Dr. Amir Karam

Dr. Amir Karam Creator of Vertical Restore®, natural-looking facial rejuvenation, and KaramMD Skin Trifecta. Passion: Help people Look as Young as They Feel.
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All of my links: https://linktr.ee/dramirkaram 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 gradu

ated 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.

09/02/2026

One of my favorite post-surgery rituals… I hang. 😂

After spending hours leaning over an operating table, there’s nothing that feels better than grabbing a bar and letting everything stretch out.

But this isn’t just a surgeon thing. I actually think hanging is one of the simplest things most of us can do for our bodies.

It gives your spine some gentle traction after a day of sitting and compressing, opens up your shoulders and upper back, stretches your lats, and helps counteract that rounded-forward posture we all develop from desks, driving and phones.

And then there’s grip strength. Hanging is such a simple way to strengthen your hands and forearms—which matters to me as a surgeon, but becomes increasingly important for all of us as we get older.

I’ve also noticed a big difference in my shoulder mobility. Between surgery, working out and playing tennis, my shoulders get used a LOT, and hanging has become one of my favorite ways to keep them moving well overhead.

Spine. Shoulders. Posture. Grip. Mobility.

All from grabbing a bar and hanging around for a little while. 😉

Simple enough to do. Good enough to do every day.  Start with what you can do.  Shoot for getting up to 60 secs or more at a time.  

So find a spot to hang, maybe your local monkey bars 😂 or you can get a pull up bar.

09/01/2026

If you’re frustrated by under-eye bags or feel like your eyes are aging, the first step is understanding what the actual problem is that needs to be treated.

When I evaluate the lower eyelid, I’m looking at a few different things: volume loss around the eye, excess skin, and under-eye bags. Very often, more than one of these is happening at the same time.

That’s why treating the under-eye effectively starts with understanding the anatomy and identifying what is actually creating the aged or tired appearance.
If there is excess skin, I may address it with a lower lid skin pinch. If there are prominent fat pads creating bags, I can address those through a transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty. And because volume loss is such an important part of under-eye aging, restoring that lost volume is also an important part of how I approach rejuvenating this area.

The goal is never to change the shape of your eyes or make the area look overly full. It’s to restore a smoother, more youthful transition between the lower eyelid and cheek so you simply look more rested and refreshed.

If you want to learn more, I put together a guide to eye rejuvenation on My POV covering dark circles, hollows, bags, loose skin, and the different ways I approach each.

Get the full article here: https://karammdskin.com/blogs/expert-advice/the-best-ways-to-treat-under-eye-aging-dark-circles-hollows-bags-loose-skin

08/31/2026

58 years old. France to California for her facelift. And now 10 months post-op.

Virginie traveled across the world for her Vertical Restore because looking natural was incredibly important to her. She wanted to address the changes she was seeing with age without changing the features that made her look like herself.

Her treatment included:
✅ Vertical Restore®
✅ Facial Fat Transfer
✅ Lower Lid Skin Pinch
✅ 2+ years of KaramMD Trifecta leading up to surgery

I originally shared Virginie at just 7 days post-op. Now, 10 months later, she sent me a message saying she wakes up feeling “happy and confident” and still does her mirror check every morning. 🙃

And her result has only continued to get better.

She looks like Virginie. Just refreshed, restored, and more like the way she remembers herself.

This is exactly why she traveled from France, and exactly what we hoped to achieve.

Dark circles, under-eye bags, hollows and loose skin can all make your eyes look tired, but they don’t all have the same...
08/30/2026

Dark circles, under-eye bags, hollows and loose skin can all make your eyes look tired, but they don’t all have the same cause.

And that distinction determines how you treat them.

Read the full article here: https://karammdskin.com/blogs/expert-advice/the-best-ways-to-treat-under-eye-aging-dark-circles-hollows-bags-loose-skin

What looks like a pigmentation problem may actually be a shadow caused by volume loss. What looks like “puffiness” may be a protruding fat pad. And sometimes several of these things are happening at once.

This is why I always start with anatomy before recommending a treatment. If you don’t understand why the under-eye looks the way it does, it’s very easy to spend time and money treating the wrong problem.

