Training and board certification
Source for all rows: source
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario; BSc, First Class Honours (1994) |
| Graduate degree | Queen's University; MSc in Molecular Biology/Cancer Research (1996) |
| Medical school | University of Toronto; MD, First Class Honours (2000) |
| Internship | Core surgery, University of Manitoba (2000-2002) |
| Residency | Plastic surgery integrated residency, University of Manitoba (2002-2005); Chief Resident 2004-2005 |
| Fellowship | Senior Clinical Fellowship in Hand and Microsurgery, The Buncke Clinic, San Francisco (2005-2006) |
- Board certification: "Certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)."
- Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (2005); Fellow, American College of Surgeons (2011).
- Oral examiner for the American Board of Plastic Surgery since 2024.
- Memberships: American Society of Plastic Surgeons; The Aesthetic Society (Chair, Integrated Marketing Committee, 2023-2026); California Society of Plastic Surgeons; American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery.
- Over 100 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and presentations; private practice since 2006.
Eyelid surgery work
- Upper blepharoplasty. The incision sits in the natural upper eyelid crease and extends slightly past the outer corner into a laugh line. Only skin that can be gently pinched together is removed, described as a "pinch blepharoplasty," a skin-only procedure.
- Lower blepharoplasty. Two approaches: a subciliary lower lid lift (incision just below the lash line, removing skin and repositioning or removing fat), which the page states is the technique Dr. Horton most commonly performs; and a transconjunctival lower lid lift (incision inside the lid, redistributing or removing fat without removing skin).
- Quad blepharoplasty. All four lids in one procedure.
- Setting. Surgery is done in the operating room under local anesthesia with an oral anti-anxiety medication and inhaled laughing gas, or under general anesthesia, and takes one to two hours on an outpatient basis. Dr. Horton uses surgical loupe magnification and pinpoint electrocautery.
- Ptosis. When asymmetry is due to levator stretch or dehiscence, the patient is referred to an ophthalmological surgeon, since skin-only blepharoplasty does not correct it.
- Brow lift is listed as a complementary procedure on the facelift page (source).
Gallery: the blepharoplasty gallery shows 12 patients (source).
The site has no dedicated page for ptosis repair, double eyelid surgery, canthoplasty, revision eyelid surgery or brow lift.
Other procedures
The site offers facelift and MACS lift, neck lift and earlobe repair, breast and body surgery, and non-surgical treatments by nurse practitioners (drkarenhorton.com).
Insurance and cost
- The site makes no statement about insurance or Medicare coverage for eyelid surgery.
- The site publishes no eyelid surgery price. Cost depends on upper, lower or all four lids and on combined treatments; a personalized quote follows consultation (source).
Recovery
- Week 1: sutures are removed in the office; cool compresses, not ice.
- Weeks 1 to 2: concealing makeup may be applied; bruising may descend to the lower lids and cheeks.
- Makeup over sunscreen from one week after surgery; head elevated on 2 to 3 extra pillows.
- Months 1 to 6: full results develop as swelling resolves and incision lines fade.