Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Plastic Surgery Center

I had surgery with Dr. Katzen in September of 2008. I has a breast augmentation with silicone implants. I am very happy with my breast. They look very natural which is exactly what I wanted. I met with Dr. Katzen and told him my concerns about going too big and he assured me that they would be what I wanted. I would recommend Dr. Katzen to everyone. He was an excellent choice.

Dr. Katzen is a wonderful plastic surgeon, his bedside manner is excellent. I can honestly say that I have never meet another surgeon who really cares about his patients like Dr. Katzen does. I have a tummy tuck scar revision (abdominoplasty done by another surgeon), Staged liposuction of my thighs and a thigh lift. I’m completely satisfied with my results. The recovery was a not easy I have to admit but- if I had the choice to do it all over again I would sigh up for it all over again in a heartbeat. Thank you Dr. Katzen for making me feel like a real woman again.

The first step is the hardest. After losing over 85 lbs I was left with what I called a Jabba the Hut belly. No matter how much more weight I would lose this tummy wasn't going anywhere. I felt that I looked worse now then when I was heavy because of the skin. So my husband and I went to a seminar of Dr Katzens We sat and listened to all the testimonials, listening to the amazing stories. All sounding too good to be true, afterwards we had a consultation. This was the first time I would be having to show this tummy to anyone, let me tell you it was scary, But Dr K was very professional, made me feel at ease. He listened to what I had to say, what I hoped to achieve and then told me what he thought he could do for me. explained in detail the risks and I must have asked 110 questions and he answered each and every one of them.

My husband and I left there with a great feeling, but since we had 2 other consults already booked we felt we should go to those. we went to them and found ourselves back at Dr Katzens office booking my Anchor tummy tuck and breast augmentation.

Dr Katzen gave me something I have never had before, a flat stomach. and a renewed sense of self confidence. I now stand in front of the mirror that I used to avoid and can't believe that it's me with a flat tummy, something I have only dreamed of before. Dr K is amazing in what he does.

I highly recommend Dr Katzen to anyone considering plastic surgery. He had his whole staff are awsome.

At 447 lbs, Friday February 13th, 1998 I underwent Gastric Bypass Surgery w/ Vertical Banded Gastroplasty. I lost 167 lbs and was a new woman. I did though have hanging skin & fat all over my body. I had gone through this unbelievable life change and I was still unhappy with the way I looked. After seeing several plastic surgeons, I started my "reconstruction phase" while I was living in Dallas. The Doctor at the time was not used to dealing with Gastric Bypass patients and their special needs. This type of massive surgery was relatively new as the weight loss surgery was gaining momentum worldwide. His approach had been to go section by section. This caused me to recuperate at a slower rate with more difficulties. It did not produce the exact results I was hoping for. Two multiple surgeries later, we still had not tackled my biggest issue....Two large flanks above my butt.

Later, I moved to Orange County, CA. Being in the land of beautiful women, sea and sand, I began to get the urge again to undergo additional surgery. This was more of a mental victory than a physical one. My family and friends could not believe that I was willing to risk my mental and physical health once again. They didn't understand what it felt like to be carrying around this additional weight and misshaped body. I decided this time I would approach surgery differently. I would find a plastic surgeon that specialized in the gastric bypass patient. The day after I mentally made this decision, I was watching Bravo TV and a commercial for Dr. Katzen was being shown. It was as if G-d himself was speaking to me and telling me to go for it. I jotted the website information down and pulled out my laptop. I didn't sleep that night. My head was filled with other people's testimonials about his work, before and after pictures of the latest surgeries, and all the reading I did on the weight loss boards & sites. I called to make an appointment the next day. To my surprise, he was not in Orange County but in Beverly Hills. On a map, it doesn't seem far. At most times of the day, it is a 2 hour commute from door to door This wasn't exactly what I wanted but I thought let me meet him.

I arrived at my appointment, with a filled waiting room and smiling faces greeting me at the reception desk. I remember thinking this guy is too busy - is that a good sign or bad one? Will he have enough time to spend with me or does his work speak for itself that his bedside manner doesn’t matter? I received my answer shortly. When brought back to the exam room, Dr. Katzen spent over 45 minutes talking with me. I didn't feel rushed. He answered all my questions showing me photos of his work similar to mine. I never once saw him look at his watch. I walked out of his office that day with the estimate in hand and a new thought in my head. I must have a "Body by Katzen".