In my newest Journal, I break down the different ways the under-eye ages, what actually causes dark circles, and when skincare, filler, fat transfer or under-eye surgery may be appropriate.

08/28/2026

Not ready for a facelift? Whether it’s that you aren’t physically or mentally ready, or financially, here is my genuine and honest advice.

If there are two things I want you to take away from this video, it’s this:

First, take care of your skin. You will never regret that decision. Daily, consistent skincare is one of the few things fully in your control, and it’s something your future self will always thank you for. Sun protection #1, effective skincare routine #2. If you’re looking for an effective anti-aging skincare routine that actually works and is easy to stay consistent with, check out the KaramMD Trifecta.

Second, don’t make rushed decisions when it comes to your face. Take the time to research. Ask the right questions. Understand what problem you’re actually trying to solve and choose a treatment and a provider you truly trust. Avoid anything that carries permanent risk without clear benefit.

You don’t need to do everything at once. You don’t need to do what everyone else is doing. Focus on what you can control today, make thoughtful choices, and enjoy your life along the way.

The goal is simple: look as young as you feel today and for as long as possible.

Comment “Trifecta” to learn more about the 3 step anti aging skincare routine

This content is only for general educational information and entertainment purposes and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional for any diagnosis or care.

08/27/2026

Sculptra is one of the most talked-about treatments right now, so let’s be clear about what it can and cannot do.

I actually think Sculptra can be a wonderful treatment when it’s used for the right reason and in the right areas shared in this video.

But here’s the important distinction: Sculptra will not lift your face.

If your goal is to correct facial descent or achieve a facelift-type result, Sculptra, or any filler for that matter, is going to disappoint you. Adding volume and repositioning descended facial tissues are two very different things.

The key is understanding what problem you’re actually trying to solve before choosing the treatment.

Have you done Sculptra?

Good morning friends :) Happy Thursday! Heading in to my only surgery of the day! A beautiful 67 year old patient and we...
08/27/2026

Good morning friends :) Happy Thursday! Heading in to my only surgery of the day! A beautiful 67 year old patient and we are doing a Vertical Restore, Facial Fat Transfer, Upper Blepharoplasty, Lower Lid Skin Pinch, and a Lip Lift!

She is planning to share her journey which I am super excited about sharing once she is a little healed. Leave a comment below if you’re going to tune in to this journey 😊

08/26/2026

This or That: Aesthetic Treatments Edition

Not all treatments are created equal. If I had to choose between these, here are my answers. Did any surprise you?

👇 Comment what I should compare next!

This content is only for general educational information and entertainment purposes and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional for any diagnosis or care.

Guess which is now versus then: hard edition. Look at slide one and comment your answer below, then swipe for the reveal...
08/25/2026

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?

REVEAL: She is 53 years old in the photo on the LEFT.

And this is exactly what I mean when I talk about natural facial rejuvenation.

She isn’t supposed to look like a different person after surgery. She is supposed to look like herself. Restoring that familiarity is non-negotiable in my Vertical Restore® approach.

Aging changes facial shape and volume over time. My goal is to restore those changes while preserving the features, proportions, and expressions that make you recognizable as you.

At 53, she underwent a Vertical Restore®, Custom Facial Fat Transfer, Lower Blepharoplasty, and Lip Lift, and she has continued caring for her skin with the KaramMD Trifecta.

The goal isn’t to make someone look 30 again. It’s to restore the more youthful version of themselves that aging gradually changed.

And I think putting these two photos side by side says more about that goal than I ever could.

Want to learn more about my Vertical Restore® approach? Comment “VERTICAL RESTORE” and I’ll send you more information.

08/24/2026

Wait til the end to see the results post op from her Vertical Restore & 12 months of consistent KaramMD Trifecta= Looking as young as you feel

Healing comes with ups and downs. There is no exact timeline that everyone follows, some days you will be more swollen, and the next you may feel you’ve never looked better! It really takes a whole year for swelling to fully subside.

✅Vertical Restore
✅Facial Fat Transfer
✅Upper Blepharoplasty
✅Lower Blepharoplasty
✅Hand Fat Transfer
✅ KaramMD Trifecta anti aging skincare routine

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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