This review is 2 years overdue but I feel like I'm finally in the right place to write it. I had…read moretop surgery with Dr Kim in June of 2022, with a revision in June of 2023. I can't speak highly enough of my experience: both my results and the treatment I received by Dr. Kim and every single one of her staff left me comfortable, affirmed, and highly satisfied. As a trans-nonbinary person with a long history of unsatisfactory and borderline-traumatic experiences with medical staff I went into this process expecting more of the same. My past experiences had resulted in my being supremely meek in medical settings, and I had become accustomed to panic attacks as a result of being in drs offices. But this was none of that. Dr. Kim was matter-of-fact and highly efficient in her manner but also kind and extremely trans friendly, right down to the pin on her doctor's coat bearing the trans flag colors. Her nurses and front desk staff were likewise fantastic: they were warm, funny, highly communicative and comforting. I am so grateful to everyone I interfaced with both in her office and on both my surgery days. My results have left me staggering in the best possible way. I knew top surgery was the right choice for me but I wasn't prepared for just how much it would improve my quality of life and overall outlook. I've struggled with my mental health since I was a teenager, and still do, but my surgery has allowed me to go out in public with confidence, and enjoy myself, and feel far less hopeless, and work toward building an outside of me that matches the inside. It has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it. Thank you - Dr. Kim and her staff and UCSF. I am so so so grateful and will never be able to truly describe the gravity of what you've done for me.

I had an enlargement of the dorsocervical fat pad starting in January of 2017, it increased at a…read morerapid rate and my doctors at the time were concerned that it may be cancer, a tumor, or a cyst. I had an MRI and it turned out to be "fiberous fatty tissue". So I started the process of physical therapy as I wasn't even able to move my neck without pain and was limited to 10/15 ROM on each side with my right side being worse. I do have cervical Dystonia and spinal stenosis, and after multiple rounds of PT with no improvement, I did dry needling, as well as massage, nothing worked. I even lost weight and it actaually increased in size. I had labs done and everything came back fine (hormones, negative test for Cushing's and cortisol was all normal, and I had never taken any steroids), my posture was perfect to the point of being painful and exhausting to be so erect all day - but still the hump on my neck and pain increased and my ROM decreased. I eventually decided because of stenosis in my C-spine to undergo a diagnostic and then theraputic cervical ESI (epidural) and nerve block all within a months time. It relieved a bit of pain but not much. The hump didn't change. I remained in pain and in PT as months went by. I started to seek out my last resort - surgical removal. I was just starting that process when I relocated to San Francisco. I started more PT and treatments for my cervical Dystonia with no change in related pain. I was frustrated and constantly in pain with even more treatments (scrapping, manual PT and exercises, braces, you name it) and I had enough. I knew this was medically necessary to have this removed after speaking to my PCP I was referred to Dr. Hoffman. Dr. Hoffman is a really sweet man who cares about his patients greatly. He is very busy and it took me quite some time to get into see him (about 3 months) and for a surgical date (about 4 months after my consult)! By the time I was ready for surgery I could hardly move my neck, couldn't put my head down, or head back at all. It was so disabling for someone as young as I was. I had liposuction done and it really was a dramatic difference. I have a horrible sensitivity to adhesive so even if it were something offered to most patients - I'd have more complications and scarring if they used it so they didn't but I did have a foam square placed on top of the site. My surgery went great but at the PACU my pain was so bad that I ended up being admitted for two nights, and three days. 10 days out and I was still in pain. I had a lot of sharp hot poker feeling in between my shoulder blades and most of my neck is sore or totally numb. I wasn't really expecting this but at 10 days post op I could finally move my neck 95% freely than before with NO pain and full ROM. That in itself is just a blessing. I initially would have deducted 1 star for the complications and post op care (my discharge paperwork was a mess and I was very confused) and also for his office staff which was a mix of very helpful and not at all helpful and a bit abrasive at times. Medical billing and coding was an issue for my initial visit and I've already seen the claim come in for two of the bills which prior to insurance adjustments totaled over $62,000 (without the hospital stay). So I really hoped I wouldn't have to hassle with my insurance or the hospital billing dept due to lazy paperwork which has been pointed out on other review sites to be a real issue with his staff. In the end I did have it corrected. My suture removal was simple - mostly because they were dissolving LOL. Scars looked minimal and swelling was down. Still a bit of pain remained. Dr. Hoffman is a kind man, he does great work; my scars are so minor and I have NO bruising whatsoever. So swelling and pain is to be expected and for me lasted about 2 months, right about the 9th week I was able to move a lot more and started being more active. I had another surgery just 2.5 months after this one and since then I have seen even more of a difference in my health and ROM and decrease in fatty tissue that was naturally around my neck and back. Also my xrays at the UCSF spine clinic show HUGE improvement. So much so that my neurosurgeon wants to use me as a case study subject for patients with spinal stenosis who may also have enlarged fat pads that are not related to posture or genetics and used plastic surgery for a remedy. It's amazing to know my health improving will help others as well. Dr. Hoffman is great and my follow up went perfect. I'm not sure if he would want me to come in at a 6mo mark but I'd be happy to if so. I walk with confidence and am so happy I had this done. Totally worth all the hoops I had to jump through for insurance to cover it in full. I am feeling great and neck is 100% better. I would HIGHLY recommend Dr Hoffman. He's great. He helped give me my life back!

