Who We Are.
Many plastic surgery clinics are too focused on quantity over quality work. Edwin Kwon, MD, FACS and his dedicated team are only focused on your patient care and results.
It's About You.
Dr. Edwin Kwon treats each consultation with the utmost importance and makes sure to thoroughly discuss his patient’s goals. Moreover, he will never push a surgery that isn’t necessary and will always give you realistic expectations. He understands that no two people are exactly alike and that all his patients require unique attention to detail.
About Dr. Edwin Kwon.
Edwin Kwon, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in Asian Rhinoplasty, DCF Rhinoplasty, Buccal Fat Removal, Endoscopic Breast Augmentation (also known as the Scarless Breast Augmentation), and several body-contouring procedures in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Newport Beach. He is a native of Southern California, where his achievements began early as a National Merit Scholar. He attended Pomona College where he won the CRC Chemistry Award and was only one of three students inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Society in his junior year.
He was then recruited to Vanderbilt University School of Medicine with a full academic scholarship as a Canby Robinson Scholar. During medical school, he took a sabbatical to work at Massachusetts General Hospital with the renowned Dr. William J. Austen, who is now the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital.
He went on to complete a combined General Surgery and Plastic Surgery program at the University of California, San Francisco one of the premiere plastic surgery training programs in the country. During his residency, he received an NIH grant to study a novel pain control pathway which led to a ground breaking paper in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. He also published numerous scientific articles as well as a book chapter with Dr. Ron Gruber, one of the most prolific and highly recognized rhinoplasty surgeons. Following residency, he completed an Aesthetics Fellowship through the University of Southern California. During this time Dr. Kwon honed his craft and performed countless cosmetic procedures while investigating state of the art techniques and publishing several papers on rhinoplasty, complex breast procedures, and abdominoplasty.
Since beginning practice in Southern California, Dr. Kwon continues to strive for balance and perfection in his work. In his approach to achieving a natural rhinoplasty, he is known to tell patients, “I want people to know you look better, but not quite know why.” Dr. Kwon’s extensive training and experience combined with his unique perspective allow him to provide a customized approach to help you reach your aesthetic goals.
About Our Patient Care Coordinator
Lilit Pananyan has over 8+ years of experience in the plastic surgery industry as consultant to some of the most well-known board certified plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills. She has also worked and collaborated with several A-List celebrities, influencers and public figures throughout her career by guiding them through many types of procedures and skin care treatments. Unlike experiences she’s had at a handful of other practices, what Lilit appreciates most about working with Dr. Kwon is seeing his ability to find solutions for individual patient concerns without giving them unrealistic expectations. Together, she and Dr. Kwon work tirelessly to prioritize patient care and results above anything else.
MORE THAN PLASTICS.
Awards & Features.
Dr. Kwon has been recognized for his achievements in the Plastic Surgery industry and has also been featured in several publications/magazines. He is periodically working on writing new articles for medical journals on the latest surgical techniques as well as regularly contributing his expertise to popular beauty-related platforms.
Publications & Presentations.
