Dr. Elbert T. Cheng, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
SpecialistOtolaryngology, Plastic Surgery within the Head & Neck
Saratoga, California
● Taking New Patients
NPI: 1396823357· License: A63141 (CA) verify
Industry payments (2024): $1,053 across 40 payments (what this means)
4.9(183 ratings)
Consultation $250
About
Dr. Elbert T. Cheng is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon practicing in Saratoga, California, with over 25 years of experience specializing exclusively in facial rejuvenation surgery. His practice, Cheng Plastic Surgery, has been recognized as the Best Plastic Surgeon and Best Place for Plastic Surgery in Silicon Valley for 2025, and also as the Best Cosmetic Surgery Business by The Mercury News.
Dr. Cheng centers every consultation, treatment, and follow-up around providing personalized care and natural, individualized results. He believes in understanding each patient's anatomy and goals to create outcomes that restore youthful definition while preserving unique features, never appearing overdone. His approach to facial procedures is holistic, treating the nose and face together for harmonious results. For rhinoplasty, he tailors changes to the patient's anatomy, facial balance, goals, and breathing, rather than a "perfect" or "one-size-fits-all" nose. He combines procedures for eye area rejuvenation to address brows, eyelids, and midface for a balanced, cohesive look. Dr. Cheng emphasizes that the most effective treatment is not always the least invasive, customizing every plan based on individual anatomy, skin quality, and aesthetic goals.
Connect with Dr. Elbert T. Cheng on Social Media
Specialties
- Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Procedures & Services
Select a service to schedule an appointment · each is approximately 60 minutes
Average Cost of Surgery
Healthcare costs shouldn't be a mystery. Below, you'll find crowdsourced data on the actual costs of surgeries performed by Dr. Elbert T. Cheng, submitted anonymously by the patient community. Use this as a guide to better anticipate your own expenses. Please note that final costs can vary based on your specific medical needs.
Botox
$2,300
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Questions, Answers, and Information Directly from Dr. Elbert T. Cheng
Sourced directly from Dr. Elbert T. Cheng's social posts and replies.
What is the typical recovery timeline for rhinoplasty?
At just one month post-op, the nose is still very early in the healing process and will continue to refine as swelling gradually subsides over the coming months. One-month results are not considered final.
What should I expect regarding healing after facial surgery?
Surgical results continue to settle, soften, and become more refined over time. At 2 months post-surgery, residual swelling and tissue firmness are still part of the healing process. At 3 months, swelling continues to diminish, the face and neck become softer and more defined, and the surgical result begins to look increasingly settled and refined. Following complex procedures like a deep plane facelift and neck lift, especially when combined with eyelid surgery, fat grafting, and laser resurfacing, the tissues can continue to settle and the overall result can mature over many months. A beautiful surgical result isn’t captured at a single moment; it reveals itself gradually throughout the healing process.
What is the healing timeline for lip procedures like Lip Lift and Corner of the Mouth Lift?
At just 6 weeks post-op, healing is still ongoing, and scars will continue to soften over the coming months.
Are there limitations to non-surgical treatments for certain concerns?
Yes, if your concern is that your upper lip looks too long, hides your upper teeth when you smile, or has lengthened with age, filler alone cannot shorten the distance between your nose and lip. Similarly, for under-eye bags caused by herniated fat pads and excess skin, creams and fillers can only do so much.
Is Partial Submandibular Gland Reduction performed on all neck lift patients?
No, partial submandibular gland reduction is not performed on every neck lift patient. It is reserved for individuals whose enlarged salivary glands contribute to persistent fullness beneath the jaw.
What are the goals of revision rhinoplasty?
The goal of revision rhinoplasty is to improve proportion, definition, and nostril symmetry, while maintaining a result that feels natural to the rest of the face.
How does pan-facial fat transfer work and what are its benefits?
Pan-facial fat transfer uses a patient’s own fat to strategically restore volume in areas where it has diminished, such as the temples and cheeks. This helps soften hollowing, improve facial contours, and create a smoother transition from the upper to lower face. It can also provide subtle support to areas of early laxity by restoring some of the underlying volume that contributes to youthful facial structure.
