Albert W. Chow, M.D.

So I just got out of my tattoo excision procedure. It took a little over 2h, consultation time included. The price is very fair. It is as it should be depending on what you are looking for.
I do not even know if it makes sense to say that the excision looks pretty lol. I prefer the excision to the tattoo lol.
But anyways, his staff is wonderful, EVERYONE is helpful and makes you feel comfortable.
I have seen tattoo excision procedures before on youtube and all over the web but this operation was done with precision and expertise. I could feel it (not physically because the anesthesia was awesome) but I could feel it because of the time he took to get the work done. This surgeon is my first and is so far the best in the bay area. I mean look at his titleSSSS! Nothing can go wrong with him.
I would like to thank him for accepting to perform this operation when every surgeons in the bay area rejected my request literally lol. I was discouraged and now I got what I wanted and more.
THANK YOU Dr. You saved my life and now I can enlist in the army without any issues.
Oh did I mention that the nurse is hilarious and awesome? lol.

Wow — he is an amazing doctor. I had the cartilage in nose collapse and I couldn’t breath through my left nostril and the right nostril was diminished. He new exactly what to do by taking cartilage from my ear to reconstruct my nose and it’s only been a month and I can breath so well. I’m so relieved and extremely happy with his knowledge and expertise. I would refer him in a heartbeat.

Excellent credentials, and seemed like a fantastic plastic surgeon. He’s not interested in making a quick $$$, he’s focused on the patients future, and most of all the patients satisfactions. Our consultation fee was waived, and we really appreciated his outlook and advice on what we should do for my significant others ear lobes. I highly recommend this doctor

I was in need of some emergency work and searched and googled for surgeons to consult with. Dr. Chow was one of several I wanted to speak with and after meeting with him, I knew I didn’t need to look any further. I decided on Dr. Chow after reading positive reviews on him and knowing that he has great educational and professional credentials. Many people said he was very personable and kind, which were important characteristics to me. Everything turned out beautifully, from the first appointment to the surgery and the post-​op visits. His staff was very knowledgeable and Dr. Chow knew exactly what needed to be done and explained in detail what to expect. The rest of the surgical team was also very competent and caring and made me feel as comfortable as possible. Dr. Chow insists on many follow-​ups to make sure you are healing properly. He and his staff never kept me waiting. I would definitely recommend Dr. Chow and would not hesitate to use him for other procedures. He is both competent and caring and you will be in good hands.

Finding a great plastic surgeon is like playing russian roulette. There’s a lot of trust and communication that’s involved when you’re in the right hands though. I’ve done extensive research before I finally decided to have Dr. Chow as my surgeon. I am extremely glad that I chose him because he exceeds my expectations and really takes his time to explain each procedure and is honest too. I recently had a breast augmentation done and I absolutely love it! I was hesitant about whether or not I will be too big in size but rest assured, Dr. Chow’s skills definitely proved itself. He is really great all around. There may not be as many before and after photos available to show his work, but that’s only due to patient confidentiality. I have also received Botox and love the results. Dr. Chow will always be my surgeon of choice for future procedures.
Thank you Dr. Chow!

Very IMPRESSED!!! Everyone that works in the office is truly caring and I can see that they are passionate in their jobs. The secretary was very friendly, she explained the different steps the consult would consist of. I met one of the nurses who works in the OR during the surgeries. If I remember correctly, she has been working the plastic surgery OR for 20 years. As the nurse said «we got to play» I was able to try different size implants on with different style bras and different style shirts to have a really good idea of how the breasts would look after surgery. Both the nurse and Dr. Chow were very patient and took the extra time to explain everything to me. I had 2 pages worth of questions written down and by time it was toward the end of the consult I only had 2 questions because every single question was answered during the consult. They even addressed things I would have never thought to ask. Extremely thorough explanation from pre-​surgery, discussed different options of how the surgery can be performed, and post-​surgery. I appreciated their honestly. I was considering doing liposuction to the sides of the breast during the same surgery as the implants being placed. Dr. Chow discussed the increased risks associated with having both of those procedures done in one surgery. Usually medical providers are in a rush to get you in and out of their office. It was so refreshing to have them fully engaged in the conversation and be treated as a real person and not just a number. I want the best possible out come and after speaking with them I feel very confident in their skills, knowledge and extensive experience! Additionally he is a board certified plastic surgeon which is very important and he did his residency in plastic surgery. I can’t wait to have my breasts done!

