Dr. Horton
Emily Sespaniak, MSN, FNP-C
Danielle Bautista, MSN, ANP
- Why Doesn’t Dr. Horton List Plastic Surgery Prices Online?
- Why Do Online Cost Estimates Look Lower?
- What Is Included in Your Surgical Quote From Dr. Horton?
- What Shapes Your Price at Our Practice?
- Is a Lower Price Worth the Risk?
- Does Insurance Cover Plastic Surgery, and Can You Finance It?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Plastic Surgery Cost
How much does Plastic Surgery cost in San Francisco?
At Dr. Karen Horton’s practice, your price is personalized to your procedure and shared after your consultation.
This page explains what goes into your surgery quote, from surgery fees and anesthesia, our fully Quad A-accredited operating facility to your recovery, surgical garments, dressing supplies and all follow-up visits. Our goal is the same one behind everything we do: to educate, inform, and empower you.
Why Doesn’t Dr. Horton List Plastic Surgery Prices Online?
No two patients share the same anatomy, goals, or health history. Two women asking about a tummy tuck may need very different surgeries. One may be a candidate for muscle (diastasis recti) repair and liposuction all the way around the body, while the other may not.
A single number on a website cannot capture those differences. Dr. Horton and her team would rather give you an accurate quote after a full examination than a misleading rough estimate.
The consultation with Dr. Horton lasts a full hour. Dr. Horton gets to know her patients intimately at their initial visit, where she reviews patients’ medical history, personal life, interests, activities, hobbies and specific goals for their face, breasts or body. She performs a physical examination and then recommends to her patients what she would do specifically if they were her own family member or close friend. Following the consultation, patients meet with our Patient Coordinator Mary to review itemized fees for your personalized plan. You can meet Dr. Horton in person at our office or through a virtual consultation.
Why Do Online Cost Estimates Look Lower?
Many online cost estimates start with national average surgeon fees. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) publishes these averages every year. ASPS notes that these fees do not include anesthesia, operating room facilities, or other related expenses.
A national average leaves out major parts of your total. It also blends small towns with major cities, so it will rarely match an all-inclusive San Francisco quote from an award-winning, experienced Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.
What Is Included in Your Surgical Quote From Dr. Horton?
Your quote is built to reflect the full cost of your surgery, not one piece of it. It includes:
- Dr. Horton’s surgeon fee for your personalized procedure
- Anesthesia care from our Board-Certified, hospital-based Anesthesiology team, led by Medical Director of Anesthesia Caroline Dejean, MD
- Use of our on-site, Quad A-accredited operating room and recovery room
- Our dedicated operating room and recovery Nursing team
- Surgical supplies, dressings, and post-surgical garments
- Implants, when your procedure requires them
- Post-operative visits with Dr. Horton during your recovery and in the long term
What Shapes Your Price at Our Practice?
Elective Plastic Surgery is priced more like other personal services than traditional health care. Location, your surgeon, details of the surgery itself and the setting of your surgery all play a role.
Why Does Plastic Surgery Cost More in San Francisco?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis compares price levels across 387 metro areas. In 2024, the San Francisco metro area ranked highest in the nation, with prices about 16% above the national average. Office space, skilled surgical staff, and medical supplies all cost more here.
Who Performs Your Surgery?
Dr. Karen Horton personally performs every surgical procedure at our practice. She is an Internationally Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and ASPS/Aesthetic Society Member Surgeon.
Dr. Horton has been in practice for over 20 years, and her prices have increased gradually over time. Her training and credentials include:
- Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), and ABPS Oral Examiner
- Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC)
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS)
- Over 100 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and presentations
- SFGATE Best of the Bay, Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon in the Bay Area, 2025 and 2026
- Newsweek America’s Best Plastic Surgeons, 2024, 2025, and 2026
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors, 2025 and 2026, and Exceptional Women in Medicine, 2023 through 2025
- Marin Magazine Top Doctors, 2026
- A 5-star rating from 358 patient reviews
Why Does an Accredited Operating Room Matter?
