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Dr. Karen Vaniver

Plastic Surgery
Seattle, WA
37 years experience female

Locations

Office

Seattle, WA

Address

1101 Madison Street, Suite 1270, Seattle, WA
Directions

My office hours

Thursday: 8:30am - 5:00am
Show more

Insurances accepted

Aetna Choice POS II

Aetna

Premera Blue Cross

Regence

First Choice Health

Medicare

United HealthCare Insurance Company

About

Bio

I have practiced in the Seattle area since 2006.  I was born and educated in Philadelphia, From 1994-2005, I maintained a private solo practice in Missouri, and served as Medical Director of the Heartland Regional Medical Center Wound Care Program, which received a commendation from the Joint Commission for its inception. My practice, Seattle Plastic Surgery, focuses on breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery of the face and body. I also consult on the management of complex wounds upon physician request. This year (2012), I was delighted to develop my Karen B. Vaniver, MD, Breast and Body Recovery Serum. This all natural product was developed for my breast cancer reconstruction patients. It aids in reducing scarring and capsule formation after breast and body surgery. I've served on numerous national committees, including the Speakers Bureau of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I am a consultant, speaker and researcjer for Lifecell Corporation. I've has presented her work at national meetings, and is the author of several publications. I'm a graduate of the Pathways to Leadership program of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  I am an exhibited photographer and painter. My essays on women in plastic surgery and the role of spiritual practice in plastic surgery have been published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. A dedicated traveler, I've worked internationally with Interplast, a not-for-profit organization, providing free reconstructive surgery for children. I facilitate a support group named "Girltalk", which uses breast cancer as a stimulus for positive life growth, and I write a blog, entitled "Cancer Made Me Nice", on Blogger.com. My new goal is to write a book about my experiences as a surgeon and a patient.

Specialties
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.

