Dr. David A. Kim

ISAPS membership places the surgeon within an international society devoted to aesthetic surgery education and patient safety. The membership is recorded in DeepPlane's listing, and you can confirm current status by contacting the society directly before you make any decisions about surgery.

DeepPlane's record does not hold a figure for years in practice or for procedure volume. Rather than estimate either, this profile describes what the practice offers and how deep plane surgery works. You can then ask the practice for those details yourself during a consultation.

The practice website for David W. Kim, MD presents itself as a rhinoplasty and facial aesthetics practice in San Francisco. Its menu lists cosmetic, revision, hybrid, Asian and male rhinoplasty. A dedicated page for deep plane facelift surgery sits alongside those nasal procedures.

Non-surgical care also appears prominently on the practice website. Listed treatments include Botox and Dysport, dermal fillers, Kybella, laser treatments, microneedling, Morpheus8, PDO thread lifts, PRF skin rejuvenation and medical-grade skincare — options some patients use before surgery, and others use to maintain results afterward.

The deep plane approach works beneath the SMAS (the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a fibrous layer that supports facial skin and fat). By releasing the ligaments that tether this layer, a surgeon can move the cheek, jowl and neck tissues as one unit, with less tension placed on the skin itself.

Tissue repositioning, not skin tightening, is the central idea behind this style of rhytidectomy (the medical term for a facelift). When the deeper layer carries the lift, the skin can be redraped without a stretched look. That is why many patients ask about the technique when they research facial aging.

The practice website lists additional clinicians, including Dr. Riccardi and Dr. Arunkumar, along with a staff page. A team structure like this can matter to you after surgery, when follow-up visits, dressing checks and questions about healing are often handled by several people working together.

Recovery after a deep plane facelift usually unfolds over several weeks, with swelling and bruising most visible in the first two weeks. Many patients return to social plans within about a month. Final results continue to refine for several months as the deeper tissues settle into their new position.

San Francisco gives patients a practical setting for surgery and healing. The city is served by nearby international airports, offers a wide range of quiet hotels, and has a large medical community — all of which can make planning a stay more straightforward for visitors.

Planning tools are part of the practice's patient-facing information. Its website lists a virtual consultation option, financing information, an FAQ section, patient forms and a patient portal. Together, these let you gather details and ask early questions before committing to an in-person visit.

Publications, a CV page and a blog also appear on the practice website. Reading those pages is a sensible step: they show, in the practice's own words, what training and clinical interests are described. Any questions they raise can be brought to your consultation.

Choosing a facelift surgeon is a personal decision that rests on fit as much as on credentials. DeepPlane.com presents the record for Dr. David A. Kim alongside other surgeons in San Francisco, so you can compare training, memberships and approach before contacting any practice.