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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Surgical and Non Surgical Options for Facelifts

Options for Facelifts

Surgical and Non Surgical Options for FaceliftsRhytidectomy, commonly known as a facelift, is a form of plastic surgery that removes unwanted facial wrinkles and other telltale signs of aging by tightening the facial skin. It aims to improve the appearance of the face and reverse the damaging effects of time and stress. Facelifts will not only restore your youthful appearance, but will also boost your self-confidence.

Renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie offers a variety of surgical and non surgical options in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood or Los Angeles that you can look into if you are interested in getting a facelift. His skill and expertise will give you the youthful appearance that you are looking for.

Types of plastic surgery procedures for a facelift

Surgical:

  • Endoscopic Facelift : An endoscope is a microscopic camera that is used to look inside a body cavity or organ. In order to perform this kind of surgery, the doctor creates three small incisions: one for the endoscope and the other two to insert the surgical instruments that will be used to remove the excess tissue and lift the muscle. Endoscopic facelifts work best for drooping muscles and misplaced fat. They are useful for areas below the eyes and around the cheeks as well as to enhance the jawline. As the incisions are smaller, patients who undergo endoscopic facelifts enjoy a faster recovery time.
  • Cutaneous Facelift: This procedure exclusively addresses sagging and excess skin. The doctor creates a long incision along the patient’s hairline, lifts up the skin and sutures it higher up in place. This does not affect muscular structure and thus reduces the risk of nerve damage. However, the result of this type of surgery doesn’t last long.
  • SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) Facelift: In this type of facelift, the surgeon lifts and tightens the underlying muscle structure in order to improve facial contours and produce a youthful appearance. This treatment results in a far more natural look as compared to other techniques.
  • S lift: Suitable for treating the jaw and lower face, in this type of surgery the doctor creates S-shaped incisions in front of the ears. This technique is cost effective and has a shorter recovery time.
  • Deep Plane Lift: Rather than separating the muscles and lifting them, the doctor will treat the entire facial structure as one single entity. However this procedure puts the facial nerves at risk.
  • Subperiosteal Facelift: This is a specialized process that goes deeper than deep plane lifts and aims for tissues just above the facial bones.

Non surgical:

  1. Liquid Facelift: This procedure involves using injectable fillers to address wrinkles and sagging skin. Deeper lines can be filled in by dermal fillers such as Radiesse and Sculptra. The most popular liquid filler is Botox. This treatment involves injecting small amounts of botulinum toxin into the underlying muscles in order to block the nerve impulses and muscle contractions that cause wrinkles. They have a very short recovery time and hardly any side-effects. However, this technique cannot remove loose skin or alter the underlying muscle layer.
  1. Laser Facelift: This uses infrared light to eliminate wrinkles, acne scars, and other blemishes. The low intensity beams of light also stimulate collagen production and increase moisture. This treatment, however, is quite costly and does not get rid of excess skin.
  1. Ultrasound therapy: While not as dramatic as a full surgical facelift, this technique involves sending sound waves to the treatment area in order to tighten the skin.
  1. Microcurrent Facelift: One of the fastest growing techniques, microcurrent facelifts use gentle electric currents to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production, re-hydrate and tighten the skin and increase blood flow.

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

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