How nuanced is rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty can be a nuanced procedure where even subtle changes to the bridge, tip, nostrils, or overall projection can influence the way the entire face is perceived.
When is a Lip Lift recommended over lip filler?
If your concern is that your upper lip looks too long, hides your upper teeth when you smile, or has lengthened with age, a Lip Lift may be the better solution as filler alone cannot shorten the distance between your nose and lip. A Lip Lift shortens the space between the nose and upper lip, creating a more youthful proportion and increasing upper tooth show when smiling.
What is a Corner of the Mouth Lift?
A Corner of the Mouth Lift subtly elevates the outer corners of the lips, helping soften a downturned expression. When combined with a Lip Lift, these procedures improve lip shape and facial harmony in a way filler alone cannot.
What are the treatment options for under-eye bags?
The appropriate treatment depends on the underlying cause. If under-eye bags are caused by herniated fat pads and excess skin, creams and fillers have limited efficacy. Lower Blepharoplasty is often the most effective method to create a smoother, more refreshed appearance. Dr. Elbert Cheng performs Lower Blepharoplasty, Skin Pinch, and CO2 Laser Resurfacing. Genetics, not just aging, are often the cause, with some patients developing prominent under-eye bags during adolescence due to hereditary lower eyelid fat prolapse. Lower blepharoplasty is designed to treat under-eye bags, puffiness, tear trough deformities, and lower eyelid aging with natural-looking, long-lasting results.
How does Lower Blepharoplasty with Fat Repositioning, Skin Pinch, and Fat Grafting (Midface) work?
This combined approach addresses under-eye bags, smooths the tear trough and eyelid-cheek junction through fat repositioning, conservatively removes excess lower eyelid skin with a skin pinch, and restores volume while improving the lower eyelid-cheek transition with fat grafting to the midface. This can result in a smoother, brighter, and naturally refreshed appearance while still looking like oneself.
What are the indications and technique for a Deep Plane Neck Lift?
Fullness under the chin, loss of jawline definition, or loose neck skin that doesn't improve with weight loss or injectables are indications. Dr. Cheng's technique involves addressing not only loose skin, but also the deeper facial structures, and carefully reducing prominent submandibular glands when appropriate. This aims to create a cleaner, more defined neck and jawline while maintaining a natural appearance. When combined with a Deep Plane Neck Lift, partial submandibular gland reduction can enhance neck definition in patients who would otherwise continue to have visible bulk after surgery.
How does Dr. Cheng determine the best treatment plan?
Treatment plans may involve filler, surgery, or a combination of both. The best treatment depends on what the patient is trying to correct, their anatomy, concerns, and desired outcome. Every consultation at Cheng Plastic Surgery is personalized to help determine the right approach.
From Dr. Elbert T. Cheng's Instagram
@chengplasticsurgery →Recent photos posted by @chengplasticsurgery, Dr. Elbert T. Cheng's own Instagram account. Each image opens the original post on Instagram.
Images © Dr. Elbert T. Cheng / @chengplasticsurgery, shown here with a link to the original post. If you are the account owner and want an image removed, contact [email protected].
Patient Experience
Dr. Elbert T. Cheng Review Summary
4.9
Dr. Cheng has consistently excellent reviews, averaging a near-perfect 4.9 stars across multiple platforms. Patients frequently highlight his surgical skill, caring approach, and the natural-looking results he achieves.
Ratings from Other Platforms
Cheng Plastic Surgery
12945 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, California
(408) 741-9982
Book a Service Consultation
Consultation fee: $250
Each service is approximately 60 minutes.
Industry Payments
Federal law (the Physician Payments Sunshine Act) requires drug and medical-device companies to report anything of value they give to a physician — consulting and speaking fees, research funding, travel, royalties, and even meals. Medicare publishes all of it in a public database called Open Payments. We show it here so you don't have to go looking for it.
