Archives August 2026

If you experience chest pain that is severe and sudden or presents as a form of crushing or squeezing, you should go to the emergency room immediately. If chest pain isn’t isolated and spreads to your back, shoulders, one arm, or jaw, getting to an emergency room as fast as possible can be the difference between a heart attack and the prevention of one. Although we each may have a different pain tolerance, the type of chest pain experienced will be extreme and should alarm you enough to make a quick visit to the emergency room.

Thankfully, there have been great advances in medicine and the treatment of heart conditions. Helpful forms of treatment include advanced heart imaging. With this form of imaging, doctors can get a better glance at your heart and cardiovascular system, determining if blood flow is normal. Tests can also inform doctors if you are suffering from a heart attack.

Types of Chest Pain

Unfortunately, chest pain is a symptom of a variety of medical conditions. Even though a person experiences chest pain, it may be completely unrelated to the heart or cardiovascular system. For instance, a person having a panic attack may feel heavy pain in the chest for a prolonged period of time. However, the pain will ultimately dissipate.

Heartburn and certain esophageal disorders can create chest pain. Those who recently engaged in strenuous physical activity may develop sore or pulled muscles that can mimic chest pain. In addition, lung diseases such as pneumonia can cause chest pain due to a severe cough.

Testing Methods

According to the National Library of Medicine, chest pain is the second-leading cause of emergency department visits among adults in the United States. This accounts for nearly 11 million encounters each year. There are a variety of traditional methods for determining a patient’s condition. Some of these methods consist of:

• Physical exams
• The use of diagnostic tools
• Cardiac biomarkers
• An echocardiogram

There are several types of echocardiograms:

• Stress Echocardiogram: A test performed before and after stress is placed on the heart through exercises or medications that make the heart beat more rapidly.
• Transthoracic Echocardiogram: This test provides views of the heart as well as different locations on the chest or abdominal wall.
• Doppler Echocardiogram: A test to examine the way in which blood flows through the heart, the surrounding blood vessels, and the heart valves.
• Transesophageal Echocardiogram: This test involves a probe inserted down the esophagus and provides higher-resolution images of the patient’s heart due to the probe’s position.

Once your condition is determined, doctors will begin to work on a treatment plan.

When Patients Are Admitted to the ER

Patients may be admitted to the emergency room for several reasons due to chest pain history. Those with the following should be admitted to the emergency room right away:

• Known coronary disease
• Ischemic changes on the electrocardiogram
• Possible pericarditis
• Possible aortic dissection
• Multiple cardiac risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes
• Family history of premature coronary artery disease

Understanding the different types of chest pain can help you better identify severe pain when it occurs.

Find Treatment Today

If you struggle with chest pain or cardiovascular issues, reach out to Apex Cardiology to learn about our treatment options. Personal attention is given to each patient, enhancing the care they receive. Not only can doctors treat certain conditions, but they can also run tests to better understand the health concern.

Our cardiologists proudly serve the Los Angeles area. Reach out to us today to speak with one of our experts who can explain our treatment plans for individuals experiencing cardiovascular symptoms. Schedule a consultation to speak with one of our doctors, who will assess the severity of your condition and offer solutions.

Neck and facial aging often occur in tandem for most people. Facial aging includes sagging skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and loose jowls. The neck also shows signs of aging. This includes horizontal lines, banding, and sagging skin. These signs of aging can be accelerated by excess phone usage, often referred to as “tech neck.” A face lift addresses the lower two-thirds of the face. A neck lift addresses the neck from the chin down. You may wonder, can you combine a neck lift with a facelift? Below you will find helpful information about both procedures and why they are right for you.

Can You Combine a Neck Lift with a Facelift?

Aging rarely affects the face or neck alone. In fact, they often develop at the same time. This is because the skin on the neck and face is often exposed to the sun. Patients often wonder if they can combine cosmetic procedures. Many patients pursue more than one procedure at a time. This is especially beneficial when you combine a face lift and a neck lift. Undergoing two treatments during a single surgery offers convenience, cost savings, and one unified recovery period.

Combining the two procedures offers comprehensive results. The neck and lower face share connected muscle and skin structures. Treating both areas together produces smoother, more natural-looking results. A face lift addresses sagging jowls and improves the jawline. A neck lift addresses loose skin, banding, and fullness beneath the chin. Combining both results blends the results seamlessly. Without both procedures, the results can often appear as a mismatch.

Why Choose to Combine Cosmetic Procedures

Choosing to combine procedures comes with several advantages. These are both practical and aesthetic. If you are interested in combining a face lift and neck lift at the leading plastic surgery center, consider the following benefits.

One Recovery Period

Undergoing two procedures separately means two rounds of downtime, swelling, and restricted activity. Combining a neck lift with a face lift condenses recovery into one single period. This is especially beneficial for those with busy lifestyles. The recovery process after the combined procedures is roughly two weeks. Each patient is uniquely different, so times can vary. Swelling and bruising subside within the first few weeks as well. Getting a neck lift and face lift at the same time cuts your recovery time in half.

Cost Advantages

Scheduling one combined surgery often reduces overall costs. Two separate procedures involve two facility fees, two anesthesia fees, and two surgical fees. When you combine two cosmetic procedures, it reduces the overall cost by a substantial amount. It also reduces the total amount of time you need to take off work for surgery and the recovery process. This is a meaningful consideration for patients balancing surgery with their career and family responsibilities. Your surgeon will provide you with a detailed cost breakdown before surgery.

Balanced Results

Blending both procedures into one surgical plan helps the neck and lower face heal along a similar timeline. This creates a more unified, natural transition between the lower face and neck. Patients report a boost in their self-confidence due to their results. Undergoing the surgeries separately often leaves the face and neck looking dramatically different. This defeats the purpose of the results, which is taking years off your look.

What to Expect During Your Consultation

The first step in moving forward with getting combined cosmetic surgery is scheduling a consultation with a skilled plastic surgeon. They can assess your neck and facial anatomy to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure. The surgeon will review your medical history and assess your current health. Any medical conditions must be well-managed before surgery. You must also be a non-smoker. If you do smoke, let your surgeon know right away. You will need to stop smoking before and after surgery.

Once it has been determined that you are a good candidate for the procedure, you can move forward with scheduling your consultation. The surgeon will provide you with pre-operative instructions. It is important to read these as soon as you get them. You should also follow those instructions exactly, so you are prepared on the day of your surgery. You may need to stop taking certain medications or supplements. If you have any questions before surgery, consult with your surgeon right away.

Leading Plastic Surgery Center

Combining procedures provides comprehensive results that leave you looking refreshed and rejuvenated. If you are interested in cosmetic surgery, contact Dr. Brent and his team today to schedule your consultation!