Dr. Horton performs surgery in her own on-site operating room within our San Francisco office. It is accredited by Quad A, the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. Quad A requires 100% compliance with its standards and does not grant partial accreditation.
That standard covers equipment, sterilization, staff training, and emergency preparedness. It also means your surgery takes place in a private setting with an experienced team Dr. Horton knows and trusts.
What Does Unreasonable Hospitality Mean for Your Care?
“Unreasonable Hospitality” is how we describe your surgical care at every step. It starts with your first call and continues through your final follow-up visit. It includes:
- A dedicated Patient Coordinator who schedules your surgery and answers all your questions
- A preoperative Nurse Educator who prepares you for surgery day and recovery via a comprehensive preoperative appointment
- Dr. Horton by your side before, during, and after your procedure – and her personal cell phone, which ensures 24/7 access to your surgeon
- Your own preoperative and postoperative photos shared securely through the Symplast patient App upon request
- Scar therapy with our Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners, beginning six to eight weeks after surgery
- A comfortable, private recovery room within our surgery center
- Long-term follow up over years to come with Dr. Horton without additional fees
Is a Lower Price Worth the Risk?
The lowest quote is not always the best value. ASPS Member Surgeons caution that an unusually low price should raise questions. They also note that a high price alone does not guarantee quality.
Focus first on your surgeon’s qualifications, facility accreditation, and real patient results. Every ASPS and Aesthetic Society Member is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and must operate in accredited facilities. You can review Dr. Horton’s before and after gallery and patient reviews as you decide.
Does Insurance Cover Plastic Surgery, and Can You Finance It?
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is elective, so health insurance rarely covers it. This includes body contouring after weight loss, which is generally considered cosmetic. Our office is no longer a Participating Provider for insurance. We can provide a financial quote for what anticipated surgical fees will be after your consultation.
Many of our patients spread the cost of surgery over time with Cherry, PatientFi, or CareCredit. You apply directly through the lender, and once approved, you pay in monthly installments. Our team will walk you through your financing options after your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plastic Surgery Cost
A one hour consultation with Dr. Horton is $300. During your visit, she will review your health history, examine you, and talk through your goals. She will then determine if you are an appropriate candidate for surgery, recommend a personalized surgical plan, and you will receive your detailed quote afterward.
Our Patient Coordinator will schedule your surgery when you are ready. Your preparation also affects timing. GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide must be stopped a full month before any surgery under general anesthesia. Learn more about staying safe on weight loss medications. You will also need to stop smoking and nicotine use in any form at least six weeks before surgery to avoid wound heaing complications. .
Yes. Each procedure has its own surgical time, anesthesia needs, and supplies. A breast augmentation, an eyelid lift, and a tummy tuck will each carry a different quote. Dr. Horton will explain your price for the specific procedure you choose.
Pricing for men follows the same factors as pricing for women: the procedure, its complexity, anesthesia, and facility time. Dr. Horton offers Male Plastic Surgery, including facelifts/neck lifts, liposuction, body contouring and gynecomastia correction, and will provide a personalized quote after your consultation.
BOTOX® pricing depends on the number of units needed to treat your areas of concern. One of our Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners will recommend a personalized neuromodulator plan during your appointment. Our patient coordinators are happy to answer any pricing questions ahead of your visit.
Prices abroad often reflect lower local costs. Standards for facilities and surgeon training may also differ from those in the U.S. They may not include travel, lodging, or follow-up care once you return home. After you fly home, you may need care from a surgeon who did not perform your procedure.
Schedule a Consultation With Dr. Karen Horton
Ready to learn what your Plastic Surgery will cost? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Karen Horton at our office in San Francisco. Patients visit us from across the Bay Area, and virtual consultations are available. You will receive a personalized plan and a clear, detailed quote.