Total received (2024)
$1,053
Payments
40
Compared to peers
Moderate
Dr. Elbert T. Cheng received $1,053 across 40 payments in 2024. That is higher than about 71% of the physicians here who received any industry payment. Most of it was categorised as food and beverage, and the largest single payer was ABBVIE INC..
What this means for your care
- A disclosed payment is a business relationship, not evidence of wrongdoing, and it says nothing on its own about the quality of your care.
- Most payments are small. Across the physicians listed on NavMDs, the single most common category is food and beverage at industry-sponsored talks.
- Larger consulting, speaking or royalty payments mean an ongoing financial relationship with a company whose products your doctor may use or recommend. That is worth knowing about, and it is reasonable to ask about.
- A fair question to ask: “Do you have a financial relationship with the maker of the implant, filler or device you're recommending — and what alternatives did you consider?”
Source: CMS Open Payments, the federal database created by the Sunshine Act. View the full record on CMS Open Payments ↗
Patient Awards
Best
Insurance Information
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Phone: (408) 741-9982
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Location & Contact Information
Cheng Plastic Surgery
12945 Saratoga Ave
Saratoga, California 95070
Office Information
Phone: (408) 741-9982
Where does Dr. Elbert T. Cheng practice?
Doctor's Office
Cheng Plastic Surgery (Primary)
12945 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, California 95070
(35 reviews)
Hospital Affiliations
Hospital affiliations unknown
Do you know which hospitals Dr. Elbert T. Cheng is affiliated with? This information helps patients understand where they might receive care.
Education & Experience
Education
Bachelor Of Science In Biology With Honors At Stanford University
Oxford University
Stanford University - 2001 (Residency)
Duke University School Of Medicine - 1996 (Medical School)
Certifications & Licenses
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Double Board Certified Facial Plastic And Reconstructive Surgeon
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make an appointment with Dr. Elbert T. Cheng online?
This information is not available based on the provided text. Check the doctor's website or contact their office directly to inquire about online appointment scheduling.
Does Dr. Elbert T. Cheng offer telehealth?
This information is not available based on the provided text. Contact the doctor's office to determine if telehealth appointments are offered.
What do patients have to say about Dr. Elbert T. Cheng?
Patients rave about Dr. Cheng's skill and artistry, describing him as "gifted" and "talented." They express high satisfaction with their results, from eyebrow and lip lifts to eyelid surgery and CO2 laser treatments. Many comment on his professionalism, supportive staff, and the natural appearance of their post-procedure results, with several mentioning exceeding expectations and smooth recoveries.
What areas of care does Dr. Elbert T. Cheng cater to?
Dr. Cheng specializes in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. This includes both surgical procedures like facelifts, eyelid surgery, and lip lifts, as well as non-surgical treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers, and facial fat transfer. The practice centers every consultation, treatment, and follow-up around providing personalized care, natural results, and an exceptional patient experience. They are committed to raising the standard in cosmetic surgery, advanced laser treatments, and medical-grade skincare, continuously improving year after year. Dr. Cheng approaches facial procedures holistically, treating the nose and face together for harmonious results, and addressing both structure and volume to achieve greater symmetry and balance without changing a patient's unique features. He creates personalized surgical plans, thoughtfully combining procedures to address facial and neck laxity, eye/brow concerns, volume, and skin quality, aiming for balanced and harmonious outcomes. His rhinoplasty philosophy emphasizes creating results that work in harmony with individual features, respecting form and function, and tailoring changes to the patient's anatomy, facial balance, goals, and breathing, rather than aiming for a 'perfect' or 'one-size-fits-all' nose. For eye area rejuvenation, Dr. Cheng combines procedures to address the relationship between brows, upper eyelids, lower eyelids, and midface for a balanced, cohesive result, preserving natural features rather than treating areas in isolation. The practice aims for results that appear completely natural and believes in customizing every treatment plan based on individual anatomy, skin quality, and aesthetic goals, understanding that the most effective treatment is not always the least invasive. The overarching goal for facial rejuvenation surgery is to restore youthful definition while preserving what makes each face unique, never creating an overdone look.