English text translated by Angela Feng
Photography by Banny Zhang
Cosmetic surgery has transformed the lives of many people and made countless dreams come true. However, it also comes with immense risks. Many medical students have attempted to become plastic surgeons without success, due to the difficult process and strict requirements. Dr. William Lao is one of the few who have succeeded; his journey is one marked with determination, perseverance, and tenacity.
Dr. William Lao has been transforming lives for over 10 years. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Taiwan and the United States, and has a thorough understanding of the aesthetic ideals of both the East and West.
Dr. Lao grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. His high school years were spent in Vancouver, Canada, where he was first in his class. Upon graduating, he enrolled in The Johns Hopkins University. There, he double majored in biomedical engineering and computer science before subsequently earning his M.D. from the university’s prestigious medical school.
That was just the beginning. Next came six grueling years of integrated residency training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Throughout those years, Dr. Lao frequently worked up to a hundred hours a week. The process was extremely demanding, and there were times where he considered quitting. Nevertheless, he pushed through and refused to give up, working resolutely toward his goal.
Upon finishing residency, Dr. Lao came to New York University, where he completed the most sought-out aesthetic surgery fellowship with the world-renowned Dr. Sherrell J. Aston. Under the guidance of Dr. Aston, Dr. Lao was able to further train his “aesthetic eye” and learn to appreciate the beauty of the human body to the utmost degree. This involved not just medical training but also training in the arts. Through sculpting classes, Dr. Lao was able to better master the art of human proportions.
It is Dr. Lao’s belief that the best cosmetic surgery results should not have an “operated look.” With all his patients, he strives to achieve a final appearance that looks as natural as possible. This can been seen in the “before” and “after” pictures on Dr. Lao’s website, all of which use standardized photography to honestly assess surgical results without exaggerated makeup or camera angle manipulation.
Dr. Lao specializes in rhinoplasty, eyelid blepharoplasty, transaxillary breast augmentation, and abdominoplasty, as well as nonsurgical procedures such as fillers, laser resurfacing, skin tightening, and reconstruction for skin and breast cancer. His upper eyelid and rhinoplasty services are particularly popular among Chinese clients, who often need more careful suturing and post-op scar care, as it is easier for Asian skin to develop dark scars.
Above all, Dr. Lao’s goal is to ensure that patients come out of his care feeling happier and more confident. “When patients come back and are happy with their results,” he says, “that is also when I am the happiest.”
Dr. Lao is licensed in the United States and Taiwan, and board-certified in plastic surgery in both countries. After years of practicing as an attending physician in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taipei, he recently returned to Manhattan to open his own private practice. In his free time, he enjoys staying physically fit through hobbies such as basketball, badminton, billiards, and cycling.
With his thorough understanding of the aesthetic ideals of both the East and West, Dr. Lao is able to combine techniques and concepts from both worlds and customize procedures, providing clients with the best results possible.
To learn more about Dr. Lao, visit his website doctorlao.com.
