Dr. Sam Rizk Fixed My Botched Facelift from Dr. Amir Karam — Night and Day Difference

I’m a 59-year-old male who had a deep-plane facelift and neck lift last year with Dr. Amir Karam in San Diego, and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I developed an infection in his operating room, had a long, difficult recovery, and was left with loose, sagging skin in my lower face and neck that didn’t match the rest of my face at all. I also had a few visible scars that were obvious giveaways I’d had surgery. When I finally met Dr. Sam Rizk in New York, everything changed—he explained exactly what went wrong, how he’d fix it, and gave me the confidence I’d lost.

My first facelift with Dr. Karam was a nightmare from start to finish. I raised concerns for months, but he refused to see me until the 12-month mark. When I finally flew back to San Diego, he told me not to “chase perfection,” that it was “good enough,” and there was “very little to fix.” He minimized the extent of the failed surgery and said the risk–reward ratio was too far out of sync, that any improvements would be so minimal they weren’t worth doing. I left that appointment feeling discouraged and disappointed. The irony is that Dr. Rizk went on to perform major corrective work that completely transformed my result.

A friend and dermatologist, Dr. Paul Frank, confirmed what I already suspected—that my result wasn’t good—and referred me to Dr. Rizk. From the very first consultation, I knew I had finally found the right surgeon. Within 30 minutes of meeting him, I paid my deposit and booked my surgery. That’s how confident I felt.

Dr. Rizk is on a completely different level. He’s not just a skilled surgeon—he’s the surgeon other surgeons learn from. He’s a world-renowned facial plastic surgeon who not only operates but also teaches and performs live surgeries at major international conferences. In 2025, he was the selected surgeon to perform a live deep-plane
facelift at the Baker Gordon Symposium in Miami—the most important symposium in the field—and he’s already been invited back for 2026. He also teaches at the NYC Facelift & Rhinoplasty Masterclass and pioneered the use of tissue sealant instead of drains, which made my recovery unbelievably easy.

I’m now only one week post-op, and the difference is clear. I have no bruising, very little swelling, and scars that are barely visible. Even at this early stage, you can already tell this is going to be one of those completely undetectable facelifts. I knew immediately after Dr. Karam’s surgery that something was off—my face and neck didn’t look normal. The post-op photos were seriously disturbing to see, and I couldn’t imagine how that could ever lead to the outcome I wanted. This experience has been the complete opposite in every possible way.

Dr. Rizk’s artistry, precision, and genuine care are unmatched. He listens carefully, has an eye for harmony, and executes with incredible skill. He’s humble, patient, and honest—qualities that are hard to find at his level of expertise.

I also want to acknowledge his amazing team: Dila at the front desk and nurses Tatyana and Jolanta. They are warm, professional, and make every interaction feel personal and reassuring.

If you’re considering a facelift or a revision, please learn from my mistake. Don’t be fooled by social-media hype or marketing. Go to the surgeon who truly masters the craft. Dr. Sam Rizk is the real deal—an artist, a perfectionist, and one of the very best in the world. The fact that he’s chosen to teach and perform live at the most prestigious symposiums in plastic surgery says it all—he’s truly among the top 1 percent of surgeons in his field.