My experience with Dr. Chang was fantastic from start to finish!…read more I had to wait 5 months for a consultation, but I'm so glad that I did. Dr. Chang listened carefully to my concerns and gave me her honest assessment of what she could and could not fix. I really appreciate this- she is very realistic and doesn't over promise on what she can do. It has been two months after my surgery and I'm already absolutely delighted with my results. It's such a relief to look in the mirror and not look like I'm exhausted every day. I have no doubt my face will look even better in the near future. Dr. Chang's staff members- Lisa, Niloo, Jerri, and Kellie- are all warm, inviting, and knowledgeable. It's always a pleasure to interact with them. I chose Dr. Chang not only because she's one of the best surgeons in San Francisco, but also because she's a woman in a field dominated by men. I'm so happy that I could support this team of kind, intelligent, and hard-working women. Thank you for giving me my confidence back!

Dr. Chang did a breast reduction and tummy tuck for me about 3 years ago. Her work is stunning. My…read morescars have totally disappeared. People don't even realize I had work done. I feel so happy to not have to wear a bra if I don't want to and feel confident in what ever I wear (or don't!) Her office staff was super sweet and responsive especially during the healing process. 100% recommend

After 6 years of failing to manage my TMJ, I finally decided to get a consultation from Dr Lynn…read moreChiu-Collins. At the time of my visit, my masseter muscles had bulked up considerably from many years of nightly grinding and clenching -- not only was I in constant discomfort from muscle strain, my jawline had become squarish due to the pulling from my chewing muscles. I had tried night guards, seen multiple orthodontists and dentists, and received myofascial release treatment. Nothing I had tried gave me pain relief for more than a day (my main problem), and my face continued to be square (a secondary but upsetting second problem). I ended up looking into Botox to treat TMJ, and saw that many people reported relief, and additionally that their jaw slimmed down. So I found Dr Lynn Chiu-Collins, and this is where things finally began to look up! As stated in all the other reviews, Dr Lynn Chiu-Collins is incredibly knowledgeable regarding facial anatomy. I had known about Botox as a treatment for TMJ for several years, but had reservations about pursuing it. After my first appointment, my initial anxiety totally dissolved because Dr Lynn Chiu-Collins provided me the space to understand my options and decisions at my own pace. I was comfortable asking Dr Lynn Chiu-Collins all the questions I had about how the treatment may affect my bite, the balance of my face, whether I could start at a conservative dosage, etc. The treatment itself is quick and painless, and as I had hoped, my TMJ pain subsided within the week and my jawline started to look the way it had before I ever started clenching my teeth! Because she has such an intimate understanding of the anatomy of your face, she can tell you how your face will change, as well as what you can do to get the aesthetic outcome you want (symmetry, in my case). I've been receiving treatment for over a year now, and am so, so happy (and grateful!) for her expertise.

I wanted to wait several months before making this review. It's been 10 months since I received my…read moreOTOPLASTY surgery from Dr.Chiu Collins. Simply put, a huge part of my life and my confidence has completely changed since my surgery. I can't put into words how happy I am with the outcome of my surgery. My life long insecurity instantly disappeared once my surgery finished healing. The healing process went completely as planned, I have had 0 healing complications from the day of my surgery, til this current day. It looks so natural to the point that absolutely nobody in my life even noticed I got this surgery, which is crazy to me because she got the perfect amount of subtle, but also enough for me to be more than happy with it. Dr.Chiu Collins will sit with you and answer every question you have with her immense knowledge and experience that she has in this field. I underwent this surgery (first one ever) with local anesthesia, I was very nervous. Even tho the surgery was painless, I still get really nervous in these types of situations but Dr. Chiu Collins and her assistant Madison helped me feel comfortable during my surgery by speaking to me and distracting me through out the process, it really really helped me get through it. Thank you so much Dr.Chiu Collins for bringing my confidence back and Ms. Madison for being very sweet, helpful & patient with me throughout my entire experience. I look forward to seeing you both again in my 1 year post op visit. Thank you both a million times, I mean that with every ounce of my heart.

