The Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences holds a special place in the history of medicine in China. It was the first hospital in the country dedicated entirely to plastic and reconstructive surgery, and for more than six decades it has served as the place where the specialty's standards are set, its surgeons are trained and its future is shaped through research. As part of the national academy of medical sciences and its affiliated medical college, the hospital combines clinical care with teaching and science at the highest level. Patients who come here are not simply visiting a clinic; they are entering an institution that has helped build the entire discipline in the country and continues to lead it today.
Where a National Specialty Was Born
The hospital's roots reach back to the early 1950s, when its quiet hillside site was chosen as a sanatorium for international students. In 1957 it began its life as a dedicated surgical hospital, and it later became formally part of the national academy of medical sciences. Over the decades that followed, its founding surgeons developed techniques, training methods and clinical pathways that spread to hospitals throughout China.
This long history gives patients something that newer centres cannot easily offer: accumulated experience across generations. Knowledge has been passed from mentor to trainee in an unbroken line, and lessons learned from many thousands of cases are built into the way teams assess, plan and care for each person.
• Established in 1957 as the country's first hospital devoted to this specialty
• Part of the national academy of medical sciences and its medical college
• A training ground for many of the country's leading plastic surgeons
• A key contributor to national clinical guidelines and professional standards
Today the hospital operates more than 700 beds and over twenty specialised clinical centres. It performs a very large number of operations every year, which means its teams encounter a remarkable variety of situations, from routine aesthetic requests to rare and highly complex reconstructive challenges.
That breadth of experience has practical value. When a patient presents with an unusual concern, there is a good chance that someone on the team has seen something similar before and knows which approach is most likely to succeed. When plans need to change during treatment, experienced teams can adapt calmly and safely. This is the kind of reassurance that only decades of focused clinical work can provide.
Twenty Centres, One Shared Standard
One of the hospital's defining features is its structure. Instead of a single general department, care is organised into many focused centres, each built around a particular part of the body or type of problem. Surgeons in each centre concentrate on a defined field, which allows them to develop deep expertise and refine their methods over time.
At the same time, these centres do not work in isolation. Complex cases are discussed across teams, and patients who need input from more than one field benefit from coordinated planning. Anaesthetists, nurses, rehabilitation specialists and psychologists are all part of the wider care network.
• Specialised centres covering the face, body, skin, ears and other areas
• Cross-centre case discussions for complex and long-term treatment plans
• Dedicated anaesthesia and intensive monitoring teams for patient safety
• Nursing staff trained specifically in plastic and reconstructive aftercare
This model means patients are seen by surgeons who focus on exactly the kind of concern they have. It also allows the hospital to maintain consistent quality across a very wide range of services, with shared protocols for safety, infection control and follow-up.
The centre-based approach also helps with continuity. Patients usually meet the same surgical team from the first consultation through surgery and into follow-up, which builds familiarity and trust. Teams keep detailed records and photographs, allowing them to measure progress objectively and adjust aftercare when necessary.
Research That Travels from Bench to Bedside
As a national academic hospital, the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences treats research as part of its daily purpose. It runs laboratories and research centres focused on regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, biomaterials and wound healing. Scientists and surgeons work together, so that discoveries in the laboratory can be tested carefully and, when proven, brought into clinical practice.
Its specialists also help edit leading academic journals in the field, and the hospital hosts conferences that bring together specialists from across China and abroad. Its staff contribute to international scientific literature and take part in global professional networks.
• Research programmes in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering
• Close collaboration between clinicians and laboratory scientists
• Leadership in national academic publishing and professional education
• Regular participation in international meetings and research exchanges
For patients, this research culture translates into care that is evidence-based and forward-looking. Methods are adopted because they have been shown to work, not because they are fashionable. Doctors can explain the reasoning behind their recommendations and are open about what the evidence does and does not support.
A Hillside Campus Designed for Recovery
The hospital sits in a quiet, green area at the foot of the western hills, surrounded by trees and away from the busiest parts of the city. Many patients describe the setting as peaceful and restorative, which matters when recovery can take several days or weeks. The campus combines historic buildings with modern clinical facilities, updated operating theatres and comfortable inpatient wards.
The hospital has also embraced digital health. Its internet hospital platform allows patients to book appointments, ask follow-up questions and receive guidance online, which is especially helpful for those who travel from other provinces or who need ongoing monitoring after surgery.
• A calm, green campus that supports rest and recovery
• Modern operating theatres and well-equipped inpatient wards
• Online appointment booking and internet hospital follow-up services
• Emergency support available around the clock
Patients and families often appreciate the clear organisation of the hospital, from registration and consultation to admission and discharge. Written instructions, scheduled follow-up visits and accessible online support help people feel prepared at every stage. Staff are used to welcoming patients from distant provinces and from other countries, and they understand the extra support that travellers and their families may need during a stay far from home, from practical advice on accommodation nearby to clear guidance on when it is safe to travel again.
Integrity in Every Consultation
Behind the hospital's scale and academic standing is a set of values that shapes how its doctors work. The hospital believes that plastic surgery should restore function, improve quality of life and respect the individual. Aesthetic goals are treated seriously, but always within the limits of safety and good medical judgement. Surgeons are encouraged to recommend what is right for the patient, even when that means advising a more conservative option or suggesting that surgery is not needed at all.
Honest communication is central. Consultations cover expected results, recovery time, possible risks and the need for follow-up in plain language. Patients are encouraged to ask questions, bring family members and take time before making decisions. The hospital's public-sector status also means that care is guided by clinical need rather than commercial pressure.
• Safety and medical judgement placed ahead of commercial interests
• Transparent discussion of risks, costs, recovery and realistic outcomes
• Respect for each patient's privacy, dignity and personal goals
• A long tradition of charity programmes for children and families in need
The hospital has a proud record of social responsibility. For many years its teams have supported charity initiatives that provide surgery to children with birth differences from families who could not otherwise afford it, and they have trained doctors from regional hospitals to raise standards across the country. Visiting surgeons spend months learning alongside the hospital's teams, then return home to share that knowledge in their own communities. In this way, the influence of the hospital reaches far beyond the patients it treats directly, and its values of care, skill and responsibility continue to spread throughout the profession.
Choosing the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences means placing your trust in an institution with deep roots, national leadership and a strong commitment to ethical, evidence-based care. Whether a patient is seeking a subtle aesthetic change or complex reconstruction, the goal is the same: thoughtful planning, skilled hands and honest guidance from the first consultation to the final follow-up visit. That combination of heritage, science and integrity is the reason so many patients and fellow doctors regard this hospital as a benchmark for the specialty in China.
