anesthetic.
    • In this procedure, the patient is usually awake during the liposuction. (However, the patients should note that a less invasive tumescent liposuction technique can be a salient substitute for traditional surgery for suitable candidates. Tumescent liposuction can be performed using local anesthesia.)
  • Traditional liposuction commonly involves the placement of relatively larger incisions. Consequently, the patient will also experience more scarring in the future. An experienced surgeon will try to ensure that this scarring remains as discreet as possible by placing incisions in inconspicuous locations. In laser liposuction, the surgeon will place comparatively smaller incisions leading to tinier scars afterwards.
  • Traditional liposuction is not meant to tighten loose skin. This procedure is only designed to reduce fat. This causes some patients to experience loose and sagging skin in the sites of the fat removal warranting another procedure to tighten the skin. In ultrasound or laser-assisted liposuction, the heat that is released during the process assists in making the skin firmer and tauter to a certain extent.
  • Traditional liposuction cosmetic surgery may lead to the formation of ripples or ridges beneath the skin in some cases. This occurs as large cannulas are utilized to remove the stubborn fatty pockets from the deeper skin layers.
    • However, in laser liposuction, smaller cannulas are used during the procedure. In addition, the heat energy causes the fat to melt and liquefy. This allows the surgeon to suction out the excess fat smoothly without causing damage to the surrounding skin and tissue.
  • The recovery period following traditional liposuction lasts for between seven to ten days in a majority of cases. With laser liposuction, the patient experiences a relatively shorter recovery phase, and many patients can resume their routine within four to five days following the procedure.
    • On top of this, bruising and inflammation is not as severe with laser liposuction but could be significant after traditional liposuction.

 

Devoted cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby areas across the horizon for liposuction.
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Liposuction Surgery vs Laser Liposuction

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