James J. Chao
Dr. James J. Chao combines decades of surgical experience with a personalized approach focused on understanding your goals and creating results that feel balanced, refined, and uniquely yours.
EXPERIENCE
CERTIFIED
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGONS
Where excellence begins
Dr. Chao’s academic and clinical training represent the highest levels of surgical education in the United States. He graduated with honors from Stanford University, earned his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, and completed his surgical training at the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at NYU Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital, one of the most respected programs in the country.
His certifications and memberships reflect that same standard:
- Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
- American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)
- American Microsurgical Society (AMS)
- Plastic Surgery Research Council (PSRC)
A Career Built on
Surgical Leadership
Dr. Chao’s professional history spans elite clinical practice, academic leadership, and healthcare innovation. Prior to founding VedaNu Wellness, he served as a Clinical Professor of Surgery at UC San Diego, where he shaped the training of surgeons entering the field while maintaining an active practice.
Dr. Chao also co-founded Pacific Healthcare Alliance, a healthcare platform that delivers premium, integrated care across multiple specialties. That same commitment to integrated, high-quality care continues to define VedaNu Wellness today.
His expertise has earned recognition well beyond the operating room. Dr. Chao served as the team plastic and hand surgeon for the San Diego Chargers and ESPN X Games, and his work has appeared on The Doctors, in the San Diego Union-Tribune, and in other respected national publications.
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What separates a good surgeon from the best surgeon is not credentials alone. It is the quality of attention each patient receives before, during, and after a procedure.
Dr. Chao begins every case with a thorough, unhurried consultation. He listens carefully, clarifies what is achievable, and builds a surgical plan around your specific anatomy and goals. Patients with complex revision cases, specialized aesthetic needs, or procedures requiring advanced technique find a surgeon who engages directly with those challenges rather than working around them.
Dr. Chao remains committed to advancing plastic surgery through ongoing innovation, research, and education, ensuring that every patient benefits from the most current, evidence-based techniques.
The Art & Science of Plastic Surgery
Dr. Chao believes plastic surgery is both a science and an art. His meticulous attention to detail, advanced surgical techniques, and commitment to patient safety allow him to deliver results that look beautiful, feel natural, and boost confidence.
Enhancing What’s
Already You
Dr. Chao’s approach begins with listening. Every treatment plan is thoughtfully designed around your anatomy, goals, and individual needs, with an emphasis on balance, proportion, and results that feel authentically yours.
Not All “Cosmetic Surgeons”
Have the Same Training.
The term cosmetic surgeon does not necessarily indicate that a physician has completed formal plastic surgery training. Board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) reflects rigorous education, surgical training, examinations, and ongoing professional standards specific to plastic surgery.
When choosing a plastic surgeon, understanding these credentials can help you make a more informed decision about who is performing your procedure.
ABPS-certified plastic surgeons complete comprehensive surgical education and specialized training in plastic surgery.
Certification requires physicians to meet established standards for training, examinations, ethics, and continued professional development.
Board certification gives patients an important, independently established credential to consider when researching a plastic surgeon.
James J. Chao, MD, FACS is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and brings more than 25 years of experience in plastic, reconstructive, and hand surgery to his patients.
Your Best Self Starts Here.
Schedule your private consultation today and experience the VedaNu difference.