If you are looking for a San Francisco based cosmetic surgeon who has years of experience, produces…read moregreat results, actually listens to your concerns, has an excellent bedside manner, a conveniently located office, easy scheduling, nice staff and reasonable prices, then Dr. Gabriel Kind is a good fit for you! I have been a patient of Dr. Kind for about three years. Dr. Kind helped me with swelling in my nose and chin after a rhinoplasty and chin augmentation that I had done with another doctor. He gave me steroid injections to reduce the swelling so my nose and chin look and feel less puffy and look more like what the original surgery was supposed to accomplish. I am extremely satisfied with the results. Anyone who is suffering from post-operative swelling should definitely have a consultation with him, and of course, he does much much more! Dr. Kind has decades of experience and it really shows. He has an eye for aesthetics and symmetry. In my opinion, you can trust Dr. Kind will actually listen to your concerns, give you honest advice and steer you towards a cautious yet effective course of treatment. In my experience, you end up feeling like you can rest assured that he will do his best to give you a good result and he really does care. He will have you looking and feeling your best. My advice is go ahead and book that consultation so you can see for yourself, you won't be disappointed!

I recently did a breast reduction/lift and tummy tuck with Dr. Kind and him and his entire staff…read morewere AMAZING throughout the whole process. He came strongly recommended from my friend's surgeon who had just retired. Dr. Kind listened intently, asked a lot of questions, and provided great suggestions (some of which I hadn't even thought about) without being pushy (but I did go with his expert opinion and I'm very happy I did!). He was so approachable and confident/knowledgeable with decades of experience...exactly what I was looking for in a surgeon. Side note: I enjoyed his sense of humor too During the day of the surgery, I was so anxious about not waking up from anesthesia (I do suffer from generalized anxiety at times) and he and all the nurses were so patient and comforting and I felt I was in the best hands! Dr. Kind was also very responsive to my and my partner's questions and needs in the days and weeks after the surgery (the tummy tuck was more painful than I expected...but totally worth it!!!). I also can't say enough good things about Candice, his nurse. Every time I interacted with her, Candice was so upbeat, helpful, patient and caring...I looked forward to every follow up visit with her. I asked her the same hundred questions several times and she never even got slightly annoyed ! She was her bright, upbeat, and helpful self every single time! And I couldn't be happier with the results. Since I was a teenager, I have never felt good with my body and after motherhood it was even worse. After this surgery, not only do I feel like I fit in my own skin for the first time ever, but I absolutely love my improved body. My boobs look amazing (even better than in my teenage years), stretch marks are almost completely gone (I had the worst stretch marks you can think of), baby pouch evaporated, and my tummy has never been this flat. Thank you Dr. Kind and the entire team for giving me this new love for my body that I will cherish forever! If you are reading this and are having doubts about the surgery or which surgeon to go with, I would strongly recommend you get Dr. Kind! You won't regret it!!

Dr. Horton and her team are truly exceptional. From the very first visit, they have gone above and…read morebeyond to make me feel heard, valued, and genuinely cared for. Dr. Horton takes the time to get to know me as a person, not just a patient, and she always makes sure my goals and priorities are at the center of every decision. Her expertise, compassion, and attention to detail are unmatched, and her entire team reflects the same level of professionalism, kindness, and dedication. Every interaction leaves me feeling supported and confident that I'm receiving the very best care. Without hesitation, this is my favorite recommendation to give to family and friends--I simply can't say enough wonderful things about Dr. Horton and her incredible team.

