Today we’d like to introduce you to Kian Karimi.
Hi Kian, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story began when I was five years old. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, I can remember always wanting to learn as much as possible and to *achieve* as much as I could within my studies and beyond. Often being the youngest person in my class and typically the only person of Persian descent, I was enticed by the challenge of being at the top of my class. After two years at my local high school, I was accepted to an academic boarding school on a college campus two hours away from home. My two years at the Indiana Academy taught me a tremendous amount – moving out of the house at the age of 15 to go to boarding school accelerated my maturity, self-sufficiency, and grew my insatiable academic appetite.
By the time I started college at Indiana University (IU) at the age of 17, I matriculated as a second-semester junior due to all of the courses I had the opportunity to take at the Indiana Academy since it was located on a college campus. I decided to pursue two degrees – one in Biochemistry and the second one in Spanish Literature, which was also a passion that had grown since first being exposed to the language in the 4th grade.
At the age of 19, I applied to medical school – my father had attended IU School of Medicine over 20 years prior to my application through a very different set of circumstances which involved a harrowing tale of escape from Iran, which is a fairly typical story for many Iranian-American immigrants who suffered exile and persecution for various reasons. After completing 2 degrees and five minors at IU, I graduated college after three years of matriculation at the age of 20 and was accepted to IU School of Medicine.
During medical school, I was surrounded by brilliant people who shared my drive and also each had their own remarkable stories. When I started medical school, I had the preconception that I would pursue cardiology, possibly because I was exposed to my father’s practice which specialized in internal medicine and cardiology seemed to be one step above in complexity and challenge. However, after my first lecture in cardiology, where I was forcing myself to stay awake, I knew that my path would be different. During my human anatomy course, which is a requirement for every first-year medical student, I found myself most fascinated by the anatomy of the head, face, and neck. I loved that there was more to learn in these areas than in the rest of the body combined – this was considered the most challenging aspect of anatomy as there is a lot of anatomy located in our heads and necks!
After two years of medical school – two things became clear me – I would pursue a career in surgery and that my preferred surgical sub-specialty would be in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery. At that time, this specialty was the third most challenging specialty to gain acceptance into, after dermatology and plastic surgery. I considered both of these other fields as well but dermatology bored me almost as much as cardiology and I was turned off by plastic surgery due to focus on non-head and neck areas.
At the age of 24, my future was set – I was accepted to become a resident in a five-year program in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the University of Florida in Gainesville. I began my residency shortly after medical school graduation and spent the next five years learning anything and everything I could about my specialty and began developing my technical skills as well, such as suturing, using a microscope, endoscope, and all sorts of cool toys and gadgets to precisely and meticulously achieve the surgical goal at hand.
In my third year of residency, I observed a rhinoplasty procedure for the first time – I had heard that rhinoplasty was big in the country of my ancestors (Tehran, Iran is the city where the most rhinoplasties are performed per year in the world), but I never understood its appeal until that day. I was mesmerized – how can there be so many considerations, steps, and meticulous techniques on such a small organ? Rhinoplasty was my “gateway procedure” that hooked me to pursue an additional fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, which of course turned out to be the most competitive subspecialty to enter after an otolaryngology residency.
Fortunately, I was accepted into a top fellowship in facial plastic surgery with my lifelong mentor Dr. Peter Adamson, who was most well-known for his expertise and contributions to the field of rhinoplasty. After my fellowship, I was invigorated and felt that I had received the education and knowledge to begin my career in facial plastic surgery. The big question at this point was where would I go after my fellowship? I asked myself – what is the most competitive market for facial plastic surgery in the United States? The answer was obvious – Los Angeles.
I moved to Los Angeles on July 4th, 2011 with no job and no source of income – I will never forget as we approached LAX around 9 pm where we had a beautifully clear aerial view of all of the fireworks happening all over the city. As we descended for landing, I felt chills and was thankful for what I took to be a good omen and grand welcome to the city of angels. I knew I had my work cut out for me as I had decided to “hang a shingle on Wilshire” against the advice of so many.
Over the course of the next ten years, I would say that three principals have helped me “arrive” to where I am today – first is to treat my patients and staff with integrity and honesty. The second principal is to never take a single patient for granted. The third principal is to take accountability for my shortcomings and mistakes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every “success” story has its share of obstacles and struggles along the way – many times it is one’s frame of mind that can view a challenge as an obstacle or as an opportunity for growth and development. Oftentimes, I would say that one’s biggest obstacle is facing them in the mirror. Although I have had my share of what one could call an obstacle, I have learned to not dwell on these and to change my own viewpoint and be grateful for every life experience I have had that has led me to this point.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Dr Kian Nasal and Facial Plastic Surgery?
My practice specializes in surgical and non-surgical facial plastic surgery. I am best known for the following surgery super specializations – rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, deep plane face and necklift, blepharoplasty, and fat transfer. I am considered one of the top rhinoplasty surgeons in Los Angeles and I am known for producing “the best version of one’s own nose” and not changing one’s look or their ethnic identity.
Non-surgically, I am best known for being a pioneer and expert in PDO threadlifts – I was one of the originators of threadlifts in 2015 and have published many articles and book chapters on them and helped develop current threads in addition to teaching techniques to thousands of practitioners worldwide.
I was one of the first physicians to advocate the use of microcannulas for injections of fillers, which is a safer way to inject fillers. I have been educating on this at conferences around the globe for nearly a decade.
In 2016, I developed one of the first autologous blood platelet systems in the United States called platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and now “ezGEL”, which is a 100% natural biofiller that comes from one’s own blood. This has become very popular amongst patients who want to avoid any synthetic materials yet are looking for an ability to improve their skin texture, quality, and facial volume.
I also co-founded one of the first cannabidiol companies (HealMD) that creates products specifically designed for patients undergoing surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Solve for Happy – Mo Gawdat – this was an instrumental book recommended to me by my best friend that has helped me shape my outlook on my personal and professional life.
The Whoop was helpful for over two years to help me understand my habits and sleep patterns so that I could function and perform at 100% for my patients every day.
Currently, I utilize Peloton and the Apple watch to track my sleep, fitness and to keep me healthy.
Pricing:
- Consult Fee – $250 applied to services
Contact Info:
- Website: drkian.com
- Instagram: @drkian
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKian/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkian/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiankarimimd?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RejuvaMedicalAesthetics
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kian-karimi-md-facs-los-angeles-2
