Ever wonder how Hollywood’s rich and famous are so beautiful?…How do some even seemingly embody perfection?…The fact of the matter is most celebrities and movie stars get a little nip and tuck to maintain their natural beauty or they enhance their features by going under the knife. We sat down with beauty expert and renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Chia Chi Kao as he gives us valuable insight into the real business behind Hollywood beauty.
After graduating from Medical School at the University of Washington in Seattle, Dr. Kao completed a 5-year General Surgery program at the University of Washington and received his Board Certification by the American Board of Surgery in 1997. He quickly developed an interest in surgical endoscopy (minimally invasive surgery through the use of a small camera scope). He became a clinical professor at the University’s Center for Videoendoscopic Surgery and taught residents and fellow surgeons this technique. He then completed a three-year plastic surgery program at the University of Southern California. Dr. Kao continues to expand his interest in Endoscopic Surgery to facial plastic surgery. He specializes in the Endoscopic Browlift, Midfacelift, Vertical Facelift and Limited Incision Necklift.
Beverly Hills Magazine- When did you discover your interest in medicine?
Dr. Kao, M.D.- When I was about 6 years old my Dad asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up…and I didn’t know, but my Dad said you should be a doctor, so I said okay! Then after that every time someone asked me, I said I’m going to be a doctor. Then when I was in college, I started volunteering in a hospital, and I got firsthand experience in the medical field. I witnessed a surgery in progress with the lights turned low and all the intense energy and focus on the surgeon doing his work on the patient. It was that moment that defined my determination to become a surgeon.
Beverly Hills Magazine- What is your philosophy as a surgeon?
Dr. Kao, M.D.- There are many ways to do different things, but I personally like to make less incisions resulting in less scars while still preserving the natural anatomy but still achieving the same goal. I like my work to be unnoticeable. I think if your plastic surgery work is obvious, then that’s failure on the surgeon’s part. When work is done well, it’s just a beautiful thing that everyone appreciates.
Beverly Hills Magazine- What beauty trends are we seeing today in plastic surgery?
Dr. Kao, M.D.- One of the trends I’m seeing in breast augmentation and enhancement is that women are opting for a more natural look and feel. Gone are the days of the Pamela Anderson in your face breasts, as the implant size is trending down. We’re seeing a more subtle beauty similar to Victoria Secret models with a large B-cup being the desired breast size. We are also seeing more fat transfers to breasts and buttocks, as opposed to implants. This allows patients to achieve an enhanced feature without an implant, which is great.
Beverly Hills Magazine- Are there any negative trends?
Dr. Kao, M.D.- I am seeing a lot of abuse of fillers. Some really beautiful women over do fillers, then they try to correct this by using more filler, and I call that “filler burnout.” I’ve surgically corrected overuse in a woman’s face to give her a more natural beauty and appearance. Women are starting fillers in their late twenties and early thirties, and in most cases, they just simply don’t need to.
Dr. Kao helps to teach other surgeons these specialized techniques at the Endoscopic Plastic Surgery Educational Seminar in Los Angeles, California. He also performs all aspects of plastic surgery including cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery, liposuction, laser resurfacing, tummy tuck, eyelid, and nasal surgery.
KAO Plastic Surgery
1301 20th Street, Ste 150
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310-315-9211
Dr. Kao has authored numerous publications that have appeared in professional journals. He has also lectured national and regional meetings with presentations to such groups as The California Society of Plastic Surgeons. He recently appeared on the Discovery Learning Channel featuring his endoscopic facial work. Dr. Kao is a Staff Plastic Surgeon at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. He is a member of California Society of Plastic Surgeons and is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
