Get To Know Dr. Kao

Chia Chi Kao MD

Made of a million decisions.

It began with a scope.

Born in Taipei and raised in Seattle, Dr. Kao trained in general surgery at the University of Washington, where he was chief resident.

As a clinical professor at the University of Washington Center for Video Endoscopic Surgery, he taught endoscopic surgery to residents and fellow surgeons. He completed plastic surgery training at the University of Southern California and an international fellowship in craniofacial surgery in Taipei. That endoscopic lineage is the root of the Ponytail system.

He lifts on the vertical.

The Ponytail Lift™ and Ponytail Facelift™ are his own: a stepwise system of endoscopic, deep-plane facial rejuvenation built on vertical vectors and discreet incisions.

Ponytail Lift™ I
Ponytail Lift™ II
Ponytail Facelift™ I
Ponytail Facelift™ II

Four clinical levels, assigned by Dr. Kao after examining the face, never self-selected.

The Ponytail Lift

600 Ponytail patients, in print.

Dr. Kao and Dominik Duscher published a retrospective study of 600 consecutive Ponytail patients in Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

Read the study

A retrospective study of one surgeon’s experience. Individual results vary.

From Taipei to Santa Monica.

Board certified: American Board of Plastic Surgery · American Board of Surgery
Societies: ASAPS · ASPS · ISAPS · IFATS · California Society of Plastic Surgeons
Licensed: California · New York
Staff surgeon: Providence Saint John’s · 20th Street Surgery Center

TaipeiBorn
SeattleRaised
University of WashingtonGeneral surgery, chief resident; taught video endoscopic surgery
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, TaipeiInternational fellow, craniofacial surgery
University of Southern CaliforniaPlastic surgery
Santa MonicaKao Plastic Surgery, 900 Wilshire

“…is single-handedly revolutionizing the future of facelifts.”

Vogue

Also in ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar and on the Discovery Learning Channel.

“It is not about making someone simply look younger, but giving them the gift of feeling attractive and vibrant.”

Chia Chi Kao, MD

“He took a lot of time with me and seemed to have the passion and vision of an artist.”

A patient, on Yelp

Biography and credentials

Dr. Chia Chi Kao is a board-certified aesthetic plastic and reconstructive surgeon with over 20+ years of experience whom Vogue claims “is single-handedly revolutionizing the future of facelifts.” He is also the founder of the KAO Center in Santa Monica, CA and is the creator of the new and revolutionary Ponytail Lift™ and Ponytail Facelift™ procedures.

Dr. Kao was born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to Seattle, Washington when he was eleven years old. He knew he wanted to be a doctor at the age of six and started volunteering at Harborview Trauma Center in Seattle while he was in college. During that time, he saw his first operation and decided he wanted to be a surgeon. In medical school, his mentor was a plastic surgeon, and he saw the beauty his mentor was able to create with his hands. This inspired Dr. Kao to become a plastic surgeon as well.

After graduating from medical school at the University of Washington in Seattle, Dr. Kao completed a five-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). Dr. Kao became a clinical professor at the University’s Center for Video Endoscopic 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 has taught other surgeons these specialized techniques at the Endoscopic Plastic Surgery Educational Seminar in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Kao has authored numerous publications that have appeared in professional journals. He has also lectured at national and regional meetings with presentations to such groups as The California Society of Plastic Surgeons. He 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.

Requirements for a Doctor to be a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon:

Has graduated from an accredited medical school
Has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Medical Education; this includes a minimum of five years of residency training in all areas of surgery, including at least two years devoted entirely to plastic surgery
Has passed comprehensive written and oral exams

To check if a doctor is board certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, please visit: www.abms.org

Ponytail Lift ™

Dr. Kao’s Specialties

Ponytail Facelift ™

Regenerative Cell Isolation

Fat Transfer / Grafting

Breast Augmentation

Circumareolar Breast Lift

Breast Lift with Implants

Internal Bra Mastopexy

Breast Reconstruction

Breast Reduction

Implant Revision

Liposuction

Brazilian Butt Lift

Abdominoplasty

Rhinoplasty

Scar Revision

Board Certification

The American Board
of Plastic Surgery

The American
Board of Surgery

Professional Societies

The American Board
of Plastic Surgery

The American
Board of Surgery

Member of American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS)

Member of American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)

International Federation of Adipose Therapeutics and Science (IFATS)

International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)

Member of California Society of Plastic Surgeons

Member of Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgery

American College of Surgeons Associate Fellow – 1997 to 2000

Henry N. Harkins Surgical Society – November 17, 1995 – present

American Medical Association – 1991 to 1992

Faculty: Endoscopic Facial Plastic Surgery Educational Seminars – 2000 to 2003

Education

College

University of Washington School of Medicine – Seattle, WA (1983 – 1987) Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Microbiology, cum laude

Medical School

University of Washington School of Medicine – Seattle, WA (1987 – 1991) Doctor of Medicine: June 1991

General Surgery Residency

University of Washington Department of Surgery – Seattle WA Chief Resident: 1995 – 1996 Resident: 1991 – 1995 Intern: 1991 – 1992

Clinical Professor

Department of Surgery, University of Washington – Seattle, WA (1996 – 1997) Specializing in Endoscopic Surgery

United States Surgical Fellow in Video Endoscopic Surgery – (1996 – 1997)

International Fellow in Craniofacial Surgery, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital – Taipei, Taiwan (1997)

University of Southern California Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Affiliated Hospitals: 1997 – 2000

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
City of Hope National Cancer Center
LAC/USC Burn Center Burn Fellow
LAC/USC Plastic Surgery Chief Resident
LAC/USC Orthopedic Hand Service Chief Resident
Cosmetic Surgery: Pacific Surgicenter, Santa Monica
USC Resident Cosmetic Surgery Chief Resident 1998 – 2000

Licensure

California State Physicians and Surgeons

New York State Physicians and Surgeons

Hospital Affiliations

20th Street Surgery Center
Santa Monica, CA

Providence Saint John’s Hospital
Santa Monica, CA

So Cal Surgical Specialities
Santa Monica, CA

Volunteer activities & Charitable Organizations

Pink Party for Breast Cancer Research

South Central Scholars for Underprivileged Kids

Additional Affiliations

Kao Plastic Surgery
Chia Chi Kao, MD

Private Practice in Plastic &
Reconstructive Surgery

900 Wilshire Blvd Suite 100,
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 315-9211

Kao Aesthetics

Founder

Medical Spa

900 Wilshire Blvd Suite 100,
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 315-3022

Kao Regenerative Therapies