Doctor Kay Durairaj on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Doctor Kay Durairaj. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Kay, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are devoted to wellness and intentional preparation for the work I do. I start by stepping outside with my dog to get sunlight, fresh air, and grounding in my garden, as it helps center me and sets the tone for the day. After that, I make my coffee with my KD collagen and enjoy a nutrient-dense, protein-rich breakfast to fuel a busy day. I also take a few minutes to stretch and mobilize my body, which keeps me physically balanced and mentally focused before I head into my full day of work.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Kay Durairaj, a facial plastic surgeon based in Pasadena, CA, where I specialize exclusively in faces, everything from eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty to facelifts, neck lifts, and advanced nonsurgical rejuvenation. I completed my surgical training at UCLA, and I am a member of both the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
What makes my brand unique is my natural, artistic approach to aesthetics. I’m passionate about helping patients enhance their best features in a way that looks elegant and effortless. Outside the clinic, I serve as Vice Chairman of the Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery at Huntington Memorial Hospital and advise several major aesthetic companies, including Merz, Allergan, Evolus, Prollenium, and Galderma, on innovation, safety, and technique.
In my practice, my team and I focus on research, finding the newest and safest treatment options, and delivering results that feel authentically you. I’m constantly working on integrating regenerative medicine, longevity science, and the newest anti-aging technologies so we can continue providing the most advanced care in the industry. My mission is simple: to help people feel confident, refreshed, and beautifully themselves at every age.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Bonds between people often break when trust erodes, whether through miscommunication, unmet expectations, or feeling unseen, unheard, or unvalued. Distance grows when small disconnects go unaddressed, when vulnerability feels unsafe, or when life’s pressures pull people into survival mode rather than connection.

What restores those bonds is the opposite: intentional presence, honest communication, and compassion. When people slow down enough to truly listen, acknowledge each other’s feelings, take responsibility, and show consistent care, trust begins to rebuild. Repair isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing that the relationship matters enough to nurture, protect, and invest in again.

Ultimately, connection breaks when people stop showing up for each other, and it’s restored when they choose, day after day, to come back with honesty, empathy, and effort.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Trust yourself. Every challenge that feels heavy right now is shaping the resilience, confidence, and purpose you’ll stand on later. You have no idea how strong you are yet, or how far your determination will take you. Keep going, stay focused, and don’t dim your ambition for anyone; your future is bigger and brighter than you can imagine.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, what you see publicly is very much who I am. I’m an open book, and I try to show up with the same honesty and energy in every space I’m in. Whether I’m with patients, my team, or my personal circle, I lead with transparency, passion, and sincerity. I don’t really believe in having a “public version” and a “real version”; I’ve worked hard to align the two so that my values, my work, and my personality reflect the same person everywhere I go.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
Absolutely, I’m at a point in my career where I’m genuinely tap dancing to work. With all the innovation we’re doing in the practice and the research studies we’re conducting, it feels like I’m stepping into a new chapter of possibility every single day. I haven’t felt this level of excitement since the early days of my training, when every case and every discovery felt like unlocking a new part of the world.

What’s different now is that I have the experience, the team, and the technology to bring those ideas to life. We’re pushing the boundaries of regenerative aesthetics, studying new techniques, and building protocols that I know will shape the future of our field. Walking into the clinic each morning feels less like a routine and more like stepping into a creative lab where innovation, artistry, and science meet.

These are the days that remind me why I chose this career—and honestly, I’ve never been more energized or inspired than I am right now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beautybydrkay.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautybydrkay/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaydurairaj
• Twitter: https://x.com/beautybydrkay
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautybydrkay
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/k-kay-durairaj-md-pasadena-3
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BeautyByDrKay