Dr. Stella Matsuda, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
NPI: 1528106671· License: MD-4381 (HI) verify
Medical school: University Of Hawaii John A. Burns School Of Medicine · Graduated 1978(~48 yrs since med school)
Industry payments (2025): $1,404 across 60 payments (what this means)
3.71(17 ratings)
In Dr. Stella Matsuda's own words
How Dr. Stella Matsuda describes their own approach, from their Instagram posts. Each statement links to the original.
Approach
- Our philosophy: Start where your skin is, not where you want it to be
- We’re always learning, refining, and bringing the latest in skin science back to our patients
Specialization
- The practice aims to achieve healthy, radiant, refined skin.
- The practice focuses on elevated skin care.
Technology
- The practice considers Derma V to be superior to ICON IPL technology.
Recovery guidance
- For post-procedure repair (Days 0-2), the practice recommends Plated Intense + Epicutis Lipid Serum & Masks.
- For rebalancing stressed, reactive pigment-prone skin (Days 2+), the practice recommends SkinBetter Mystro Active.
- The practice's pigment targeting method (without heat damage) results in faster recovery.
Results
- The practice does not have to compromise on patient results.
Statements are quoted or closely paraphrased from Dr. Stella Matsuda's own public posts and are their claims, not NavMDs' medical advice. Doctors can correct or remove any item via their claimed profile or support [at] navmds.com.
About
Dr. Stella Matsuda is a Board Certified Dermatologist practicing in Honolulu, Hawaii. She focuses on elevated skin care, aiming for healthy, radiant, and refined skin through a philosophy of educating, personalizing, and preserving. Dr. Matsuda believes in a bespoke approach, rejecting "one size fits all" treatment plans, and emphasizes letting healthy skin speak for itself through consistent care.
Her practice prioritizes skin health, believing results follow from this foundation. She considers retinoids among the most studied and effective ingredients for long-term skin health, customizing vitamin A routines to build tolerance and support the skin barrier. Daily SPF is non-negotiable for sun protection, deemed the most important factor for youthful skin. Dr. Matsuda also champions simpler skincare routines, recommending fewer, effective, derm-grade, dermatologist-approved products. Her comprehensive toolkit includes advanced energy devices like Ultherapy, PicoSure Pro, Derma V, and Thermage, as well as Emsculpt. She and her team are committed to continuous learning, refining practices, and applying the latest skin science for their patients.
Connect with Dr. Stella Matsuda on Social Media
Specialties
- Board Certified Dermatologist
Procedures & Services
Select a service to schedule an appointment · each is approximately 60 minutes
Questions, Answers, and Information Directly from Dr. Stella Matsuda
Sourced directly from Dr. Stella Matsuda's social posts and replies.
Who else practices at Matsuda Dermatology?
Dr. Shannon Sheu is also associated with the practice.
Why is neck care important and what are common signs of aging?
The neck is often neglected in skincare routines, despite efforts to protect the face. Collagen decline and sun exposure contribute to the neck showing signs of aging earlier than expected, sometimes appearing several years older than the face. Common signs include crepey skin, fine lines and wrinkles, sagging or loss of definition, and sun damage and discoloration. Prevention and treatment options are available to help maintain a youthful appearance.
What are Dr. Matsuda's recommended retinoid products and their indications?
The practice offers a tailored approach to retinoids, recognizing they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. They recommend:
- **Environ AVST + C-Quence Serums:** For sensitive or new-to-retinoid skin, using a progressive approach to gradually build tolerance, supporting smoother texture, brighter tone, and healthy-looking skin.
- **Environ Retinol Serum Forte:** For more experienced retinoid users, this is a more concentrated vitamin A option targeting visible signs of aging, uneven tone, and texture.
- **Skinbetter Science AlphaRet or Intensive AlphaRet:** For 'results-first' skin, these combine retinoid technology with exfoliating acids to help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and uneven tone, with different intensity levels available.
What are the key characteristics and benefits of Thermage treatment?
Thermage treatment works by collagen remodeling, resulting in zero downtime. The skin continues to work on itself for months post-treatment, and the results are discreet, meaning others won't necessarily know you've had it.
What is Emsculpt and how does it work?
Emsculpt can be added to a wellness routine for muscle strengthening without requiring extra gym time. It supports and enhances existing muscle building efforts.
