Dr. Amir Karam

Dr. Amir Karam Carmel Valley Facial Plastic Surgery is a leading provider of innovative and individualized aesthetic Dr. Karam specializes in facial and skin rejuvenation.

He is an innovator, researcher, author, educator, thought leader, and has been in clinical practice for nearly 20 years. He is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Karam graduated from UC San Diego with degrees in Biochemistry/Cell Biology and Biological Anthropology. He then went on to study medicine and his surgical specialty at UC Irvine School of Medicine. During these 14 years, Karam was extensively involved in basic science and clinical research at these institutions. This work led to numerous peer reviewed publications and scientific presentations. He has written multiple textbook chapters and his own textbook Rejuvenation of the Aging Face. Since 2006 his entire clinical focus has been on helping his patients look as young as they feel. His surgical practice is one of the popular destinations for facial rejuvenation in the world drawing patients for his unique approach, the trademarked Vertical Restore and Vertical Prevent procedures. These popular procedures along with customized fat transfer and skin rejuvenation create a harmonious and natural-looking outcome without any of the stigma of traditional facelift surgery. Learning from the challenges of his patients when faced with too many products to choose from, complicated routines, and convoluted marketing claims, Dr. Karam devoted himself to solving these issues. His solution, a highly effective yet extremely simple 3 step skin treatment system (KaramMD Trifecta) that is meant to integrate into the users daily life, delivering transformative results over time. The concept is analogous to the lifestyle, exercise, and dietary changes that lead to long term health, strength, and wellness. Clinically studied and backed by the experiences of thousands of daily users, the approach is applicable for all skin types, gender, age, and even the most sensitive skin. Dr. Karam’s experience and innovations in both surgical and skin rejuvenation fields offers him a unique opportunity to help people navigate the concepts of preventative and restorative facial rejuvenation.

Hi friends, happy Friday.As we head into a holiday week and the end of the year starts to get hectic, I wanted to take a...
11/21/2025

Hi friends, happy Friday.
As we head into a holiday week and the end of the year starts to get hectic, I wanted to take a moment to check in.

This time of year, we hear a lot about New Year’s resolutions. But here’s something I’ve learned over the years — you don’t need to wait for January 1st to start becoming the best version of yourself. Why wait until 2026 to start feeling better, moving better, and caring for yourself in a deeper way?

Today can be Day 1.
A small habit. A small promise to yourself. A small shift that compounds into something meaningful.

I want to encourage you to slow down, take stock of what matters, and challenge yourself to begin now. These are some of the daily habits that keep my energy high and help me look and feel my best, no matter how busy life gets:

• daily movement
• daily skincare with the Trifecta
• a weekly stretching routine
• staying hydrated and drinking electrolytes
• nourishing foods and mindful choices
• and above all, consistency

None of this is about perfection. It’s about showing up for yourself in small, steady ways. When you do that, everything else in your life gets better your health, your mindset, your confidence, your longevity.

If you’re ready to start early, let me know what habit you’re committing to today.

11/20/2025

She traveled all the way from Italy for her Vertical Restore… and today, two years later, she looks as natural, refreshed, and confident as ever.

When she first reached out, she shared something I hear often.
She was living a healthy, active life — eating well, staying fit, traveling, raising her young kids — but her reflection no longer matched how she felt inside. Her face was aging faster than her energy, and she stopped recognizing the woman looking back at her.

So she started researching.
She followed my work on Instagram, learned about the Vertical Restore, and resonated with the philosophy of looking like yourself, just younger — never different, never pulled, never overdone. She wanted a result that would be natural, durable, and aligned with her lifestyle.

For her, traveling across the world wasn’t about distance.
It was about peace of mind, clarity, and choosing a surgeon whose approach truly matched what she wanted for her face and her future.

She had her surgery at 48.
Now at almost 50, she feels completely aligned again — confident, vibrant, and able to show up as the best version of herself for her kids, her husband, and most importantly, for herself.

These are the stories that make this work meaningful.
And she still has years of beautiful, natural results ahead of her.

If you have questions about the Vertical Restore, traveling for surgery, or what the journey looks like, ask below.

Barbara has also been impressively committed to the Trifecta for the past 4 years, she shared that the incredible change in her skin from the Trifecta was when she knew I had to be her surgeon, if the KaramMD Trifecta is that effective, she knew she could trust me.

