Welcoming “Yco Facial Plastic Surgery” Team

Posted on: March 21st, 2019 by Shany Batbold

We are thrilled to welcome Mario Yco, MD, Gretchen Taylor, MD, Kara Pennington, PA-C, and Sarina Howard, PA-C to our California Skin Institute – Encinitas location. With them, they bring expertise, passion and the latest technology in reconstructive surgery, facial rejuvenation, and laser treatments. Dr. Mario Yco and his exceptional team treat each patient as an individual with unique needs, creating customized procedures rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Dr. Mario Yco began his medical career after serving as a corpsman in the United States Navy. He earned his medical degree from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and continued his education with focuses on internal medicine, general surgery, otolaryngology, head and neck surgeries, and facial plastic surgery. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Yco is a multidisciplinary expert and proudly offers various state-of-the-art surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures.

Dr. Gretchen Taylor received her medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.  She completed a General Surgery Internship followed by a residency in Otolaryngology/ Head & Neck Surgery at Naval Medical Center, San Diego. She then served in the US Navy for 24 years, retiring as a Navy Captain in 2007. She has extensive training in the most current facial aesthetic treatments, including various laser treatments, Botox and a wide assortment of fillers.

Kara Pennington, PA-C, a nationally-certified Physician Assistant, earned her Master of Medical Science degree from Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania, and completed the Physician Assistant certificate program at Stanford University School of Medicine. Given her background, she is able to better understand her patients aesthetic concerns so she can deliver their envisioned results with injectable, laser treatments and Coolsculpting. Kara is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA).