Raffy Leon Karamanoukian, MD

Dr. Karamanoukian is a very trustworthy doctor who does outstanding work! I have been going to him for over a year now and I am always very happy with my results.

Sadly, a traumatizing experience. Referred by ER after cutting cheek for true plastics, to make the least noticeable scar. Cost $1300. In this consult Dr. Karamonoukian tells me that he has an amazing laser and any remaining visible scar he will laser for “no cost.” As you can see there was a remaining scar. I arrive at my first appointment for laser, and AFTER treatment the office tells me I owe then $75. I go to Dr. K and remind him he told me there would be no charge, he says “But that was for a different laser, I used a ‘more expensive” one. Classic bait and switch. Reluctantly paid as I was so vulnerable, which is a typical patient dynamic which can be taken advantage of. HE pointed out a procedure done on ear, he said it gave me “pixi-ears” and he said he could fix-it beautifully. His critique made me self-conscious so afterwards I agreed to this. (Scar on cheek was still healing so I didn’t yet realize it had been done so badly.) This was $3000.00. He also told me the same, when agreeing to price he said, “You’ll need at least 4-5 laser treatments for the scar, don’t’ worry I won’t charge you anything.” At the first appointment after second surgery he used laser around ears, and then added some places on face, including scar he made on cheek (which he should be fixing for free) areas on face which I did not ask for, after office said I owed $275. They had padded in a facial laser treatment, again not disclosed or scheduled. I finally put my foot down, reminded office that I was not supposed to pay the first time the $75, but did and that he promised 4-5 laser sessions with second surgery, similar unkept promise with first procedure. (Not to mention look at my awful scar and the flat earlobe, he did a terrible job.) So, he agrees reluctantly to three more laser treatments as promised, but his treatment of me became more sour and awful. (I will state the staff was always lovely and it even seemed they were uncomfortable by the situation, as if they knew this was wrong.) My wait became insanely long, he made less eye-contact and was clearly upset with me. Finally, he told me I would need about 6 months more of lasering to get scar he created to go away, at $75 or more a session, and I had to start paying for this stating “I have my own expenses.” I am so disgusted; his treatment of me and lack of ethics only exacerbated this trauma. He also gave the scar on the cheek a cortisone shot and charged me $120! I have never had a MD make you pay for a cortisone for a shot from their own procedure. The cortisone shot is what caused my scar to atrophy and dent. I asked for a refund for the shot and $75 laser they overcharged. At first, they agreed, but then redacted this, stating they would not refund me, because “services were already rendered.” I’m sorry but verbal agreements before treatment are binding, (he said he would laser for no charge) and there was no written documentation stating he would charge for laser post-his procedures/that extra laser treatments would be padded in. I am getting my scar revised by another plastic surgeon who is only charging me $800, is a wonderful guy from excellent academics, and said that this scar on cheek was not done properly, it needed deeper stitches. I am beginning to wonder if he does sloppy scars just to push lasering on his patients to fix them. He told me the older plastics guys don’t accept laser, I am beginning to know why, it’s a scam and it doesn’t work—major false claims. New plastics told me, truly trained plastics surgeon should have minimal if NO visible scar, this is the whole point of the extra cosmetic training, they should be so good you DON'T NEED laser. Other surgeons can't believe how botched this is. Update to this post on different social media, easily found. Disturbing.

I found Dr. Karamanoukian primarily through surgical blogs he is contributing to. And I’m so lucky I did. For few years on and off I was looking for a doctor who specializes in lip implant removal. The implants I had for few years were Permalip. It was a mistake to have them done to begin with. As supposedly “easy” they are to remove, not a lot of doctors are willing to take on such a procedure. Dr. Karamanoukian did. I called his office, was able to email photos and got doctors initial evaluation the SAME DAY. The lady I spoke with was also able to squeeze me into his schedule same week for an in-person consultation. After meeting the doctor and discussing my situation I felt instantly comfortable and confident in his competence. He was discussing both options of keeping and removing the implants, going over pros and cons. I DIDN’T FEEL PRESSURED at all and I didn’t feel like I was being sold any extra services. All the people in the office were GENUINELY NICE, which I find quite rare this days. And I was super lucky to be able to have the procedure done the same day. As a person terrified of needles, of course I was nervous, but the only uncomfortable part was the anesthesia injection, the rest was very easy. No pressure, pulling or pain at all. I felt like the doctor TOOK HIS TIME and didn’t rush. I was out in half an under hour from the treatment room. As a result, I have minimal swelling and I’m extremely happy to get it over with so easily! Dr. Karamanoukian is very skilled, and I’m going to be back to his practice for other services