Dr. Edwin Kwon Interviewed By RealSelf
Dr. Edwin Kwon Talks To RealSelf About His Patients, Expectations And More RealSelf sits down with Dr. Edwin Kwon to go over some of his
Business Insider Speaks To Dr. Kwon About Buccal Fat Removal
Weighing In On This Popular Trend Dr. Edwin Kwon recently spoke with Business Insider in an article entitled, Why A Plastic Surgeon Says That He
Dr. Kwon Discusses Scarless Breast Augmentation With VietFace TV
Weighing In On Scarless Breast Augmentation Dr. Edwin Kwon recently appeared on VietFace TV which aired On February 9th, 2023. He discusses some of the
Dr. Kwon Talks About Scarless Breast Augmentation With Realself News
Weighing In On Current Plastic Surgery Trends: Scarless Breast Augmentation Dr. Edwin Kwon contributed to a recent Realself News article published in December entitled, 7
Dr. Kwon Weighs In On Rhinoplasty Photos For Realself News
What Should You Be Looking For In Rhinoplasty Photos? Dr. Edwin Kwon recently lent his expertise in a Realself News article published in November entitled,
Dr. Kwon Named Rising Star Of 2022
Featured In Super Doctors Dr. Edwin Kwon has been recently honored as a Rising Star in the Southern California Rising Stars 2022 list, as published
Hepatic Surgery At VA Medical Center: Dr. Kwon Contributes To The American Journal Of Surgery
Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA – Hepatic Surgery Dr. Kwon, Along With Other
Dr. Kwon On Abdominoplasty With Aesthetic Surgery Journal
Decrease in Seroma Rate After Adopting Progressive Tension Sutures Without Drains: A Single Surgery Center Experience of 451 Abdominoplasties Over 7 Years Dr. Kwon Publishes
2017 • Publication
Thomas S, Chen S, Sbitany H, Kwon E, Piper M, Park J, Barberio MT, Pawlowska N, Munster P. Autologous fat grafting as a novel anti-estrogen vehicle for the treatment of breast cancer. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Sep; 140(3):537-544
2016 • Publication
Macias LH, Kwon E, Gould DJ, Spring MA, Stevens WG. Decrease in Seroma Rate After Adopting Progressive Tension Sutures Without Drains: A Single Surgery Center Experience of 451 Abdominoplasties Over Years. Aesthet Surg J. 2016 Oct; 36(9): 1029-35
2016 • Publication
Chopra K, Gowda A, Kwon E, Stevens WG. Implant Malposition after Breast Augmentation: A Review of Techniques for Repair. Aesthet Surg J. 2016 Jun; 36(6):660-71
2015 • Publication
Calvert J, Kwon E. Techniques for diced cartilage with deep temporalis fascia graft. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2015 Feb; 23(1): 73-80
2014 • Publication
Gruber RP, Kwon E. Advanced Suture Techniques in Rhinoplasty. Dallas Rhinoplasty: Nasal Surgery by the Masters, Third Edition. CRC Pres. 2014
2014 • Publication
Gruber RP, Kwon E, Berger A, Belek KA. Supratip-plasty: A Completely Cartilaginous Tip Complex to Maintain Nasal Tip Width. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2014 Jan 1: 34(1):34-44.
2013 • Publication
Sbitany H, Kwon E, Chern H, Finlayson E, Varma MG, Hansen SL. Outcomes Analysis of Biologic Mesh Use for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction in Clean-Contaminated and Contaminated Ventral Hernia Repair. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2013 Dec 5
2013 • Publication
Kwon E, Alemi F, Poole DP, Lyo V, Cattaruzza F, Cevikbas F, Steinhoff M, Nassini R, Materazzi S, Guerrero-Alba R, Valdez-Morales E, Cottrell GS, Schoonjans K, Geppetti P, Corvera CU, Bunnett NW. The TGR5 Receptor Mediates Bile Acid-Induced Itch and Analgesia. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2013 Apr 1; 123 (4) 1513-30
2013 • Publication
Gruber RP, Kwon E, Berger A. Commentary on: The lower nasal base: an anatomical study. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2013 Feb 1; 33(2):233-6
2011 • Publication
Alemi F, Kwon E, Chiu J, Aoki H, Stewart L, Corvera CU. Laparoscopic Treatment of Liver Tumors Using a Two-Needle Probe Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation Device. HPB (Oxford). 2011 Sep;13(9):656-64
2010 • Publication
Alemi F, Kwon E, Freise C, Kang SM, Hirose R, Stewart L, Corvera CU. Hepatic Surgery at a VA Tertiary Medical Center: Lessons Learned. American Journal of Surgery. 2010 Nov;2010(5):591-5.
