Our Asian Surgery Expert | Dr. Bruce Chau

Dr. Bruce Chau has made it his mission to find the balance between Eastern and Western medicines in the area of Plastic Surgery. But his rise to prominence is marked by struggle and perseverance rarely seen in today’s top cosmetic doctors. He is truly an American success story.

July 24, 1975 was a watershed day for 16-year-old Bruce Chau. It was the first day that he was officially in America.

Bruce was born and raised in South Vietnam to Chinese parents. When he was just 15-years-old, Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. The Chau’s had a cousin who worked for the US Embassy and he made it possible for Bruce to be one of the children allowed out before all borders were closed. During the trip, young Bruce met up with another solitary traveler, an 82-year-old woman who had relatives on the West Coast.

These two unlikely immigrants were first sent to a refugee camp on Wake Island for several months until arrangements could be make for them to get to America. In refugee camp he saw how beauty could be created from life’s ugliness.
After four months the two refugees were transferred to another camp in San Diego where they were eventually sponsored by relatives of the old woman, who lived in Seattle.

Bruce immediately went to work, hoping to save money for school. He didn’t realize the high school was free in America. Because of his diligence and desire to succeed, Bruce learned English in his senior year and was accepted to the University of Washington where he studied chemistry.

He was on a mission to get his family out of Vietnam and enjoy life in his new country. It took 12 years to accomplish this goal.

After medical school at Western University and finishing up his residency at the New York Medical College, Valhalla, Dr. Chau eventually settled in the Detroit area where he has become one of the city’s most respected plastic surgeons.

Dr. Chau is a perfectionist who prides himself in not being a “cookie cutter” plastic surgeon. All of his patients leave having their own unique look. He believes that every patient is unique and beautiful and should be treated as such.

Dr. Chau has always enjoyed a challenge and has never shied away from hard times. He considers Bruce Lee his hero and is trying to fashion his philosophies into the realm of plastic surgery.

When not operating, Dr. Chau is an avid traveler who has visited every continent. He also continues to inspire the younger generation of doctors by teaching courses in various countries as well as at home at Michigan State University.

He is currently single and has one daughter who is studying at Penn State U.

Certification & Memberships
-American Medical Association
-American Osteopathic Association

Additional Affiliations
-Board Certified in Plastic and reconstructive Surgery
-Clinical Faculty Member of Michigan State University
-Program director for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Henry Ford Bi-County Hospital
-Past Chairman of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
-(ACOS): Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Discipline
-Board of Examiners for the ACOS Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Certification Examination
-Vaser Hi Definition certification in Advanced Body Sculpting Applications
-Clinical Preceptor to Arcadia University Program
-Member in the Pennsylvania Medical Society
-Honorary Chairman Of the Physicians' Advisory Board in 2003
-Professor in the South American Vaser Liposuction Convention, 2007

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