For a woman who is so gifted and admired in the field of cosmetic surgery, one might assume her life has been an easy one and that her field of endeavor was carved out early in her life. Not so. Dr. Kim is an example of a woman who overcame tremendous adversity, only to prove herself as an extraordinary physician and special woman. In her early youth, she was adrift without purpose or clear direction. Then at 16 she had a devastating car accident that left her with facial, disfiguring trauma. That changed everything.
“As I healed, my passion grew for helping others.”
She says that her plastic surgeon helped her regain confidence and self-esteem. And, of course, he restored her face. At so young an age, anything less would have left her scarred, not just physically, but emotionally as well. That experience transformed her life and she says, “I knew I wanted to be a doctor because I would be able to do something with my hands that beautifies and fixes flaws right before my eyes.”
“I specialize in facial transformations (both surgical and non-surgical) along with body and breast procedures.”
Dr. Kim studied and practiced fine art in her youth and her creativity shows in her work. Her natural, elegant outcomes are a combination of excellent education, training, experience and an incredible “eye.” She strives to bring out the best in a person to diminish flaws and accentuate what is most attractive and arresting. Sometimes the challenge calls for surgery but sometimes an injectable approach is the proper route to take. “I never want to oversell services or do more than is necessary for that time in a person’s life,” she says.
“I take a conservative approach. I believe in results that are subtle but noticeable.”
Dr. Kim is a master at creating beauty, symmetry and making her patients the best version of themselves. Her philosophy is perfect for New Yorkers who want and need to stay attractive but never want to look overdone or obvious. “Natural” is the key word. She said that it gives her genuine joy when people love their results. “It makes me just as happy as the patient,” she says.
“My consultations are very thorough. I want to know what a patient does not like about her or himself and what their idealized self looks like.”
So much goes into Dr. Kim’s assessment and recommendations: patient history, medical problems, experience with aesthetics, allergies, their psychology, and so much more. She listens carefully to a patient’s aspirations and then explains what is possible and, sometimes, what is not. Creating the right expectations is an essential part of the process of preparing a patient for their procedure. She discusses the patient’s vision and together they come to a mutual plan.
“I work with patients of many ethnicities. My goal is not to change who they are but to enhance the features they are born with.”
Dr. Kim has many Asian patients and many of a variety of ethnicities. Here’s where cultural understanding comes into play, as well as a keen understanding of the differences from one group to another. It takes a deft hand to enhance features, enhance the face and body, and yet maintain what makes each ethnic group unique and special.
“I was so fortunate to do my Fellowship with Dr. Karlinsky. She is such an inspiration.”
Dr. Kim says that Dr. Karlinsky is such a valuable teacher, not just in techniques but also in the philosophy and art of cosmetics. She says that the two women share the same values and philosophy. “We match,” she commented.