It took me 3 days to resolve myself to doing the surgery. Now I had to deal with not only the mental and physical aspects of the surgery but the financial one as well. I called the next day asking for a follow up appointment to see some more photos and have a chance to ask some additional questions. I think I was so excited leaving his office at the initial consultation; I just wanted to make sure that what he told me and what I saw were the truth and not just things I thought I wanted to hear and see. Dr. Katzen met with me again for another 30 minutes at least. By using the latest techniques and the “power lift” surgery, this man not only told me but promised me, that he could remove those flanks and give me a normal midsection all the way around. I thought how much was that worth to me? From previous experience I knew that my insurance wouldn’t pay. I made the decision that if I was ever going to go into debt for something… this was it. This is what credit cards with no interest were for!!! I gave a deposit that day and put my name in for the next available surgery date. The patient coordinator said lets go ahead and try and put this through the insurance but unfortunately I was correct. I was lucky enough to have had them pay for a previous surgery and knew the ropes.

Due to my work schedule and Dr. Katzen’s schedule, the first available date was May 7, 2008. I busied myself with getting all the testing done. I arrived that morning at the surgicenter filled with mixed emotions. Was I doing the right thing? Did I really want to go through this again? I had blocked out the recovery periods from my last two surgeries and for some reason walking into that building I was gripped with fear. Dr. Katzen met me in the prep room as the nurses were busying around me to get me ready. He took the last photos of my old body and marked me up with a pen. I stood there and asked him again with tears welling up in my eyes…”This line was going to meet this line and this will all be gone??” and he said “YES”.

Over 10 hours of surgery later, I rolled into the recovery room. The worst moment of the entire recovery came at the point where they were going to transport me from the surgicenter to the recovery medical hotel. When I read the brochure, I thought transported meant on the gurney in one of those non-emergency ambulances. This was not the case. They took me off the gurney, into a wheelchair and wheeled me downstairs to an underground parking garage to a waiting Lexus sedan. Lexus or not…the experience of getting into the back seat of that car, the 10 minute ride to the hotel, the wheelchair from the car to the room, I thought what the heck have I done to myself. My sister in law, a registered nurse, who graciously signed up to assist me with the recovery process was waiting for me. I left the hotel the next day feeling safe in my caregiver’s hands and made the 2 hour trek back to my house.

The first few weeks were great. I saw the results immediately. My spirits were up. Through recommendations I read on the websites, I rented a lift up reclining chair and a walker to help me move around more easily. I would definitely recommend both to any patient considering this procedure. I was back to working from home a few hours a day within 2 weeks.

At one of my follow up appointments Dr. Katzen had noticed some black spots along the incision line. He instructed me to put a nitro glycerin crème on it and for me to watch it carefully and call with any changes. With the help of digital cameras and email, I was able to send him photos of changes in the coloring. After receiving them, he asked me to come in earlier that week for my follow up. The skin and tissue underneath was not getting enough blood flow and it was dying. My first thought was here we go again. My immediate recovery time always went great. It was the remaining time shortly thereafter when things went wrong. There were three sites where this was occurring. Of course, it was the three areas where the most fat and skin were removed (lower stomach area and both sides of my butt where the flanks once were). I had to be hooked up to a Wound Vac machine, monitored by a nurse from a home health care agency with 3x a week dressing changes. It became routine to have my Monday or Tuesday afternoon weekly follow-up appointment with Dr. Katzen. Even the valet guy at the building was monitoring my progress. Each week, Dr. Katzen walked in the room, shook my hand, asked me how I was doing (not only physically but mentally) and listened to me. As the recovery moved forward, he always kept smiling and giving me hope. It was three months before the wound vac could be removed. The time it took was mostly my fault. I wasn’t eating properly, if at all and I wasn’t giving my body what it needed..PROTEIN.

These months were more of a mental challenge than a physical one. Dr. Katzen seemed to become my therapist secondary to being my plastic surgeon. Even my family and friends, who drove me to each week’s follow up appointment got to know him and saw his “specialness” for themselves. Due to the complications, I am going to need a scar revision. Even with everything that happened to me this year with the recovery issues, I would trust Dr. Katzen with my life again without a doubt in my mind. I am excited for the day we can finally take the “after” pictures!!!

This is from Kate Shirley reporting with incredible amazement at the ease, comfort and lack of fear I received from the professionals beginning with preoperative office appointments to the nurses, anesthesiologist and Dr Katzen who even won over my husband who with me was reluctant to adventure into another surgery. As for the outcome of the repair of my abdominal hernia and tummy tuck, I healed beautifully without a single negative event. I fully knew and was prepared to do the right things every step of the way. Today nearly six weeks later, I no longer suffer daily nausea and abdominal cramping-- not even needing to use laxatives and stool softeners. For the first time in over 4-yrs since my bariatric by-pass, I can now 'burp' and 'oh what a relief it is'. And of course, I must not forget to mention that I have no further problems with a 'hangover the waist bulging' making my clothes fit much better. Thanks again for the individual attention and care, it meant a lot to me.

This is my testimonial below. Feel free to take what part of it you want. I don't want
my last name used.