What are the benefits and characteristics of Derma V treatments?
Derma V is preferred over previous technologies like ICON IPL. It features an integrated cooling system that keeps the skin protected and comfortable, meaning no numbing is required. Derma V can treat both redness and stubborn brown spots, often in a single session, and its higher precision allows patients to reach their clear skin goals much faster with fewer overall sessions.
What is Dr. Matsuda's approach to treating unwanted pigment?
The practice believes that lasering pigment alone is not sufficient for effective treatment. Instead, they target unwanted pigment at its source without causing heat damage to surrounding skin. This method is safer for melasma-prone skin and results in faster recovery. For pigment treatment, consistency is emphasized as more important than intensity.
What are Dr. Matsuda's recommendations for post-procedure pigment care?
The practice provides a structured approach to post-procedure pigment care:
- **Days 0-2 (Repair):** Plated Intense + Epicutis Lipid Serum & Masks are recommended to calm, heal, and rebuild the skin barrier.
- **Days 2+ (Rebalance):** SkinBetter Mystro Active is recommended to bring stressed, reactive pigment-prone skin back into balance.
- **Ongoing Prevention & Maintenance:** Environ C-Quence 4 Plus & Defence Crème Plus are recommended, utilizing Vitamin A to normalize pigment production and powerhouse antioxidants to prevent future sun & pollution-induced dark spots.
Technologies & brands Dr. Stella Matsuda mentions
Devices, implants, injectables and products named in Dr. Stella Matsuda's own posts and videos. A mention is not an endorsement; ask the office what they currently offer.
Patient Experience
Dr. Stella Matsuda Review Summary
4
Dr. Matsuda has a mix of reviews. While she boasts a perfect 5.0 rating from one review on her profile, other platforms show slightly lower scores. She has a 3/5 rating on Yelp, 4/5 on U.S. News Health, and 5/5 on Google Reviews. Averaging these out, her overall rating comes to 4.0 out of 5.
Ratings from Other Platforms
Main Office
405 N Kuakini St STE 703, Honolulu, Hawaii
(808) 818-8937
Book a Service Consultation
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 (2025)
$1,404
Payments
60
Compared to peers
Moderate
Dr. Stella Matsuda received $1,404 across 60 payments in 2025. 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 ↗
Insurance Information
Please contact Dr. Stella Matsuda's office directly for information about accepted insurance plans.
Phone: (808) 818-8937
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Location & Contact Information
Main Office
405 N Kuakini St STE 703
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Office Information
Phone: (808) 818-8937
Where does Dr. Stella Matsuda practice?
Doctor's Office
Main Office (Primary)
405 N Kuakini St STE 703, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
(1 reviews)
Hospital Affiliations
Hospital affiliations unknown
Do you know which hospitals Dr. Stella Matsuda is affiliated with? This information helps patients understand where they might receive care.
Education & Experience
Certifications & Licenses
Board Certified Dermatologist
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make an appointment with Dr. Stella Matsuda online?
The provided information doesn't confirm online booking availability. Contacting the office at 808-818-8937 is recommended for appointment scheduling. The practice offers consultations.
Does Dr. Stella Matsuda offer telehealth?
The provided information does not specify whether Dr. Matsuda offers telehealth services.
What do patients have to say about Dr. Stella Matsuda?
Patient reviews mentioning "Ulthera" were not provided in the source information.
What areas of care does Dr. Stella Matsuda cater to?
Dr. Matsuda specializes in both medical and aesthetic dermatology. This suggests she addresses a wide range of skin conditions, from acne and eczema to cosmetic procedures like injectables and Ultherapy. Dr. Matsuda's practice focuses on elevated skin care, aiming for healthy, radiant, and refined skin through a philosophy of educating, personalizing, and preserving. They emphasize a bespoke approach, rejecting 'one size fits all' treatment plans, and believe in letting healthy skin speak for itself through consistent care and prioritizing skin health. A strong focus is placed on retinoids, which they consider among the most studied and effective ingredients for long-term skin health, advocating for customized vitamin A routines that build tolerance and support the skin barrier. Sun protection is deemed the most important factor for healthy, youthful skin, with daily SPF being non-negotiable. The practice also champions simpler skincare routines, recommending fewer, effective, derm-grade, dermatologist-approved products over complex multi-step regimens.