I read many reviews and performed extensive research prior to making the decision to go to Dr. Chow for a consultation. It went well! He put together pictures of my face from different angles and showed me my before and potential after. He answered all my questions and was very honest, attentive, and straight-​forward. His kind demeanor yet extremely professional presence made me feel assured. His confidence comes from his wide array of experience and extreme capability of surgery. It was obvious that he runs his practice with care and genuine sincerity.
One of the surgeries Dr. Chow performed on me was a septoplasty/​rhinoplasty. I had a hard time breathing out of one nostril for all of my adult life. Therefore, I was expecting a pretty difficult procedure with a prolonged recovery time. Despite this being a procedure known for heavy post-​operative bleeding and pain, I was impressed at how minimal the bleeding was! My nose healed so quickly, and I was back up and about in a couple of days. I am SO happy with the results only after a week. There’s still a bit of swelling but I have no bruising and tapered off the pain meds as soon as 4 days after the surgery.
From reading others’ experiences online who had the same procedure, I can say my experience made me beyond happy about my choice on Dr. Chow as my surgeon. I have no hesitation in recommending him.

Dr. Chow performed a closed rhinoplasty on me about a year and a half ago and I could not be happier with the entire process. I paid an initial consultation fee ($ 50 I think) which eventually went toward my surgery. He was extremely patient, answered all of my questions thoroughly, and made me feel comfortable and at ease. The recovery process was surprisingly painless; I only took pain medication the first 24 hours after the surgery. My nose looks quite natural, and some people cannot believe that I ever had plastic surgery because of the fantastic job Dr. Chow did. Those that did notice have told me how great it looks, and I have referred a couple of friends to Dr. Chow. I am personally thrilled with how it looks and the two tiny exterior incisions that he made have left absolutely no scarring. Most of the time, I forget I even had surgery. Compared to the other plastic surgeons I called in the Bay Area, the cost of the surgery seemed to be reasonable; it was certainly worth it for me.

This office is the worst. I didn’t hear from them for twenty days after my appointment with Dr. Chow! I called repeatedly to try to contact them and always got answering machines saying they would get back to me, but they didn’t. They were also listed on my insurance as a provider, but because they decide to use an in house operating room to make more money, their anesthesia and operating room costs are not covered by insurance, and «are out of Network!» Which is information i had to wait over three weeks for, when they finally emailed me the bill estimate…
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!
This is honestly the most unprofessional, WORST office i have ever come across, and they are a huge waste of time.

Dr. Chow changed my life for the best. He is an exceptional surgeon who gave me the best advice possible. I went in requesting a rhinoplasty, but with Dr. Chow’s advice, I opted for both a rhinoplasty and a chin implant, and I am so happy I did. The results are fantastic. I literally feel like a new door opened in my life. I am grateful to Dr. Chow and his staff, truly. He is a humble person, approachable, skilled beyond words, and a genuinely nice person. And even though he does not parade it, he is a TRIPLE board certified plastic surgeon. The Bay Area is lucky to have him in our presence. Thank you Dr. Chow.

I had my breast implants done almost a year ago and I could not be happier with the results. Dr. Chow is very informative and gives you details to details on what to expect before and after surgery. He will also informs your abouth the myths about silicon vs saline breasts. I searched all over for the right doctor and everyone just made me feel like I was just another patient. But Dr. Chow made me feel at ease through the the whole proceedure and even the POST surgery.
The staff there is very kind and very friendly. They truly make you feel at home and they always make sure that you are comfortable and answers any questions that you may have.
So if you ever thought about getting your breats done or any cosmectic surgery… I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Chow.

I recently had juvederm injections done by Dr. Chow. I am very pleased with the results from the procedure. After an initial consult and an overview of my treatment options, I scheduled an appointment for the juvederm injections.
I have had injectables done in the past from other doctors, and experienced quite a bit of pain and some minor bleeding and bruising. With Dr. Chow, the discomfort was very minor, no bleeding, and I had zero bruising afterwards (even though he told me that he thought I might bruise in some areas). I was actually able to go to work the next day, looking quite normal! I just had a bit of swelling that lasted a few days, but nobody noticed it. I am amazed that he was able to inject slightly more that 3 syringes of juvederm in my face, yet the results looked quite natural and not at all overfilled.
Very happy with my results and I would definitely go back to see him again in the future.

Dr. Chow is gifted. I had a damaged nose from taking a nasal implant out from a different doctor screwing up my face, but dr. Chow made me pretty again. He was able to cut out the stretched out skin from my nostrils and also take cartilage from my ear n use it for the bottom of my nose. The results were great. My nose looks natural. He also made me feel very comfortable when asking questions. I highly recommend him.