I had a botched liposuction surgery done 13 years ago. My thighs were a disaster.
After consulting with many cosmetic surgeons I thought the problem I had could not
be fixed. Then I found Dr. Katzen. Finally an answer to my problem. Dr. Katzen did
a phenomenal job. I would highly recommend Dr. Katzen to anyone considering having
body work done even if you have to travel out of state. The results are worth it.

"Dr. Katzen is a superb surgeon. I have had two surgeries and both times his skills and brilliance have impressed me so much, my respect and trust for him now are immeasurable. In addition, Dr. Katzen has a real warmth and kindness about him and he, and his staff, always made me feel safe and comfortable every step of the way."

I would like to share my glowing recommendation for Dr. Timothy Katzen. I had one of the best surgeons for my Gastric-Bypass surgery in February 2005 and I wanted nothing but the best for my Brachioplasty to continue my journey, so I feel so very fortunate to have found Dr. Katzen for this procedure.

It is so important to have a Plastic Surgeon who really understands someone who chooses to have weight-loss surgery; why we did it, our motivations, our sensitivities, both physical and emotional, and our goals. By specializing almost exclusively in post weight-loss patients Dr. Katzen has this sensitivity, and even more importantly, he has the skill to deal with our unique needs internally and externally.

Dr. Katzen took as much time as I needed in his consultations with me in order to make sure I felt comfortable, and he ensured I really had all my questions answered. I never felt rushed. Even after my procedure, I always feel like I am his only patient when he is dealing with me. (However, for as hard as this man works. and as much as he cares for everyone, I know I’m not!) And, although I live 2500 miles away, after 10 days I returned home and with e-mail and digital pictures I’ve been getting the same level of care as if I was right there in his office in Beverly Hills.

I had my Brachioplasty in November 2008 and I can already say, only two months later, that Doctor Katzen’s kind “bedside manner” is only out-done by his skill as a surgeon. Already my arms look wonderful. I had the full armpit to elbow procedure and he placed the scars so perfectly at the “inside seams” of my arms that even as I heal, no one notices the scars unless I point them out.

In order for a Doctor to have the ability to maximize his time with his patients he must have a good staff to take care of everything else, and Doctor Katzen has the best. Between Raquel, Diana, and Jane there is always someone available to answer your questions from procedure details to finance.

Whatever procedure I may choose to have in the future, if it’s plastic surgery, there is NO ONE except Doctor Katzen for me.

I met Dr. Katzen in July of 2006, approximately 7 mos after I had my WLS and had lost 100lbs. I knew immediately that he was the doctor for me. His compassion, expertise and bevy of beauties volunteering to show their "handiwork" was overwhelming. During my personal consultation, he and his staff made me feel comfortable and that my quality of life mattered.

When I was ready for my surgery, I went back to Dr. Katzen and had a reconstruction plan laid out. My surgery went perfectly, and my recovery was switft. He was there for me at every bump in the road, 24/7, even while on vacation. For the first time in my life, I have a flat stomach, a flat back, and my thighs are still healing. I am wearing form fitting, body conscious clothes and can't wait to see what my final result will be. Plastic surgery is a serious undertaking, but I felt confident with my choice of physician partner and that helped getting through the rough spots. Now it's all about living my life in freedom. I cannot recommend Dr. Katzen highly enough.

My experience with Dr. Katzen began just six short months ago. Who would've known what an impact he could have on my life in such a short period of time. A little history about me. My body has been through many changes in the past year and a half. It all started with gastric bypass in June of 2007. I have lost a total of 180 pounds and now have a great deal of skin to be removed. That's where Dr. Katzen came in.
Dr. Katzen has made me feel comfortable and at ease since the day I met him. I couldn't decide where to begin and he, and his amazing staff, were open and honest with me every step of the way. I finally decided to begin with my arms and have brachioplasty surgery. My arms still looked like they belonged to the 300+ pound woman I use to be and I wanted nothing more then to transform them into the "new me".
I was very nervous on the morning of surgery and one distinct memory I have before the anesthesia took over was of Dr. Katzen. He held my hand and told me, "Every thing's going to be just fine. We'll see you in a little while with your new, gorgeous arms." It absolutely amazed me that my surgeon would take his time to comfort me and put me at ease before the surgery began. My past experiences with doctors have always just been "short and sweet" - in the door, take care of what they need to, and out they go. It's never, ever been that way with Dr. Katzen.
Dr. Katzen did such an amazing job on my arms! I still look in the mirror every day and can't believe that these arms belong to me. When I show people "his work" they can't believe how amazing they look and what a great job he did. I can't wait to finish my transformation in the future and I will most definitely have Dr. Katzen leading the way.
Dr. Katzen is supported by the most amazing staff of ladies who truly know what they are doing and obviously enjoy their work. They are genuinely friendly and outgoing each time I see them or speak with them. I can't thank Dr. Katzen and his staff enough for making me feel so welcome and comfortable! You are all amazing!