Dr. Wendy Chen, MD, MS, FACS

Why plastic surgery?
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For me, there are so many reasons why I chose plastic, reconstructive, and hand surgery as my specialty.
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Before we moved to Taiwan from California, as a young child, my grandparents lived with us. My grandfather was a chemical engineer, worked at a plant, and had suffered burns to his extremities. His hands were stiff, and for me at the time, scary. Later, in high school in Taiwan, I volunteered at an orphanage caring for young children abandoned due to congenital differences. Experiences like these made medicine and healing an obvious career path.
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As an adult, I recognized the power of function, recreation, human connection, quality of life, social justice, and dignity that plastic surgeons can confer through our work. The progress we make with our patients, both emotionally and surgically, is a humbling, rewarding, and it’s a privilege to take care of others as part of their journey.
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On an intellectual level, plastic surgeons are creative, artistic, problem solvers, master technicians, research innovators… we treat patients of every age, for every kind of diagnosis, from the hair on your head to the toes on your feet. It’s an incredibly exciting and challenging field, and I feel lucky to be part of this special tribe!
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Photo credit: @laviephotograph
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