If you want anything done. Look no further. Dr Albert Chow has magic in his hands.
You’ll know when you first meet him. He exudes quiet confidence, he makes you feel comfortable, matter –of — fact about what he can do, what is best and the possibilities.
Did I mention he is only triple board certified? Yes, he is.
I had an Asian rhinoplasty with Dr Chow two months ago. and I have the most natural. amazing nose job ever. His measurements and incisions were so precise, I even wondered if he ever used a sharp object on me at all. :)
I am an OR nurse by profession and I have a pretty strong radar on skilled surgeons. Im also bound to be a bit of a drama queen. and believe me. I dramatized the most trivial thing and Dr Chow has ever been so patient with me post operatively.
It was my first cosmetic surgery and Im just thankful that I found and chose the Best Plastic Surgeon in the Bay Area. Hands down.

Dr. Chow has been above and beyond helpful in my situation. Two years ago, I broke my nose going up for a header in my college soccer game. After getting looked at by my university’s doctors, they ultimately referred me to a more specialized doctor in Davis since I complained of being unable to breath. While there, I was lucky enough to get a last minute appointment with Dr. Chow who had the cutting-​edge technology to look in my nose. Using his advanced endoscope, he was able to clearly see the damage of not only my left septum but also the damage done to my right septum. Unlike the doctors at my university who told me I was cleared to play with no broken nose, Dr. Chow identified both my broken nose and deviated septum.
Through out the entire consultation process, Dr. Chow was more than supportive in making sure my nose was adjusted correctly. He reassured me that the surgery would run smoothly by describing the surgical procedure step by step; hence, I had complete trust in him.
Once in the surgery room, Dr. Chow fully realized the scale of the damage done to my nose. Instead of rushing to finish the surgery in the scheduled amount of time, Dr. Chow took the time needed to make my nose «perfect.» Ultimately, the surgery was a great success. I am more than happy with the results and deeply appreciate all the hard work, time and consideration Dr. Chow put in adjusting my nose.
Unfortunately, my story does not stop here. A couple months ago, I was again playing soccer at a BBQ when my friend unintentionally kicked the soccer ball at my face, breaking my nose. Needless to say I was beyond upset. I was not just devastated to have to live through the recovery process of nasal surgery again, but I was dreading seeing the reaction of Dr. Chow. He spent so much time on perfecting my nose the first time that I knew he would not want to hear this news.
When I called his office and explained to them that I broke my nose again, Dr. Chow immediately scheduled me to see him. A week later, Dr. Chow performed surgery on my nose for a second time. Again, he did an absolutely amazing job taking the time to make my nose look it’s very best.
I honestly cannot say enough kind remarks about Dr. Chow. After going through two surgeries with him, I can confidently say Dr. Chow is not only one of the best surgeons in his field, but he’s also an incredible person.

We are a physician couple… So the bar is set pretty high. We came to see Dr. Chow for facial fat injections. Not only is he a true professional, but his staff and overall office atmosphere is top notch. We were quickly seen, and well taken care of. From the knowledgeable anesthesiologist to Marty the ever so caring RN, we were very pleased. Last but not least Dr. Chow’s work is FABULOUS.

Two years, eight doctors and seven consults later, I finally decided on booking my breast augmentation with Dr. Chow.
I am so beyond happy, that my only regret is not having surgery earlier.
I had consult appointments with every reputable surgeon in San Francisco, a few in Marin County, and even considered going down to Los Angeles, because choosing the right surgeon was crucial for me that I literally obsessed over it for almost two years. Dr. Chow is TRIPLE board certified. Those are some pretty amazing qualifications. Not only that, but this man is so nice and met with me three times before I even booked my surgery with him. I had a million questions, and he answered all of them.
I had a friend who had her breast augmentation with Dr. Chow and it was exactly what I wanted. I was fortunate enough to see her results before I took the plunge.
I now LOVE how I look! Completely natural, perfect boobs. Granted, I’m still in the beginning process of healing, but I could not be more pleased.
The office staff (Georgina, Debbie) are awesome… Anytime I have a silly question, I don’t feel weird about calling and asking them. They don’t ever make me feel rushed.
So thrilled. Thanks, team!

Dr. Chow and his staff have been nothing but friendly, professional, and helpful through my entire prossess. Dr. Chow is an artist at what he does, and I am so happy I chose him. His staff even got my insurance to pay for 70% of my procedure, when I didn’t think it was possible. I can’t understand the prior review, because there has never once been any demands made on me before during or after my proceedure. I have never been so happy with a surgeon or his staff.

