Akiyo Suzuki M.D.

Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Board-Certified Aesthetic Surgeon (JSAPS)

Experience in International Volunteering
During my student years, I participated in an international volunteer program that involved constructing a clinic in the mountainous regions of Nepal. In this program, volunteer doctors were performing surgical treatments for cleft lip and palate, a congenital condition. Witnessing the dedication of these doctors and how their work significantly transformed the lives of patients and their families left me deeply moved and inspired. The surgeons performing these operations were plastic and Aesthetic surgery specialists from Western countries. My exposure to their work had a profound impact on my life.
Becoming a Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeon (Differences between Japan and the United States)
In the United States, there is a strict cap on the number of specialists, making it extremely challenging to become a plastic surgeon, a field that is highly competitive. Only a select few top-performing medical students have the opportunity to undergo plastic surgery training. Moreover, the title of aesthetic surgeon is only granted to those plastic surgery specialists who have undergone further extensive training, recognizing them as a super-elite group. In contrast, Japan lacks such stringent regulations, allowing even those who are not board-certified plastic surgeons, or doctors who have only completed residency without ever performing surgery, to call themselves Aesthetic surgeons. In this unregulated environment, the personal principles of each doctor become very crucial in maintaining professional integrity within the field of Aesthetic surgery.
The Importance of Being Exposed to the Best
Fortunately, during my student years, I had the opportunity to witness the work of genuine plastic and Aesthetic surgeons, which allowed me to develop a consistent set of principles as a doctor. My goal was to become a true plastic surgery specialist, one who possesses authentic skills, and to contribute to both the fields of plastic and Aesthetic surgery, much like the Plastic Aesthetic Surgeons I’ve met in the volunteer program.
As a Board-Certified Aesthetic Surgeon (JSAPS)
After obtaining my certification as a plastic surgeon, I worked as a faculty member and surgeon at a university hospital. I gained experience in breast reconstruction surgery at Japan’s largest breast cancer treatment center, the Cancer Institute Hospital JFCR, Ariake, and trained under specialists in various fields of Aesthetic surgery, including eyes, nose, and osteotomy. Currently, I am honored to contribute as a board-certified aesthetic surgeon at the internationally acclaimed cosmetic surgery clinic, Verite Clinic, where I continue to serve my patients with dedication.

Career

• Union College B.A. in Biology (USA)
• Hirosaki University School of Medicine
• Clinical Clerkship at University of Tennessee School of Medicine
• Plastic Surgery Observership at Loma Linda University
• Plastic Surgery Observership at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
• 2010: Graduated from Hirosaki University School of Medicine
• 2010: Teine Keijinkai Hospital
• 2012: Sapporo Medical University Hospital, Plastic Surgery
• 2014: Head of Plastic Surgery, Muroran City General Hospital
• 2015: Sunagawa City Hospital, Department of Plastic Surgery
• 2016: Sapporo Medical University Hospital, Plastic Surgery
• 2017: Assistant Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University Hospital
• 2018: Department of Plastic Surgery, The Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR, Ariake
• 2020: Director, CZEN GINZA CLINIC
• 2023: Verite Clinic

Certifications

• Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
• Board-Certified Aesthetic Surgeon of the Japan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (JSAPS)
• Board-Certified Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgeon
• Certified Instructor in the Field of Plastic Surgery

Selected Papers

Akiyo Suzuki, et al. Reconstruction of the Congenital Divided Nevus of the Eyelids and Proposal of New Classification. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Glob Open. 2019 Jun; 7(6): e2283. *Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) is the highest-ranked medical journal in the field of plastic surgery. The content involves the classification and surgical methods for congenital divided nevus, a type of congenital birthmark that appears on the face.