I DEEPLY REGRET doing surgery with Dr Horton. She used the wrong materials during my surgery that led to permanent scar damage. This was not an isolated experience. She told me she repeated the same mistake across many surgeries over a full year and a half. Judging from my experience, choosing to be a patient of Dr Horton means risking your body.

Dr Horton improperly used a jelly that was known to increase the likelihood of wounds not healing and increase scar sites. My scars are red, bleed everywhere years after surgery, and are significantly larger than they should have been had the surgery been done correctly.

Aside from the obviously incredibly disappointing result, I have three concerns with Dr Horton’s character in handling this:

1) She didn’t proactively contact me about this known issue or tell me about it during multiple visits I made to her office in the year following surgery. I found it myself once I was pregnant, and have had to live with terrible scarring without intervention for over a year now because I could not fix the issue while pregnant or breastfeeding. This has put me in an awful position during pregnancy. I could have fixed it if she had told me about it.
2) When confronted with the damage she did, Dr Horton said, “well, maybe the baby won’t stick and we can fix it sooner”. I don’t need to say more about how disturbing this is.
3) Dr. Horton didn't take responsibility for her mistake. At first she blamed the surgery center, but she was the surgeon who put the wrong thing into my body. Then in email and during multiple visits she said she would help fix the permanent damage she caused. She told me I just needed to wait to stop breastfeeding. Days after the window where I could sue her passed, she sent me a letter to renege on the commitment she made to help me.

Dr Horton’s whole shtick is that she “increases confidence in women”. My experience was the opposite: she made me uncomfortable to show my skin because it is so deeply damaged with scarring. This has been an incredibly regrettable experience, and Dr Horton showed her true colors in a really dark time that she created in my life. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars with this woman only to feel tricked, wronged, and mistreated by her and her staff.

Please don’t make the same mistake I did. If your experience is like mine, you’ll regret allowing Dr. Horton to touch your body.

Submitted Sept. 1, 2023

Dr. Horton has made my mothers life a living hell since having her first procedure in 11/2015 and a second one in 08/2016. When we complained about how it was still a failed result and that we did not want a 3rd surgery which Horton suggested , she terminated my mom from her system when she was still recovering from surgery only a month out. Since then my mother has been in ICU every other week, lives off strong pain medication, and has had her entire life crippled thanks to this monster. Every test has been done through 6 accredited hospitals where every test turned out negative further proving that it was her handy work that caused my mother to have her life turned upside down. She should be stripped of her licenses and should be arrested for what she has done to my mother and how she deceived our insurance TRI-CARE. Heed my warning STAY AWAY FROM THIS BUTCHER!!! I will expose her in the media for what she has done to mother and hopefully no one else ever has to suffer.

Submitted June 1, 2022

EPIC Surgeon and Team!

Having a history of family breast cancer for many years, I’ve had my share and experiences with doctors and surgeons. Six surgeries and 4 surgeons later, I was exhausted, ready to give up and accept the botched results following a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. Faith have it, I was referred from a friend of a friend to Dr. Horton after moving to the Bay Area. From the minute I met Dr. Karen Horton, I immediately felt the connection. Her knowledge as a surgeon really was impressive and her compassion was heartwarming. She has helped many hundreds of women feel beautiful and her portfolio and gallery showcase a glimpse of her talent. Lucky for me, I chose Dr. Karen Horton for my breast reconstruction DIEP Flap procedure journey. WoW! Just WoW! I could write a book, but I’ll try and summarize this. . . Dr. Horton is blessed with “Golden Hands”. Preop, we met several times, she strategically put a plan in place, post op she visited every day in the hospital making sure I had everything I needed and answered any questions, we communicated via text messages and phone calls (over the holidays at that) and she made sure I felt supported every step, every day & every minute. Partner and mentor, Microsurgeon Dr. Rudolf Buntic assisted with the DIEP Flap procedure. He too is a superior surgeon with great off menu smoothie recommendations during my hospital stay. 😊 In my opinion, these two surgeons as a team are truly the top elite list of surgeons for breast reconstruction in the country. I literally hit the lotto with the Horton team, not limited to, Nurse Mari for pre-op, post op care, taking hours to make sure I was well informed. Office Director, Mary Pasache ensured all the administrative work, scheduling, hospital admin, post care, insurance protocols were seamless and never had one issue or discrepancy. Front desk team always answer the phone with a direct number which is huge these days. Receptionist Niloo, always a breath of fresh air, welcoming, familiar your case, offering water, tea, cookies while in waiting and seeing me off to my favorite Gaga tunes making me feel like a million $$ on my worst days. It’s been a two-year journey and one of the most impactful relationship of my life. I am forever grateful. If you have a vision and want to make it a reality, I highly recommend you see Dr. Horton.

