Dr. Karen Horton was recently interviewed for StartUp Hype, a platform to inspire and motivate entrepreneurs, in particular women in the San Francisco Bay Area. As an internationally Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with a private Plastic Surgery practice in San Francisco, Dr. Horton has decades of knowledge and hard-fought experience to share with both women and men who are considering starting their own businesses.

Having her own practice and being “the boss” of herself is important to Dr. Horton because it allows her to provide the highest level of care, on her own terms, in her own special way to patients, in a boutique clinical setting. She can also take the time to know her patients well as individuals and pay meticulous attention to detail—which, combined with her surgical skill and artistic talent, leads to exceptional surgical results.

When asked about what she reflects on when she needs day-to-day motivation, Dr. Horton shares something that she tells her patients, which is also good advice for any type of journey. “It’s not easy, it’s not like in the reality shows where you fast forward three months and everything looks amazing; it’s hard when you’re going through it at the moment. Be a patient patient and be patient in life— trust the system, trust your body and trust that you will get where you need to be.”

Watch the video to learn how Dr. Horton decided to be a Plastic Surgeon, her newly updated office and operating room in the Pacific Professional Building, and her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.