Dr. Chow was recommended to me by my OBGYN. One of my old breast implants was hardening and changing shape. In addition to that, my old implants were just too big. And due to the size/​weight of them, they took on a look of two rocks in a sock. I didn’t like what was happening. Because I have had this procedure done before, I wanted to do my homework before seeing just any doctor. I went back to my original doctor and also received consultations by two other doctors. All of which didn’t seem as down to earth as Dr. Chow. After seeing Dr Chow, and receiving a new augmentation and lift, I am not only the size that looks and feels great on me, but my girls are pointing in the right direction. I am very confident that when the time comes for my eye area to be treated, it will be Dr Chow that I will go to.

I’ve spent many years pondering plastic surgery and interviewing for the best surgeon (I had looked into probably about 15 – 20 surgeons across the country), and I have to say Dr. Chow has far exceeded expectations in all fronts: his superb credentials (UC Berkeley, UCSF), level of experience (don’t let his youthful appearance fool you as it did for me initially), talent as a doctor and surgeon, the painstaking detail and artistry he puts into his work, congenial bedside manner, and rarely might you hear this in combination with those listed above… reasonable price point.
I was surprised to see relatively fewer Unilocal reviews for him, given what an amazing plastic surgeon he is. When I asked him about it, he said he usually takes those things with a grain of salt. I believe he focuses all his energy on ensuring the highest quality of medical care to each of his patients rather than allocating any of his time to self-​promotion and advertising to simply pump up patient volume (which can be timely and expensive for doctors who choose to pursue that route, often translating to lower quality, more expensive care for the consumer).
He’s also extremely modest — if I hadn’t looked more closely into his credentials, which he didn’t mention during our consultation — I would have totally overlooked him. While many practice’s websites I looked at touted in capital letters at the top BOARD-​CERTIFIED, or even DOUBLE board certified, Dr. Chow is TRIPLE board certified (by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery, and Board of Head and Neck as well as a member with the American Society of Plastic Surgery), which he mentions quite inconspicuously at the bottom of his website. Now, I’ve looked at a lot of doctors, and very rarely have I seen all four of these credentials. You have to be a very talented doctor to be able to achieve all that.
To further demonstrate his focus on quality rather than quantity, I remember I spoke with another doctor and I asked him how long a rhinoplasty would take, and he said with his years of experience, he could bang it out in about an hour. Forgive me, but this is my face we’re talking about… I don’t care if you’re world-​renowned and have performed thousands of rhinoplasties, I want my surgeon to take all the time necessary to ensure that my expectations are met. And that is what Dr. Chow did. We’ve spent many consultations discussing rhinoplasty so he knew how particular I was about it — in surgery, he spent FIVE hours to painstaking detail on my nose alone and I am thrilled with the results. He didn’t even charge me for the overtime in the operating room!
Also about Dr. Chow: he can do CLOSED rhinoplasties. This is very difficult and requires a high degree of skill and dexterity of surgical hands. Very few plastic surgeons are capable of doing this well — they usually only can do open rhinoplasties, which as you can imagine, causes more bruising, scarring, and requires longer recovery time. With a closed rhinoplasty, there is absolutely no external scarring. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that Dr. Chow charged less for his closed rhinoplasties than most doctors who can only do open rhinos.
The other great thing about Dr. Chow is that he doesn’t charge consultation fees like many other doctors. I met with him three or four times over the length of about 8 – 10 months before finally deciding to have the surgery, all without being charged a penny. He will meet with you as many times as you need to get comfortable. And I never felt pressured to commit to surgery with him — he even encouraged me to take a couple more months to think about exactly what I wanted. I’m a very particular customer, so every time I went in, I usually had a list of about 10 – 20 questions, which he always answered patiently, never making me feel rushed or like I was wasting his time.
With our healthcare system in desperate need of a makeover, it’s such a rare pleasure to find a doctor with the priorities of Dr. Chow. It was apparent to me through our interactions over time that he is genuinely passionate about medicine and helping his patients feel better about their appearance, and that monetary reward is tertiary.
His staff, especially Cassandra, is also warm and fantastic. When I didn’t have a ride home after the surgery, she offered to give me one. Little did I know that this was a much bigger favor than it seemed. After the surgery, she had to wait in the office until about 10pm while I spent several hours recovering from the anesthesia, which she did happily
Here’s some advice I’d like to share if you decide to meet with a plastic surgeon:
— Bring pictures of yourself so you can specify what you may not like
— Pictures of friends or celebrities demonstrating your ideal, helping Dr. Chow understand your standard of beauty
— Do your research
— Speak to former patients