Dr. Janet Chao’s extensive training in facial plastic surgery and her artistic ability allow her to provide the most natural-looking surgical results possible. Using the most advanced surgical techniques, she focuses on restoring balance and harmony in facial appearance. Her patients value her remarkable skills as an artist, a surgeon, and a compassionate physician. With a commitment to the highest standards of care, Dr. Chao is proud to offer her services by enhancing beauty and joy to the local San Diego community and beyond!
Dr. Janet Chao is a distinguished facial plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic surgery of the face and neck. With over a decade dedicated to studying and perfecting techniques for the face and neck, Dr. Chao brings great care and expertise to the patients of Restore SD Plastic Surgery.
Specializing in Facial Plastic Surgery
As a facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Janet Chao focuses on cosmetic procedures of the head and neck, creating ideal ratios between facial features for stunning results. Dr. Chao specializes in a range of facial rejuvenation procedures including:
Surgical
- Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping surgery)
- Septoplasty (correcting a deviated septum)
- Facelift and neck lift
- Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
- Brow lifts
- Fat transfer
- Nanofat grafting
- Buccal fat removal
- Lip lift
- Chin augmentation
- Hair transplants
- Hairline lowering
- Earlobe repair
- Scar revision
- Mole removal
Non-surgical & Medspa
- Neuromodulators: Botox, Daxxify
- Fillers
- Sculptra
- Laser skin resurfacing
- IPL photofacial
- Laser hair removal
- Personalized skincare recommendations
Education, Training, and Credentials
Dr. Chao’s impressive academic journey began at the University of San Diego, where she majored in biophysics and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her medical degree at George Washington University, where she cultivated a passion for global surgery. Dr. Chao completed her residency in head and neck surgery at Yale University, followed by an advanced fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery through the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). During her fellowship in San Francisco and Palo Alto, she trained under internationally renowned surgeons, mastering cutting-edge techniques in facial plastic surgery including the deep plane facelift and rhinoplasty.
Dr. Chao is also an accomplished educator and thought leader in her field. She has delivered grand rounds presentations on facial rejuvenation at UC San Diego and has lectured at prestigious institutions, including Yale, Harvard, and UCLA. Her expertise in facelift surgery has been featured in multiple textbook chapters, and she has presented at major national meetings, sharing her knowledge with the broader medical community.
Embrace Your Beauty with Dr. Chao’s Compassionate Care
Dr. Chao infuses her uniquely feminine touch and caring approach into her aesthetic practice. Her open and honest communication style helps her patients feel comfortable and at ease. She understands that your goals, concerns, and needs are unique and personal. She meticulously tailors every step of your procedure to align with both your preferences and your facial structure for results that you can be proud of and find natural. With her impressive academic background and extensive clinical training and experience, Dr. Chao is committed to combining the most modern operative techniques with medicine’s personal touch, ensuring you feel comfortable, confident and cared for throughout your transformative journey.
Yale-Trained Female Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Janet Chao boasts an impressive academic background. After receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego, she enrolled in medical school at George Washington University due to its outstanding programs in global health and global surgery. She chose Yale University for her residency, knowing she would receive elite training in facial plastic surgery.
She subsequently completed her advanced fellowship training in San Francisco through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), working under the guidance of internationally renowned and academically recognized facial plastic surgeons. After over a decade dedicated to studying and perfecting techniques in a breadth of aesthetic procedures for the face and neck, Dr. Chao returned to San Diego to work with Dr. Katerina Gallus at Restore SD Plastic Surgery.
Commitment to Community and Global Health
An integral part of Dr. Chao’s medical career is her passion for helping others and giving back to the community. As an advocate for healthcare equity and compassionate service, Dr. Chao works closely with medical missions and global health initiatives. She actively participates as a volunteer facial plastic surgeon through Smile Train, the largest non-profit organization that provides free cleft lip and cleft palate repair around the world. Through these medical missions in Ecuador and the Philippines, Dr. Chao utilizes innovative facial plastic surgery techniques to repair cleft conditions to help children breathe, eat, and speak, restoring hope and the lives of little ones born with serious, often life-threatening functional and physical deformities.
Dr. Chao also eagerly supports causes such as Doctors Without Borders which provides humanitarian medical care in the most dire circumstances all over the world. Locally, Dr. Chao is becoming involved with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts at Rady’s Children’s Hospital, where she contributes her expertise to provide pro bono reconstructive surgery for children with physical deformities. Through this program, she helps children regain not only function but also confidence and joy in their lives.
Outside of the Operating Room
When she’s not in the OR, Dr. Chao stays active and loves hiking, skiing, pilates, and yoga, which help her maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle. She has a deep appreciation for creativity and culture, and is quite passionate about fashion, dance, art, and amazing food. Dr. Chao loves getting lost in great books, music, and movies, and attending the theater. Additionally, she loves to travel, explore new places, and immerse herself in diverse cultures, which inspire her both personally and professionally.
Our Plastic Surgery Facility
Dr. Chao performs all surgical procedures in our Restore SD Plastic Surgery Center—a private, on-site operating room outfitted with state-of-the-art technology, specifically designed with our patient’s comfort and safety in mind.
Learn more about our surgery center »
Plastic Surgery Research Publications
Dr. Chao has also authored numerous scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. Most notably, she has published textbook chapters teaching other facial plastic surgeons how to successfully perform facelift surgery using the deep-plane facelift technique.
