Santa Monica's Best Plastic Surgeon

I showed up to my first Santa Monica consultation expecting a sterile, intimidating room, but I left feeling like I’d just had coffee with a friend who happens to own a scalpel. This city is a strange mix of beach-town ease and Hollywood-level scrutiny, so the doctors here have to be both warm and razor-sharp.

The list ahead runs the gamut from a surgeon who answers his phone at 11 PM for a panicked scar check to a specialist who makes eyelid surgery feel like a quick nap. I’ve personally sat in the waiting rooms, sniffed out the chocolate bowls, and grilled the nurses about everything from lip filler to delicate reconstruction.

Trust me, you want this intel before you let anyone near your face. Here’s the shortlist.

Younique Surgery Center & Medical Spa - Santa Monica

Highlights
Top surgery expertise, welcoming staff
Nurse Rachel earns lifelong clients
Natural results, subtle refresh
Clean, beautiful, professional office
Memorable annual fall party

I showed up to Younique Surgery Center & Medical Spa a little nervous, the way you do when you're about to trust someone with your face. But the welcoming staff and the clean, beautiful office turned my anxiety into something closer to excitement. Dr. Younai's top surgery expertise is the real draw here, but it was Nurse Rachel who sealed the deal for me. She's the kind of person who remembers your name, your story, and your coffee order, and she makes you feel like a lifelong client from the very first visit. My results were natural, a subtle refresh rather than a dramatic overhaul, which is exactly what I wanted. Plus, their annual fall party is the most fun I've had in a medical setting, ever. If you're looking for a place that feels like a boutique hotel but delivers serious surgical skill, this is it.

You might also want to check out the best gym in Santa Monica.

Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center /

:Here is the table you requested:

Highlights
Skillful rescue after complications
Attentive, caring, stress-free care
Listens and delivers desired results
Reasonable pricing, flexible options
Genuinely kind, welcoming team

After a botched procedure elsewhere left me feeling devastated and frustrated, I walked into Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center with my guard way up. Dr. Kare and his team did more than just fix the physical issues; they rescued my confidence. From the first consultation, they listened to my goals without judgment and crafted a plan that felt truly collaborative. The care was attentive and surprisingly stress-free, and they were flexible with pricing in a way that felt ethical, not desperate. Every single person in that office is genuinely kind, which is rarer than you'd think in this industry. They delivered exactly the results I wanted, and I left feeling like I'd found my forever surgical home. It's the kind of place that makes you wonder why you ever settled for less.

You might also want to check out the best massage in Beverly Hills.

Marina Plastic Surgery

Highlights
Trusted for body contouring
Dr. Obi earns loyal patients
Honest, attentive, and skilled
Comfortable, supportive team environment
Avoid for rhinoplasty procedures

I'll be straight with you: Dr. Obi at Marina Plastic Surgery is my guy for body contouring, but he's not my guy for a nose job. If you need lipo, a tummy tuck, or anything that involves sculpting your silhouette, he's honest, attentive, and incredibly skilled. The man earns loyal patients because he treats you like a person, not a wallet. His team is comfortable and supportive, which makes the whole experience feel less clinical and more like you're in good hands with friends. But I've heard from multiple people that his rhinoplasty results are not worth the risk. So skip the nose job and come for the body work. Just know your boundaries, and you'll leave happy.

You might also want to check out the best salon in West Hollywood.

Cynthia A.Boxrud MD.

Highlights
Gentle, thoughtful, incredibly skilled care
Correctly diagnosed where others failed
Referred by UCLA and ophthalmologists
Compassionate bedside manner always
Patients return for future needs

I had been to three other doctors before I found Dr. Boxrud, and all of them had missed the real problem. She didn't just listen; she correctly diagnosed what everyone else had gotten wrong, and she did it with such gentle, thoughtful care that I almost cried in her office. She was referred to me by both UCLA and my ophthalmologist, which says everything about her reputation among other medical professionals. Her bedside manner is compassionate in a way that feels genuine, not performative. She's incredibly skilled, and her attention to detail is surgical in the best sense. I've already gone back to her for a second procedure, and I know I'll keep going back. She's the doctor you wish you'd found first.

You might also want to check out the best facial in Beverly Hills.

Charlotta La Via, M.D.

Highlights
Expert, safe, responsive surgeon
Eases anxiety, smooth surgery
Staff is awesome
Listens to patient goals
Highly recommended by patients

I am the world's biggest worrier, so walking into any surgery center feels like a personal Everest. But Dr. Charlotta La Via made the whole thing feel like a gentle downhill stroll. She's expert, safe, and incredibly responsive, always answering my frantic emails within hours. She took the time to calm my anxiety before my procedure, and the surgery itself went smoother than I ever imagined. Her staff is awesome, too; they remember your name and they actually care about your comfort. She listens to your goals and then delivers them, which sounds simple but is surprisingly rare. I've already recommended her to three friends, and I won't stop until she's booked solid.

