As a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Karen Horton has guided countless women through breast augmentation consultations, surgeries, and recoveries. Recently, she decided it was the right time to experience the procedure for herself.

In a candid conversation, Dr. Horton shared why she chose this moment in her life: the ability to take time away from her busy San Francisco practice, her family, and even ski season played a role. By stepping into the role of patient, she can now offer her patients a unique perspective—not only as a surgeon but also as someone who has gone through the journey personally.

Dr. Horton opted for silicone implants placed in the subglandular position, a choice she recommends for many patients seeking natural results without disrupting chest muscles. She explained that this approach helped her return to her daily life, exercise routine, and family more quickly, while achieving a result that feels both natural and proportional.

Perhaps most notably, Dr. Horton remarked that many people—friends, colleagues, even her own mother—didn’t notice the change right away. For her, this highlighted the beauty of a well-performed breast augmentation: enhancing proportion while maintaining a natural look.

Now, with her own story to share, Dr. Horton brings even greater empathy and insight to her patients’ experiences, helping them feel confident as they consider breast augmentation for themselves.

Watch Dr. Horton’s personal story in the video below.

And read her blog series which details the steps of surgery – from consultation and planning, the preoperative visit, surgery day, recovery, getting back to exercise, talking to her daughters about her decision to have surgery, getting mammograms with breast implants and more!