To address her aging related changes, we performed:
✅ Vertical Restore
✅ Facial Fat Transfer
✅ Lip Lift
✅ Skin Pinch to Lower Lids
✅ Upper Blepharoplasty
✅ Hand Fat Transfer
✅KaramMD Trifecta for 2 years prior to surgery to prep the skin
✅All of my procedures are done under local anesthesia with IV sedation

11/19/2025

Most people assume all “facelifts” are the same… but they aren’t even close. Threads and mini lifts they all promise rejuvenation, but very few actually correct the real anatomical changes that happen with aging.

As the face ages, the fascia elongates and the skin, fat, and muscle begin to drift downward.

That shift changes the entire facial shape from a youthful heart shape to a heavier, longer, rectangular look.

If a procedure doesn’t address those deeper changes, it won’t restore true youthfulness and often, it won’t look natural.

This is why some lifts feel like gimmicks, some are outdated, and only a select few achieve long-lasting, natural results. The goal should never be to pull skin sideways or create tension on the face. The goal is to restore the original shape of the face in the correct vector so you look like you just younger.

11/19/2025

At 65 years old and now just 3 months post-op from her Vertical Restore, she already looks incredibly refreshed, natural, and completely like herself. And this is still early her results will continue to refine beautifully over the next several months.

This was actually her second facelift. Nine years ago, she had a deep plane facelift elsewhere. It helped for a period of time, but she began seeing her face descend again sooner than she hoped. She wanted something more comprehensive and longer lasting this time around.

When we met, she told me she wanted to restore the harmony she once had not to look different, not to look pulled, but to feel aligned again with the person she knew herself to be. After researching her options, she chose to work with me because she wanted the most natural, durable, and anatomically precise result possible.

Her Vertical Restore, combined with Custom Fat Transfer, a Skin Pinch Lip Lift, and a Lip Lift, addressed the deeper structural changes that occur with age — the true cause of facial descent. And because she’s been consistent with her Trifecta, her skin continues to improve, giving her an even more youthful overall result.

Three months in, she already feels that sense of peace and confidence returning. This is what rejuvenation is supposed to feel like.

To address her aging-related changes, we performed:
✓ Vertical Restore
✓ Custom Fat Transfer
✓ Skin Pinch Lip Lift
✓ Lip Lift
✓ KaramMD Trifecta to support and maintain skin health

If you’re considering a revision facelift or want to understand the difference between a deep plane facelift and the Vertical Restore, leave your questions below. I’m here to guide you.

Guess which is now versus then: hard edition. Look at slide one and comment your answer below, then swipe for the reveal...
11/19/2025

Guess which is now versus then: hard edition. Look at slide one and comment your answer below, then swipe for the reveal 😏 were you right?

Hint: one is her passport picture from when she was 40 and one is her passport picture at 50, 2 years post op from her Vertical Restore, fat transfer, upper bleph, lower bleph, lip lift, and Trifecta use for 4 years consistently! Not missing one day.

Can’t wait to see your guesses👀
⁠
Schedule a virtual consultation through the link in my BIO⁠
🎥 YouTube ⁠
⭐️ Follow my skin site or to purchase Trifecta link in BIO

11/18/2025

If you were sitting in my consultation room today, here are the three things you would hear from me. These are the same principles I share with every Vertical Restore patient, because they shape the entire experience and outcome.

1. You are doing this for YOU.
When my wife Neda was preparing for her facelift, people around her would say things like “you don’t need it” or offer opinions she never asked for. What she needed was support or silence, not commentary. You will know when you’re ready, it happens when you stop resonating with the person in the mirror and it begins to affect how you feel or show up in your life. Your decision should come from your own internal compass, not external noise.

2. Surgery restores shape but not skin quality.
Years ago, I used to perform laser resurfacing on nearly every Vertical Restore patient to improve the skin. It worked, but it made recovery harder. Today I almost never need to do that because the majority of my patients have been using the KaramMD Trifecta consistently for months or even years before surgery. They walk in with healthy, youthful, resilient skin which allows the surgery to shine and creates a far more comprehensive, beautiful result with a smoother recovery.

