Dr. R. Laurence Berkowitz

Meet Dr. R. Laurence Berkowitz – Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

Dr. R. Laurence Berkowitz became aware of the need for plastic surgery during his youth when he learned his father was born with a cleft lip and was denied surgery due to his own parents’ inability to pay for the costly procedure. This had a tremendous impact on Dr. Berkowitz, whose incredible manual dexterity as a child prompted his father to encourage him to become a surgeon.


At the University of Michigan, Dr. Berkowitz graduated with honors in art history, where he developed his fascination with architecture.  He started his career as a plastic surgeon at the University of Michigan where he inaugurated the first combined general surgery/plastic surgery program under the direction of the renowned educator, the late William C. Grabb, and the most famous plastic surgeon of that time, the late Dr. Reed Dingman.


Dr. Berkowitz pursued plastic surgery with a passion, and was especially engrossed in the challenging process of giving a child a chance at life by repairing a cleft lip and palate. He traveled the world with the Interplast Organization leading trips to a dozen sites over two decades.  Dr. Berkowitz was greatly influenced by his mentor at Stanford, Dr. Donald Laub and was recruited to Stanford as a faculty member. From there, he became director of the Burn Unit at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.


Dr. Berkowitz established his private plastic surgery practice decades ago in what was just beginning to be known as the Silicon Valley.  He applied his skills, compassion, and curiosity to a new community that exemplified the very best in innovation and modernity. Fast forward 35 years later, Dr. Berkowitz is a world renowned plastic surgeon who is touted as the “Master of Rhinoplasty,” and is deeply committed to his patients. An educator at heart, he has toured the world to speak about the latest plastic surgery innovations and has authored articles on facial rejuvenation, breast surgery and of course rhinoplasty. In 2017, Dr. Berkowitz and Dr. Zeidler co-founded Aesthetx, the premier plastic surgery and dermatology practice in the Silicon Valley, with a mission of blending both disciplines to provide patients with the most comprehensive care.


As a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and President of The Rhinoplasty Society, Dr. Berkowitz has funneled his academic interest into the postgraduate teaching of young plastic surgeons throughout the world regarding cutting edge plastic surgery techniques, especially in the field of rhinoplasty.

 

Dr. Berkowitz is most notably recognized as one of the first surgeons worldwide to use high frequency power tools for nose reshaping. Surgeons have been using the same “hammer & chisel” tools to break bones in the nose in order to reshape it for over 100 years, but Dr. Berkowitz introduced the concept of using power tools to the Rhinoplasty Society in 2005.  Since then, he has since been leading the charge on educating surgeons about his new technique in which patient’s results are astonishing. With the development of even smaller, higher speed power tools adapted for rhinoplasty – referred to as Piezo electric tools – this new technique gives surgeons more precision and control in addition to greatly reduced recovery time. 

Dr. Berkowitz’s commitment to providing the best care to his patients, while leveraging the most advanced techniques is unparalleled.