Submitted Jan. 25, 2022

I recently had a breast reduction/lift with Dr. Horton. To say that she is calming, low-key, compassionate and does excellent work is an understatement. With all the experience she has with Breast Reconstruction Surgery and the amazing work she does for her cancer patients I knew that putting my body into her hands was a fabulous decision and I was right! 4 weeks post-op and I am feeling good, gaining my strength and all looks fabulous. Her staff is great. Sad to hear that Mari her nurse is retiring. I am sure she will be missed. She is so comforting and open. I HIGHLY recommend anyone looking for a doctor who will do what is best for your body and make you look and feel glamorous.

Submitted Dec. 17, 2021

I love Dr Horton and her team. She truly helps get the results you want and with lots of grace and love.

Submitted April 29, 2021

Dr. Horton is a very caring and skilled surgeon. What else can I say I recommend her to anyone that needs her expertise . She is a ray of sunshine and her staff is too. I am only 7 days post -op, and can't believe how happy I am with her work. She is honest, and truly cares about her patients. She gives you her cell #, and encourages you to text her anytime with any questions or concerns. I've had plastic surgery years ago, but decided to go with Dr. Horton this time and I couldn't be happier. My friends are taking her # and getting in line!

Submitted Nov. 13, 2020

I went to see Dr Horton for a breast reduction consultation. I asked Dr Horton up front not to say anything negative about my body as I hadn't decided on surgery yet. During the examination, she provided unsolicited advice on a scar on my stomach, to say I could have liposuction to flatten it out and that it was pretty stretched out. Having just had a baby, I was already aware of that.

She was also 30 minutes late and then left for 15 mins part way through to see another patient, so I was pretty stressed as I had a newborn at home who I needed to get back for.

After the consultation, I sent an email to explain that I was disconcerted about the unsolicited advice, given my request at the beginning. Dr Horton's assistant, Mary, apologized and Dr Horton accidentally cc'd me on her reply to her assistant saying "I think that's perfect, she was so weird" about me.

For a doctor to think it's appropriate to send this to a colleague in response to feedback, shows a deep lack of professionalism and real lack of compassion. Isn't appreciating the vulnerability it takes to walk through the door, share your very personal story and be naked before them, a core part of being a cosmetic surgeon?

This experience also highlights her utter insincerity, as she was so effusive in the consult, saying how great it was to meet me and that they care about their patients deeply etc.

I don't normally leave reviews but felt compelled to let others know that this is how she speaks about her patients and how she handles feedback.

I would strongly recommend finding a different surgeon.

Submitted Oct. 31, 2020

Dr. Horton is amazing. I have seen her twice now, and she is not only knowledgeable and talented, but her bedside manner and compassion are the real reasons anyone would be remiss not to see her. Her staff is incredible, friendly and reassuring (waving at you Nurse Mary!), and Dr. Horton is a true artist. Thank you.

Submitted July 1, 2020

I would recommend Dr. Horton in a heart beat. If you have high expectations and need a caring hand to get you there, Dr. Horton is your person!

I came to Dr. Horton about two years ago, after being the unfortunate victim of paradoxical hyperplasia from CoolSculpting (from another doctor). Dr. Horton was approachable, and took time to understand my concerns. I felt heard and she took great care of me, not only prior to my corrective procedure but also after. We had several follow-ups and it was easy to reach out to her whenever I had questions or simply needed some reassurance.

After my corrective procedure, there were still some contour irregularities (CoolSculpting made the fat really stubborn and hard to work with) and Dr. Horton was kind enough to perform a touch-up free of cost! I am happy with my results now and how everything turned out, especially given the misfortunate of having CoolSculpting gone bad.

I feel lucky to have found her!

Submitted May 15, 2020

Dr. Horton, how do I simply say 'thank you" for all that you have done for me? After going through breast cancer and undergoing a bilateral mastectomy, I feared as a woman, I would never feel "complete'
again. With many surgeries behind me I honestly had accepted I had to just live with the results other doctors left me with. Then I met you! You reassured me, you eased my anxieties and assured me more could be done and in no way did I need to settle for mediocrity. With your artistry and talent, your incredible knowledge, and your uplifting personality, I knew I could trust you with my life. You certainly did not disappoint on any level. There are just not enough words of praise or gratitude to convey to you how you've changed me inside and out. I now feel stronger, more confident and for the first time in many years, whole again as a woman. So while I thank you for everything, I'm so humbled to be a patient of yours. My hope is to let anyone know, who has ever walked in shoes similar to mine, that you're amazing surgeon that always puts the patient first and they never have to settle

Submitted March 25, 2020