Meet Marc Kayem: Facial Plastic Surgeon

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marc Kayem and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marc, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Just Do It!

Even before Nike used that quote, it was always my affirmation. Life is full of opportunities, that too many people turn into missed opportunities. When you ask yourself “I wonder if this could work?”, you are really saying “Of course this could work, I just have to make it happen”.

What should our readers know about your business?
I graduated from med school in Ottawa, Canada in 1987. I wanted a break before going back to do specialty training. Many of my peers told me I would like the energy of private practice, and would not want to go back. This is where you want to trust your instinct. If it feels right, just do it! I worked 2 very exciting years in pre-hospital emergency (rendering emergency and life saving care in people’s homes, in public places, or in other venues), as well as work in the emergency rooms and intensive care units. It was an amazing experience. After doing that for 2 years, I wanted to follow my previous goals, and go into specialty training.

I decided to go into Ear, Nose and Throat, because it is such a broad and exiting specialty. In America, most people do now know exactly what we do. They may think we treat ear infections, allergies, tonsil problems, … That is a part of what we do, but there is so much more. Our specialty also includes facial plastic surgery, facial trauma and reconstruction, medical and surgical treatment of cancers in the head and neck, snoring and sleep apnea, hearing loss, balance issues, sinus problems (I could go on and on).

The beauty of ENT is that you can focus on the parts of the specialty you love, and leave the rest to other specialists that enjoy it. It also has a reasonable lifestyle, as there are not many after-hours emergencies (nosebleeds and airway obstruction are the only ones, and are infrequent).

I started my first practice in Columbia, TN, because of an interesting opportunity there. I have a lot of family in Los Angeles, and the idea of having a practice in Beverly Hills was always in the back of my mind. I moved to Los Angeles in 1997, and started a practice in Century City, later moving to Culver City in 2000 to merge my practice with that of a colleague who was retiring. In 2009, I sold my Culver City practice and made the move to Beverly Hills (I Just Did It!), where I have been since.

I have also been able to set up successful practices in other desirable locations (Las Vegas, Mammoth Lakes, Cayman Islands), just because I heard there was a need, and persevered to build it (Just Do It!).

All in all, ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery has been a wonderful specialty to be a part of. Looking back, I would not change a single thing on how it all turned out.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Without a doubt: PCH!

The drive up the coast from Los Angeles, going thought Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Moro Bay, San Simeon, Half Moon Bay, Carmel, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, then Napa Valley, is the most beautiful drive in the world. I has to be on everyone’s bucket list!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Erin Kayem, my wife, who always supported my ideas, no matter how crazy they may have seemed.

Website: www.drkayem.com

Instagram: #marc009

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/marckayemmd

Facebook: @marckayemmd