Dr. Karen M. Horton, MD, MSc, FACS, FRCSC, is an internationally board-certified plastic surgeon based in San Francisco, California. She specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, body contouring, facial rejuvenation, and reconstructive microsurgery. Since establishing her boutique private practice in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights district in 2006, Dr. Horton has provided personalized surgical and nonsurgical care focused on patient education, meticulous planning, safety, and natural-looking, long-lasting results. She is certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Dr. Horton earned her Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours and Master of Science in cancer research from Queen’s University in Canada. She subsequently received her medical degree with First Class Honours from the University of Toronto before completing a five-year integrated residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Manitoba. After residency, she relocated to San Francisco for advanced fellowship training in hand surgery and reconstructive microsurgery at The Buncke Clinic and California Pacific Medical Center. This specialized training strengthened her expertise in microsurgical breast reconstruction, complex revision surgery, tissue restoration, and procedures requiring detailed anatomical planning.
Her professional credentials include Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Horton is affiliated with professional organizations including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Aesthetic Society, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, California Society of Plastic Surgeons, Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. She has contributed to medical research, presented internationally on aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, reviewed scientific articles, and served as an oral examiner for the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Her publicly listed hospital affiliations include California Pacific Medical Center and St. Francis Memorial Hospital–UCSF.
Dr. Horton’s practice encompasses cosmetic and reconstructive procedures for the breasts, body, and face. Her areas of focus include breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, implant removal and revision, breast reconstruction, tummy tuck surgery, mommy makeovers, liposuction, body contouring, labiaplasty, facelift surgery, neck lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, and fat grafting. Her reconstructive microsurgery background is particularly relevant for breast-cancer patients requiring sophisticated tissue-based reconstruction. She also treats patients seeking correction of previous breast procedures, changes following pregnancy or significant weight loss, and age-related changes affecting facial and body contours.
A defining aspect of Dr. Horton’s practice is her philosophy of educating, informing, and empowering patients. Rather than following a standardized aesthetic formula, she develops individualized recommendations based on each patient’s anatomy, medical history, lifestyle, concerns, and desired outcome. During consultation, patients are encouraged to ask questions, examine appropriate treatment alternatives, understand potential risks and recovery requirements, and establish realistic expectations. This consultation-led approach supports thoughtful decision-making for procedures in which proportion, symmetry, scar placement, function, and long-term results must all be carefully considered.
Based in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights medical district, Dr. Horton serves patients from San Francisco, Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, the Marina District, Sea Cliff, Noe Valley, Oakland, Berkeley, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Marin County, and communities throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Her practice includes an on-site, QUAD A-accredited surgical facility and offers surgical planning assistance for patients travelling from other regions.
Services offered include breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, breast implant removal, breast implant revision, breast reconstruction, microsurgical breast reconstruction, fat grafting, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), mommy makeover, liposuction, body contouring, arm lift, thigh lift, body lift, labiaplasty, gynecomastia surgery, facelift, neck lift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, ear surgery, scar revision, Botox® and wrinkle-relaxing injections, dermal fillers, lip enhancement, nonsurgical facial rejuvenation, laser skin resurfacing, IPL treatment, chemical peels, skin tightening, medical-grade skincare, and postoperative scar therapy.
📍 Location: Dr. Karen M. Horton, San Francisco Plastic Surgery, 2100 Webster Street, Suite 520, San Francisco, California 94115, USA—serving Pacific Heights, San Francisco, Marin County, the Peninsula, the East Bay, and the wider San Francisco Bay Area.