I am writing this review in the hope that others will truly think twice before choosing Karen…read moreHorton as their surgeon. I underwent a breast lift with implants. From the beginning after surgery, I noticed serious issues. One breast sits higher and is larger than the other, and I was told it would settle, but it never did. My nipples are now significantly larger due to over-stretching and are positioned so high that I cannot comfortably wear many normal tops or swimsuits. I also have permanent nerve damage. I have 0 sensation, and my scarring is uneven and extensive. When I brought my concerns to her, I was told by Karen I would need a revision, which was incredibly upsetting in itself. However, what was even more disheartening was the lack of care or follow-up afterward. The only communication I received from the office consisted of impersonal emails asking me to vote for Dr. Horton for "Best Of" awards or to leave a positive review, rather than any genuine concern for what I was going through. Before writing this, I sought out three separate consultations with other board-certified surgeons. All three confirmed the same thing: the work was poorly done, my breasts were completely botched, and I would require a full revision. I have since had my revision surgery with an amazing surgeon who did the absolute best he could to correct everything Karen had done to me. Unfortunately, much of the damage from my surgery with Karen is irreversible, and I'll forever have to live with a lot of the damage she did to me. Not to mention, Karen did not want to release my surgical records to my new surgeon so he could perform my revision. He had to personally contact her so we could finally get the paperwork. Once the paperwork was provided, we were surprised to see that Karen had self documented a diagnosis of body dysmorphia in my records, despite never having been diagnosed with that condition by a mental health professional. I actually love my body but wanted to make improvements to my breasts after having a child. Do not be swayed by awards, presentation, or the impression given during consultations and pre-operative appointments. I spent over $38k on this surgery with Karen to be absolutely botched. I don't believe she should be practicing at all after what she has done to my body and everything I have heard from many, many other surgeons after they saw my breasts and after my revision surgery as well. I would never want anyone else to go through what I have experienced. If anyone is considering this surgeon and has questions or wants to understand more about what went wrong, I am more than willing to share more of my experience. Hannahsorn@gmail.com

I needed a bilateral mastectomy and wanted reconstruction with implants (I'm not a good candidate…read morefor autologous tissue reconstruction). The idea of being numb there the rest of my life sounded awful, so I was thrilled to hear Dr. Peled was performing nerve-sparing/nerve graft reconstruction with implants. I flew all the way down from Seattle to have surgery here, which is saying something given how many great surgeons there are in Seattle! From the moment I met her I knew she was the right surgeon for me. She's warm, compassionate, confident without arrogance, and incredibly smart and observant. You can tell she's special even among elite Harvard-educated surgeons. I was terrified the day of and everyone at the surgery center was incredibly kind and helpful. You can tell they REALLY care about pain and comfort. They had a multi-faceted approach to pain relief that I hadn't heard of from any other surgeon. When I woke up I was in no pain and had no nausea. I want to preface this by saying everyone is different, but my personal recovery was nothing short of amazing. I never needed narcotics, I took only ibuprofen and acetaminophen, which I only took it for 3 days, then ibuprofen as needed. I went out for lunch and took a long walk outside only 2 days after surgery. I was able to go out every day after and walk around, go shopping, and explore the city a bit. By day 5 I was able to spend half a day doing some sightseeing and a lot of walking. While I'm still not fully recovered and need to let them settle in, so far my reconstruction looks better than my old ones. It looks like an augmentation with a bigger scar. I never thought post-mastectomy I would be excited to show off in a bikini, but I am! I have a few numb spots while my nerve graft grows in and they feel so weird and uncomfortable that I'm VERY happy I opted for the sensation preserving version of this. If you need to have a mastectomy I can't recommend Dr. Peled enough!

I deeply regret choosing Dr. Anne Peled as my surgeon…read more I underwent a breast reduction followed by a revision that was supposed to correct issues with high areola placement. I attempted to discuss the placement with her before the surgery but felt condescended to and dismissed. They were also extremely large when I asked for them to be small. I have seen videos of other surgeons explaining the process to their patients ahead of the surgery. She scribbled quickly on my breasts and said I didn't really have a choice. I was hopeful the revision would help, but she delayed that to the point that it caused me significant inconvenience and distress. She made disparaging comments about my body. After the revision, I was left with painful complications, excessive scarring, and non-absorbable sutures that I was not aware would be used and were placed without my consent. I now feel disfigured.  Within weeks of surgery, my body began reacting badly to the sutures. The wounds separated, sutures protruded through the skin, there were infections, and I was later instructed by the office to trim protruding sutures myself at home. Some of the sutures that could not be removed became painful hard lumps under the skin that are still visible through clothing years later. The areolas were placed so high that they now show above bras and swimwear in situations where they never did before. I also lost normal sensation and experience ongoing pain instead. What has been most upsetting is the complete lack of meaningful follow-up care. I repeatedly documented complications and returned to San Francisco specifically seeking evaluation for painful retained sutures and worsening symptoms, but my requests for appointments and guidance were ignored and dismissed. Eventually I received a brief email stating that using non-absorbable sutures was "standard," without addressing the pain, wound complications, or ongoing issues I had been trying to get help for. Again, I would have never agreed to having foreign objects in my body. I am so devastated by this and the suffering it has caused - ultimately they didn't even achieve the goal she claimed they were supposed to achieve.  I have since consulted multiple plastic surgeons regarding corrective surgery. Several declined to take on the case due to complexity, and one surgeon told me these issues were avoidable. I truly hoped Dr. Peled would take accountability for what happened, answer questions about the sutures placed during surgery, and help cover the corrective revision I now need because of these procedures. Instead, she has refused further involvement and will not answer questions regarding the sutures or help with the cost of correction. My onpatient portal was deleted. I was told it was an accident after I inquired about it.  Reading other reviews describing dismissive communication, poor follow-up, and lack of responsiveness was validating because my experience was very similar. The public image presented online was completely different from the reality I experienced as a patient dealing with serious postoperative complications. I have to file a complaint with the medical board so that this experience is formally documented. Please take the negative reviews seriously. I feel they are an accurate representation of the lack of care and concern you will receive with Dr. Anne Peled.

