Meet Your Surgeon · San Diego
Charlie Chen, MD.
A board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who pairs Ivy League training with a calm, unhurried bedside manner — surgical and non-surgical care tailored to you, never to a template.
Calm authority, well-earned.
Charlie Chen, M.D. is a premier board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who brings state-of-the-art technique and expertise to the San Diego area. An Ivy League–trained surgeon, he completed a full general surgery residency at Yale University, followed by a plastic surgery residency at the University of California, San Diego. He furthered his training with an aesthetic surgery fellowship in Charlotte, NC as the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) Endorsed Fellow.
Prior to his surgical training, Dr. Chen earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and his Medical Doctor degree at Loyola University Chicago. A fourth-generation physician, he keeps a bi-coastal practice rooted in San Diego with ties to Chicago.
Throughout his career, Dr. Chen has remained active in academic teaching and research into new surgical techniques. At Yale he was awarded the Outstanding Performance in Medical Student Teaching Award, and he has published with world-renowned innovators in journals including Annals of Plastic Surgery, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the Journal of Vascular Surgery — presenting his work at the meetings of the ASAPS, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Association of Hand Surgery, and the New England Hand Society.
Dr. Chen offers both surgical and non-surgical techniques customized to the individual needs and desires of each patient. His calm demeanor and outstanding bedside manner give his patients confidence and comfort in receiving the highest quality of care. In addition to English, he is fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese.
Training & Credentials
A deliberate path to mastery.
Nine years of accredited surgical training — five in general surgery, three in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and one of dedicated aesthetic specialization — built the foundation for the results Dr. Chen delivers today.
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Science in Biology.
Loyola University Chicago
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.).
Yale University — General Surgery
Full general surgery residency. Awarded the Outstanding Performance in Medical Student Teaching Award.
UC San Diego — Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Plastic surgery residency in his home city of San Diego.
ASAPS Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery–Endorsed Fellow, Charlotte, NC.
American Board of Plastic Surgery
Board-certified by the ABPS — the highest level of training and accreditation in the specialty.
About Board Certification
Board certification matters.
Not every "cosmetic surgeon" is a board-certified plastic surgeon. Here's what the distinction actually means for your safety and your result.
- Six-plus years of accredited trainingBeyond an accredited medical school, an ABPS surgeon completes at least six years of ACGME-certified residency training as a surgeon.
- The full scope of the specialtyABPS certification covers hand, craniomaxillofacial, pediatric, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery — not a single narrow procedure.
- Rigorous, verified examsCertification requires passing comprehensive oral and written examinations, and the board verifies a surgeon's credentials for any member of the public who asks.
- The only ABMS-approved boardThe ABPS is the sole organization approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify plastic surgeons of the face and body.
Dr. Charlie Chen
Fully trained, fully certified.
Dr. Chen is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He has undergone full training in both General Surgery (5 years) and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (3 years), with additional specialization in aesthetic surgery as an ASAPS-endorsed fellow (1 year) — the highest level of training and accreditation in plastic surgery, so he can offer his patients state-of-the-art techniques and results.
See his results →"You don't need to look like someone else. You need to look like the most rested, confident version of you — and a surgeon you trust to get you there safely."
Outside the Operating Room
A steady hand, a full life.
Outside the operating room, Dr. Chen loves spending time with his wife, two daughters, and son. He's a fourth-generation physician with a passion for sailing, playing the guitar, and fishing — the kind of calm, grounded presence patients say they feel the moment they sit down with him.
Recognition
Honored by patients and peers.
Meet Dr. Chen in person.
Every consultation is a conversation, never a sales pitch. Call or text — we answer.