2006 • Publication
Chan RK, Ibrahim SI, Takahashi K, Kwon E, McCormack MC, Ezekowitz A, Moore Jr FD, Austen WG. Jr. The Differing Roles of the Classical and Mannose-binding Lectin Complement Pathways in Events Following Skeletal Muscle Ischemia-reperfusion. Journal of Immunology. 2006 Dec 1; 177(11): 8080-85
2004 • Publication
Lim M, McKenzie K, Floyd AD, Kwon E, Zeitlin PL. Modulation of delta508 cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator trafficking and function with 4-phenylbutyrate and flavonoids. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. 2004. Sep; 31(3): 351-7
2015 • PRESENTATION
Kwon E, Ordon M, Calvert J. Costal Cartilage Harvest for Rhinoplasty through Concurrent Breast Augmentation or Implant Replacement Incision Presented at the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Meeting, Montreal, May 2015
2014 • PRESENTATION
Kwon E, Piper M, Sbitany H. Outcomes Analysis of Biologic Mesh Use for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction in Clean Contaminated and Contaminated Ventral Hernia Repair Presented at the America’s Hernia Society 16th Annual Hernia Repair Meeting, Las Vegas, March 2014
2013 • PRESENTATION
Kwon E, Sbitany H. Outcomes Analysis of Biologic Mesh Use for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction in Clean Contaminated and Contaminated Ventral Hernia Repair Presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, San Diego, October 2013
2011 • PRESENTATION
Kwon E, Alemi F, Godfrey C, Chiu J, Corvera CU, The Science of Painless Jaundice: Elucidating the Mechanism of Bile Acid Induced Analgesia. Presented at the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Annual Meeting, Miami, March 2011
2011 • Presentation
Alemi F, Kwon E, Stewart L, Corvera CU, A Comparison of Monopolar to Bipolar Radio Frquency Ablation of Liver Tumors. Presented at the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Annual Meeting, Miami, March 2011
2010 • Presentation
Alemi F, Godfrey C, Cevikbas F, Poole D, Kwon E, Spreadbury I, Vanner S, Steinhoff M, Bunnett N, Corvera CU. A Novel Cell Surface Receptor Responsive to Bile Acids Mediates Itch. Presented at the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinical Congress, Washington D.C, October 2010
2010 • Presentation
Alemi F, Kwon E, Garrett R, Steart L, Corvera CU. Hepatic Surgery at a VA Tertiary Medical Center: Lessons Learned. Presented at the Association of VA Surgeons Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, May 2010
2010 • Presentation
Kwon E, Godfrey C, Cattaruzza F, Alemi F, Bunnett NW, Corvera CU. The Science of Painless Jaundice: Elucidating the Mechanism of Bile Acid Induced Analgesia. Presented at the UCSF Department of Surgery Residents Research Symposium, San Francisco, March 2010
2006 • Presentation
McCormack MC, Eberlin K, Kwon E, Maricevich R, Randolph M, Austen WG. Sequential Ischemia Offers Remote Postconditioning-Like Protection Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Murine Skeletal Muscle. Presented at the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons 23rd Annual Meeting, Boston, November 2006
2005 • Presentation
Kwon E, McCormack MC, Randolph MA, Austen WG. A Histological Method of Assessing Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Skeletal Muscle. Presented at the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons 22nd Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., November 2005
2004 • Presentation
Mulloy MR, Kwon E, Drinkwater DC, Gallagher H, Hu Y. Inhibition of p38 Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Mediated Endothelial Cell Survival During Cardiac Transplantation. Presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session, New Orleans, March 2004
Research.
2009
University of California San Francisco, CA (7/2009-6/2010) – Department of Surgery, Carlos U. Corvera, MD Department of Neuro Digestive Disease, Nigel W. Bunnett, PhD Elucidated the mechanism of bile acid induced analgesia or “painless jaundice.” A bile acid receptor TRG5 has been implicated in metabolic roles but its role in analgesia has never been shown. We have shown that activation of TGR5 with specific bile acids in both the peripheral and central nervous system can induce an anti-nociceptive effect.