Just had my appt with Dr. Maas. His work never fails to amaze me! I always look " mysteriously"…read morefresher, natural and I'm always grateful for his ability to keep me connected to " the fountain of youth" as I hopefully keep developing the wisdom of age. What a luxury... better than makeup ! Thank you Dr. Maas and your wonderful staff.

It has been a couple of years since my initial visit, and I still regret walking through that door…read moreevery single day. I've spent thousands of dollars trying to correct the damage caused by the Kybella treatments Dr. Maas recommended for my cheeks--damage that he later attempted to patch with lopsided, uneven filler. The deep indentations at the injection sites, combined with the deflated skin, have left me looking partially melted. I am in my early 40s and once looked young for my age, but now the results have aged me by at least five years. Dr. Maas assured me my skin would "snap back," but it never did, and I feel foolish for believing that sales pitch. What makes this even harder to accept is that my original reason for visiting was to discuss a blepharoplasty--not fat reduction. Instead, he zeroed in on my perioral mounds and convinced me that Kybella would be a simple fix. It wasn't. The results were uneven and disfiguring. Even other providers I've since consulted with react with concern when I mention "Kybella in my cheeks," often saying they cannot understand why anyone would inject it there. After multiple consultations, I've come to accept that a facelift may be the only way to correct this damage. I strongly urge anyone considering treatment here to seek a second opinion before committing. Otherwise, you may end up, as I have, living with a botched result that serves as a daily reminder of misplaced trust.

After having two kids, I finally made the decision to treat myself to a mommy makeover with Dr. Xu!…read more I was so happy to come across Dr. Xu on Instagram because she was everything I had been looking for in a surgeon. I specifically wanted a female surgeon who focused on natural-looking results that were proportionate to my body, while also having impressive credentials--and being Harvard-trained was definitely a huge plus! Not only has Dr. Xu been amazing, but her team, Christina and Lorena, have also made me feel so comfortable, welcomed, and cared for throughout all of my appointments. For my mommy makeover, I had an over-the-muscle breast augmentation and front bra roll lipo. I'm only 3 weeks post-op and I've already been loving my results! My recovery has been going great so far, and I'm so excited to see how everything continues to heal and settle. :)

I am 6 months post brachioplasty on both of my arms with Ethos Plastic Surgery. I am really…read morethankful for having encountered Dr. Xu. She was genuinely compassionate while also being honest about what she thought would be most effective for addressing my concerns. The value of being able to stand, undressed, with a new person, and to talk with them about your body is such an intimate act - and Dr. Xu handled this with me with expertise and grace. She validated my progress and was encouraging about future potential. Dr. Xu was professional and caring in every encounter. The office staff is welcoming and encouraging and humorous. The space is lovely and feels comfortable. The most wonderful thing is ... the outcome of the surgery, the contouring specifically is truly beautiful. I feel like I have my own natural arm shape and it feels freeing and makes me so happy. Surgery comes with scars and they are a trade off for me. I love my arms so much, even with the scars, which are still young and will heal and fade further. Scar tape works incredibly well and is a very low cost resource I highly recommend. For me, Dr. Xu's personality, her skill set, and her eye for esthetics are simply incredible. It is also clear that the office team is trying to provide an experience for their clients to feel welcomed, held, cared about, and supported throughout the process, including into recovery. One thing I would prepare others for who are considering this option is that the surgery center and anesthesiologist were an expensive part of the overall package. While I trust and feel confident with Dr. Xu, there are other people who also support the surgery. The anesthesiologist was trying to put an iv in my foot, which was painful, before Dr. Xu arrived and advised him to put me under first. That seems like something the anesthesiologist, with all his years of experience, should have known to do himself. The surgery itself went beyond the estimated time and both the surgery center and anesthesiologist had additional fees, increasing the overall cost by ~2k. With that said, I do highly recommend Dr. Xu to others. Go meet her and her team and hear her thoughts and see if what she can offer will meet your needs.