At the heart of our San Francisco office is Dr. Karen Horton, a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who brings compassion, precision, and a lifelong passion for helping others to every patient encounter. What she loves most about leading her team is the shared dedication to patient care, beauty, body image, and self-esteem. Working alongside colleagues who feel just as strongly about these values is, in her words, one of the greatest privileges of her career.

If she weren’t a Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Horton imagines a life in the spotlight—perhaps as a media personality, performer, or artist (or all three!) Her creative energy and love for connecting with people make each of those paths feel completely believable. She also has a few unexpected fun facts: she competed in synchronized swimming in high school, bartended for seven years to help pay for school, and has been married for three decades.

When it comes to her favorite procedure to perform, Dr. Horton lights up talking about abdominoplasty with liposuction. For many mothers, she explains, there are physical changes from pregnancy that healthy living alone can’t fully address. Being able to restore abdominal strength and help active moms feel confident and capable again is both an honor and a joy.

Her favorite medical-grade skincare product is Phloretin CF antioxidant gel by SkinCeuticals, and her preferred non-surgical treatment is BOTOX®—a simple, effective pick-me-up she trusts for natural-looking refreshment.

Dr. Horton is also clear-eyed about procedures she would never recommend. Fat grafting to the buttocks or breasts is one she avoids due to risks that outweigh the potential benefits. (She even has a blog post dedicated to explaining why.)

When patients ask for her best advice, Dr. Horton always says the same thing: do your homework. Choose a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in the procedure you want, speak with their past patients, and plan for more recovery time than you think you’ll need. Thoughtful preparation, she believes, is the foundation for a safe, successful, and empowering experience.

Dr. Horton’s blend of expertise, integrity, creativity, and heart is what makes our practice—and the patient experience—so special.

Learn more about our team.