Dr. Kare, as he’s known, is a extremely talented surgeon. He was able to fix a prominent facial scar that I had for decades even after numerous other surgeons tried and failed. He has an excellent eye for symmetry and balance and is very skillful with the various techniques and methods he uses. His staff is very caring and professional and makes the experience a pleasant one. Highly Recommended.

A short description of Dr Raffy Karamanoukian: arrogant, deceptive, lacks attention to detail (can’t even listen to basic request and be on same page), unapologetic, rude, spineless. Shortly before my 24th birthday I went to him to have sculptra injected into indented acne scars of mine and to fill in one side of my face that was a little less full than it used to be (mind you, I was 23 so emphasis on a little). I explained to him that I would rather be disappointed that nothing happened at all than at all look altered or like something had been done. I showed him pictures of a girl who had a single vial of sculptra who I thought looked totally 100% natural and he was like she looks like she’s had too much! See that’s where he got me, he knew exactly what to say. I thought if he thinks that’s too much then certainly I’ll either be disappointed that nothing happened and need a second treatment or it’ll be absolutely perfect. We agreed that he would inject half a vial throughout my face but inject more into the side of my face that my hair was parted on. I explained that I thought one side of my face was perfectly full and I wanted either nothing in that side or very very little and more into the other side. He pointed that side? (Pointing to the correct side that I thought needed more) to clarify and I was like yes! That side & then we switched rooms and he started injecting which was pretty painful. He showed me a mirror and I realized he had injected MORE into the side that I wanted less into!! I panicked and was like I thought you were going to inject more into the other side!! He said I thought it was this side? And I was like no! And he was like don’t worry I can just add more and then he just injected more ONLY into my cheekbone area and I was like but it’s that whole side of my face that has less tissue and fat?? And he was like don’t worry I’ll add more and then injects more ONLY into my lower jaw. Making my already guant mid face more exaggerated. He also said that worse case scenario I would be swollen through the weekend but that it wouldn’t be bad and that he was 100% sure all of the swelling would be resolved by my birthday a week later, I was swollen and had black eyes for 11 days!! He never once warned me about lumps with sculptra and I developed a visible nodule in my cheek! Dudes a straight con artist. After I asked him for help (literally begged him for help!) he pretty much wrote me off and then finally said we could thread it with very dilute steroids but that could do more harm than good and would take multiple visits. When I asked ballpark how many visits it would take to get rid of the sculptra and why he said that steroids could do more harm than good, he was evasive with my questions and pretty much threw a tantrum that I didn’t trust him and started to try to blame my jaw surgeon (who’s a literal angel who works through insurance companies so people who can’t typically afford a top notch doc like dr bobek can get proper care) for his screw up which literally makes no sense?? I called and emailed asking for my money back and told him I deleted my review and his office said he would call me back. He never did. He also was asking me lots of personal questions during the actual office visit and I showed him a picture of my ex gf on my dads boat and he saw a pic of me pole dancing on my Instagram when I showed him and asked me that I send both pictures to him, which I did. In heinsight his lack of professionalism should have made me run for the hills but unfortunately I didn’t. Now I’m left with a chronically swollen/puffy uneven unnatural looking face and visible nodules and don’t know when/if this nightmare will ever end. Don’t have sculptra injected period (as another doctor said it’s counterintuitive that in medicine we would inject something that causes inflammation) and certainly don’t go to Dr Raffy for anything unless you want to look unnatural and visibly altered. Meeting him is the biggest regret of my life. He should have his license revoked