Plastic Surgery

Doctor Q&A

90 Answers
35 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Anesthesia for Lift: Cosmetic breast surgery can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. I prefer general anesthesia. It is very safe and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Breast scar reductio: To help minimize breast surgery scars, support the tissue by wearing a bra, avoid trauma, and avoid early aggressive sex and high impact exercise. Twi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Facelift sensations: It is quit common to have unusual sensations after facelift. Causes include anesthesia wearing off, fluid shifts, swelling and softening, and nerve he... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Stretch marks: Because stretch marks represent thin tears in the dermis, the broken area will recede, and the intact area will elevate, creating the wripplingvyou de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Eye bag lady: Some topical treatments can help to decrease swelling under eyes. Laser treatments or ipl may shrink under eye skin. The gold standard is lower lid bl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Becasue : Becasue your nipples were grafted, there is no definite connection between your nipples and your milk ducts. What you are seeing probably represents a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
A : A pedicled flap is a flap that has a blood supply connected to the flap from its original site. Examples include the pedicled tram flap, which takes t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 43-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Bad gallbladder: Symptoms include nausea, bloating, left shoulder pain, right upper abdominal pain, light colored stool, or yellow colored skin. In worse cases, fever,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Nose pimple: This may be a true "pimple", possibly caused by an ingrown nasal hair. It may also be a cold sore. Warm soaks may help. Avoid the temptation to pick. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Appendix scar: If you appendix was ruptured, the skin was probably left open to heal on its own, leaving an unaesthetic scar. This can most likely be improved by sca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Veggy hair loss: Iron can be found in molasses. If your menses are irregular, ovarian function should be checked.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Nose anesthesia: In experienced hands, septoplasty and rhinoplasty can be safely performed under local anesthesia. It is important to make sure that this is being perf... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Implant life: Implants that were placed before the 1990's had an approximate 10 year lifespan. We now have 7 years of surveillance of cohesive gel implants that sh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Botox migration: Botox can migrate to other areas. This is the cause of the eye droop seen occasionally after injection of the "parenthesis" area between the brows. It... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
While : While dissolvable sutures may be used to close the skin after a neck lift, it is important to remember that they are dissolved via the process of infl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Fat graft for breast: The benefits of fat transfer is that it provides the body with its own cells, without requiring a discrete blood supply, unlike a flap. There is also ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Clotted spider vein: There is most likely a clot in the superficial vein. If you are at risk for blood clotting (pregnant, on birth control pills, recent flight, cancer pa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
The nose on Zoloft (sertraline): There is no evidence that zoloft (sertraline) causes an enlarged nose.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Breast sagging: Aging is the most common cause of breast sagging. Other causes include weight gain and loss, pregnancy, nursing, and genetics. Depending on your expec... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
One: One of the substances used in common fillers is also found in rooster coombs.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Lupoid Rosacea: Lupoid rosacea is a form a rosacea in which brown or beige granulomas form on the skin around the eyes and nose. Treatment is difficult and the granul... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Sudden acne and hair: Your symptoms are very classic for ovarian dysfunction, although you are a bit old to see the first manifestation of poly cystic ovaries. The symptoms... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Best bandage: The sticky type bandage is nice for a small area, such as an area of sutures covered by antibiotic ointment that you want to keep sealed and dry. The ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Smallest implant: The smallest implant is approximately 150 cc.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Weight/Breast Redux: Weight loss surgery alters the stomache to reduce the amount of food and calories that can get through. Since breasts are mostly fat, they will also l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Make: Make sure your diet will provide adequate levels of calories and protein and heathy glycemic index.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Shaving bumps: Laser hair removal will be helpful by destroying the hair follicles that cause the bumpsand reducing hair growth.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Hairline Damage: You are correct that trauma to your scalp, such as tight braiding, can led to receding hairline. Stop the offending practice, and over time (several m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Under breast problem: This sounds like intertrigo, which is especially prevalent in women with large breasts. Avoiding irritation is helpful- keeping the area clean and dry... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Reconstruction Risks: The risks of breast reconstruction include bleeding, infection, wound separation, scar, hematoma, seroma, altered sensation, loss of tissue or implant... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Dandruff shampoo: Zinc, selenium, ketaconazole, or coal tar for difficult dandruff.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Age for mammogram: Since your grandmother is a second degree relative (mother is first degree), your risk is not higher than the general population. It's a good idea to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Immediate breast rec: The benefits of immediate reconstruction include the amount of skin available to cover a flap, or implants, the reduced number of surgeries, the psyc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Aug age: While you may have saline implants at 19, you must be 22 for silicone implants. How do you know that you "need" breast implants? I hope that you have ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
The : The name for fluid that builds up in the abdominal area after a tummy tuck is called a seroma. If not drained, not only can it cause discomfort, but i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Reconstruction Recov: The recovery from breast reconstruction depend on whether the reconstruction is done the same day as the mastectomy, the type of reconstruction perfor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
There : There is no routine requirement to have an HIV test prior to breast reduction surgery. However, if you feel you may be at risk- multiple sexual partne... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Pelvic pain: This may be normal, but I am concerned about infection secondary to trauma or retained products of conception. Please see your physician asap!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Pimple redness: Apply warm soaks. This may initially increase the redness, but will then decrease it. Applying ice for brief periods may also be helful. You can also ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
When: When my mind is loud; yoga helps me settle in; to a state of joy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Non-healing Scar: There are many reasons why wounds don't heal after surgery. If the mole was cancerous (melanoma), the cancer could still be growing. Did your doctor s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Scar burning: It is normal to experience a burning sensation in a scar for a number of months after surgery. Discomfort during your period is likely due to general ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Breast lift cost: Everyone's breasts develop differently. Just as in other parts of the body, some breasts sag, and some do not. Breast lift involves raising the breast... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Itchy hair loss: These could be symptoms of ringworm, seborrhea, eczema, or thyroid or iron deficiency. See a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss to be sure.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Black ulcer: The black area is dead skin. This is not particularly common in a venous stasis ulcer, especially if it has clean. Other things to consider are diabet... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Facial muscle pain: Causes likely include overuse, such as chewing tough meat or gum, or trauma or stress from heavy exercise. If the muscle pain includes other areas of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Augmentation pros: Breast augmentation with implants can help you enlarge your breasts and improve their shape. Candidates are those with minimal breasts, those who have... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Skin carcinogens: The most common cause of skin cancer is exposure to uv radiation. Chemicals that cause skin cancer include chronic exposure to arsenicals and some ind... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Retinoids: Yes, this is normal, as the pores are exfoliating themselves and ridding themselves of debris. This will improve with time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Karen Vaniver
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Breast Burn: Early on, cool soaks will reduce the burn. Depending on the depth of the burn, you may be able to treat it with topical ointment, such as silvadene, (... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Testimonials
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.

38
Recommendations
226
Thank you notes
Dr. Laurie Evans
Nov 27, 2012
I endorse this doctor.Dr Vaniver is compassionate, caring and competent. She does beautiful work, gets great results and considers the whole patient and pathology of the problem prior to recommending ...Read More
Dr. Justin Jin
Nov 27, 2012
Dr. Vaniver is a superb physician and really goes the extra mile to make sure her patient's get the best possible care.
Dr. Elizabeth Cotter
Nov 27, 2012
I endorse this doctor. She is compassionate and approachable. I hear only positive comments from her patients.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful! My doctor told me that I have a high level of the testosterone hormon I am do afraid of not having a baby.
HealthTap member
thank you. I took a HPT a week after my period (~4 days ago) because it was so light and weird it was negative though. now this weird stuff
HealthTap member
I appreciate your time. I AM symptomatic! I've had pelvic pain for months, a week of sharp lower left pelvic pain, and very frequent urinati

Education & Training

Medical/Graduate school

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, PA
Graduated 1986MD

Medical/Graduate school

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Graduated 1986MD

Residency

Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital

Awards

Top Doctor, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
America's Top Surgeons, Consumers Research Council of America
America's Top Plastic Surgeons, Consumers Research Council of America

Affiliations

American College of Surgeons
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Northwest Society of Plastic Surgeons

Publications

It's a Matter of Life
The Best of Intentions
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