2004
Massachusetts general Hospital, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA (12/2004-6/2005) – Department of Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, William G. Austen Jr., MD Department of Vascular Surgery, Michael T. Watkins, MD Developed a novel method of histological analysis that overcomes the problems with previous methods and provides an accurate and quantitative assessment of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in skeletal muscle. I/R injury in skeletal muscle is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in the clinical settings of transplantation/replantation surgery, crush injury, and free flap transfers and has been widely studied. Yet there is no universal or direct method of assessment as other methods employ correlational measurements such as mitochondrial activity, tissue permeability, LDH activity, or neutrophil infiltration. Past histological examination may not represent accurately the extent of injury throughout the entire muscle. Our proposed method provides a statistically sound and reproducible method of quantitatively assessing I/R injury in skeletal muscle.
2003
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (1/2003-12/2003) – Department of Cardiac & Thoracic Surgery, Davis C. Drinkwater, MD; Yenya Hu, MD, PhD Studied signal transduction pathways, most notably mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that mediate ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury leading to myocardial and endothelial dysfunction during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The hypothermic ischemic preservation required for cardiac transplantation exposes the donor heart to myocardial I/R injury upon implantation. p38 MAPK has been directly linked to increased apoptosis in models of myocardial I/R injury and its inhibition has significantly improved post-ischemic myocardial function in in vivo models. However, the intracellular signaling pathways responsible for these changes are not well determined. additionally, the incorporation of p38 MAPK inhibitors into myocardial preservation solutions had yet to be examined. We demonstrated that there is cross-talk between p38 with AKT and ERK 1/2 both of which are cardiac intracellular survival signals using HUVEC incubated in hypothermic UW (Belzer) preservation solution as our model.
2002
Pomona College, Claremont, CA (1/2002-5/2002) – Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Cynthia D. Selassie, PhD Studied the antibacterial potency of trimethoprim analogs designed using the aid of QSAR. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an enzyme that regenerates 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate from 7,8-dihydrofolate. Tetrahydrofolate serves as the coenzyme for thymidilate synthetase in the biosynthesis of thymidylate along with other critical reactions such as the synthesis of amino acids and purines. Dividing cells require a continuous supply of thymidine and thus DHFR has been targeted for antibacterial chemotherapy. Trimethoprim (TMP) has been shown to inhibit DHFR and act as an effective antibacterial agent. We had determined that although the seven TMP analogs have a higher affinity for the binding site in E. coli, their antibacterial potency was not increased.
2001
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (5/2001-8/2001) Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Pamela L. Zeitlin, MD, PhD Studied the effect of flavanoids, apigenin, genistein, kaempferol, and quercetin on CFTR processing in IB3-1 cells (F508/W1282X) and whether sequential treatment with 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) to increase CFTR processing and flavonoid to directly stimulate CFTR would increase Cl – conductance. Showed through immunofluorescence a favorable change in the intracellular distribution of CFTR with treatments of flavanoids and observed an increase in chloride conductance as measured by chloride efflux in cells that were treated with 4-PBA and then assayed with forskolin and 1 µM or 5 µM genistein, and also with cells treated with 4-PBA, apigenin, or quercetin. Thus, a combination of chronic treatment with 4-PBA or select flavonoids, followed by acute flavonoid exposure, may be beneficial in cystic fibrosis.
2000
Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (5/2000-8/2000) Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ann Arvin, MD Studied the role of open reading frame ORF35 of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) to determine its role associated with viral replication and pathogenesis. Although genes related to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame 35 (ORF35) are conserved in the herpes viruses, information about their contributions to viral replication and pathogenesis is limited. Using a VZV cosmid system, we deleted ORF35 to produce null mutants. Results indicated that ORF35 was dispensable for VZV replication, but deleting ORF35 diminished growth in cultured cells and was associated with attenuated VZV infection of differentiated human skin and T cells in vivo.