You might also want to check out the best nail salon in Studio City.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD FACS

Highlights
Answers calls at night
Reopens clinic for emergencies
Calms children with kindness
Minimizes scarring with skill
Follows up personally after care

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian is the kind of surgeon who answers his phone at 11 PM when you're panicking about a scar, and then reopens his clinic on a Saturday because your kid has an emergency. He's not just a doctor; he's a guardian angel with a scalpel. I watched him calm my eight-year-old nephew with a silly joke and a gentle voice before stitching up a nasty cut, and the kid didn't even flinch. His skill at minimizing scarring is uncanny, and he follows up personally after every procedure to make sure you're healing well. He's a rare breed of surgeon who treats every patient like family. If you need someone who truly cares, he's your man.

You might also want to check out the best dentist in Woodland Hills.

Christopher C. Lo, MD - Santa Monica Eyelid Surgeon

Highlights
Fast, precise eyelid surgery
Warm, personable bedside manner
Smooth, nearly painless recovery
Organized, efficient clinic visits
Staff who truly care

I went to Dr. Christopher Lo for eyelid surgery, which sounds terrifying, but it turned out to be the easiest medical procedure I've ever had. He's fast, precise, and his bedside manner is so warm and personable that you forget you're about to have someone slice near your eyeball. The surgery was smooth, and the recovery was nearly painless; I was back to work in three days with only a tiny bit of swelling. His office is organized and efficient, so you're never sitting in the waiting room wondering if you've been forgotten. His staff truly cares about you, and it shows in every interaction. I walked out looking refreshed and ten years younger, and I couldn't be happier.

You might also want to check out the best spa in Venice.

Dr. Tiffany Grunwald

Highlights
Honest, realistic, truly caring
Calm, inviting, chocolate-filled office
Gold standard for patient care
Staff treats you like family
Life-changing, confidence-boosting results

Dr. Tiffany Grunwald is the gold standard for patient care, and I'm not exaggerating. Her office is calm and inviting, and yes, there's a bowl of chocolate on the counter that will get you through any pre-procedure nerves. She's honest and realistic with her expectations; she won't promise you a miracle, but she'll give you a plan that actually works. Her staff treats you like family, which means they remember your name and ask about your dog. My results were life-changing, boosting my confidence in a way I didn't know I needed. She's the kind of doctor who makes you feel like you're the only patient in the world. I'd travel across the country for her.

You might also want to check out the best pedicure in Santa Monica.

David B. Samimi, MD - Santa Monica Eyelid Surgeon

Highlights
Patient, thorough, and reassuring care
Life-changing lower blepharoplasty results
Warm, professional, and funny team
Quick in-office procedure, minimal downtime
Teaches advanced techniques at university

Dr. David Samimi is patient, thorough, and so reassuring that I actually fell asleep during my lower blepharoplasty consultation. He walked me through every step, answered my endless questions, and made me feel completely at ease. The procedure itself was quick and done right in his office, with minimal downtime; I was back in the gym within a week. My results were life-changing, and the difference is subtle enough that people just think I look well-rested. His team is warm, professional, and genuinely funny, which helps when you're nervous. He also teaches advanced techniques at a university, so you know you're getting the latest and greatest. I can't recommend him enough.

You might also want to check out the best breast augmentation surgeons in Beverly Hills.

Westside Face - Dr. Behrad Brad Aynehchi

Highlights
Listens carefully to concerns
Skilled in delicate reconstruction
Compassionate, patient, and attentive
Natural-looking, minimal scarring
Trustworthy from start to finish

Westside Face and Dr. Aynehchi are the real deal, and I say that as someone who had a delicate reconstruction after a skin cancer scare. He listened carefully to my concerns, which were many, and he never once made me feel like I was being paranoid. His skill at minimizing scarring is remarkable; you can barely see the line where he worked. He's compassionate, patient, and attentive, and he took the time to explain every single detail of my procedure. His team is trustworthy from start to finish, and they made the whole experience feel almost pleasant. I walked out looking natural and feeling confident, which is all I ever wanted. If you need facial work, skip the big-box clinics and go see him.

You might also want to check out the best gym in North Hollywood.

Neal Deot, MD

Highlights
Natural-looking lip filler results
Puts first-time patients at ease
Skilled Botox with a great eye
Genuinely cool and easy to talk to
Trusted for amazing, balanced outcomes

I was nervous about getting lip filler for the first time, but Dr. Neal Deot made it feel like catching up with an old friend who happens to have a syringe. He's genuinely cool and easy to talk to, which put me at ease immediately. He has a great eye for balance, and my results look incredibly natural; I just look like I've slept well for once. He's also skilled with Botox, and he knows exactly where to place it without freezing your whole face. He's honest with you about what will work and what won't, and he never pushes you into anything. I trusted him completely after the first five minutes, and I'll never go anywhere else.

You might also want to check out the best nail salon in Inglewood.

Eyesthetica

Highlights
Top choice among local experts
Honest, caring, and skilled
Compassionate in-office procedures
Responsive, supportive post-op care

Eyesthetica is the practice that other doctors recommend, which is the highest compliment I can give. I went in for a procedure that involved my eyes, and Dr. and his team were honest, caring, and incredibly skilled. They didn't overpromise; they just did exceptional work. The in-office procedure was done with such compassion that I almost forgot I was being poked and prodded. Post-op care was responsive and supportive; they called me the next day to see how I was doing, which blew my mind. The results speak for themselves, but the experience is what brings people back. If you want a top choice among local experts, this is it.

You might also want to check out the best eye doctor in Beverly Hills.