3. Trust your surgeon and the environment you choose.
If a patient does not feel comfortable with me or if we do not naturally connect, it means it is not the right fit. This is an intimate process. You are trusting someone with your face, your confidence, your identity. The relationship has to feel right. Recovery is a journey with a lot of communication, guidance, and support. When the trust is there, the entire experience becomes calm, positive, and even enjoyable.

Schedule a consultation at the link in my bio. Make sure to comment your questions below!

11/17/2025

Thinking about a brow lift?
Most people don’t actually need a full one.

Here’s the thing: the entire brow doesn’t fall with age.
The inner and central brow stay where they’ve always been.

It’s only the outer corner that descends and that’s what creates heaviness around the eyes.

This is why, in my practice, I don’t perform traditional brow lifts.

As part of the Vertical Restore, I lift the lateral brow. It’s a small, anatomically precise adjustment that opens the eyes, restores harmony, and keeps you looking completely like yourself.

Natural. Balanced. Never overdone.

If you’re unsure which approach is right for you, leave your questions below and I’ll help guide you.

11/17/2025

A question I get all the time is how my patients look so natural after Vertical Restore™—so let’s talk about it.

(This is Wendy, 51 years old at the time of surgery, shown just two weeks post-op.)

When Wendy came to see me, she told me something I hear often:
She felt great, she was entering her 50s with excitement… but her face was aging faster than she expected. She wanted to stay ahead of it, not wait until the changes became more dramatic. She didn’t want to look different she wanted to look like herself again.

That’s exactly what the Vertical Restore is designed to do.
You look in the mirror and still recognize yourself… just as the younger version you remember. No distortion. No “pulled” appearance. No one questioning what you had done.

And here’s something important:
Skin quality plays a huge role. Pigment, texture, brightness those improvements often come from my patients’ commitment to the Trifecta. When you combine healthy skin with proper shape correction, that’s when the results truly come to life.

Wendy’s transformation is not about looking “done.”
It’s about restoring alignment between how she feels and what she sees every day. That’s the heart of my surgical philosophy.

Let me know what you think, or leave any questions below.
If this resonates with someone you love, feel free to share it.

11/15/2025

How I start and end every single day.

For me, the Trifecta is as essential as brushing my teeth. A quick daily habit that keeps your skin healthy, balanced, and aging well.

Consistency on the right products is everything.

Save and Share 🚨 A lot of my patients come in and tell me their neck is their biggest concern the one area they’re most ...
11/13/2025

Save and Share 🚨 A lot of my patients come in and tell me their neck is their biggest concern the one area they’re most excited to rejuvenate.

It’s a very common insecurity, especially as we age. The skin on the neck is thin and exposed, and it shows the signs of aging faster than almost anywhere else.

While we can’t stop aging, we can absolutely slow it down.
By understanding what accelerates the process and addressing it early you can stay looking as young as you feel for much longer.

I break down the six biggest causes of accelerated neck and facial aging, and how to reverse them, in my recent YouTube video:
Why Your NECK Ages So Much FASTER (and what to do about it!)

Watch the full video on my YouTube channel — Dr. Amir Karam.

11/13/2025

My incredible patient Virginie flew ✈️all the way from France🇫🇷 to San Diego for her Vertical Restore. At 58, she lives such a full and beautiful life traveling across Europe, going to events, enjoying great food, and spending time with friends.

But despite how vibrant she felt on the inside, she started to notice her face changing faster than she expected. She told me she no longer recognized the person she saw in the mirror and that’s what brought her here.

She found me online and did extensive research before making the decision to travel across the world for her surgery. She told me that for her, the peace of mind and experience of being in the right hands were well worth the trip and I’m deeply honored by that trust.

Keep watching to hear her unique question. That one made me laugh, but it also says everything about her. She’s confident, adventurous, and full of life and now her reflection matches the way she feels again.

Rejuvenation isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about returning to yourself and Virginie embodies that perfectly.

To address her aging related changes
✅ Vertical Restore facelift (natural facelift results)
✅ Facial Fat Transfer (restore youthful volume)
✅ Lower lid Skin Pinch (eyelid rejuvenation)
✅ Pre-treated the skin with Trifecta for 2+ years for optimal skin health

Address

11943 El Camino Real Ste 100
San Diego, CA
92130

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18582593223

Website

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