Biography & Credentials

Dr. Michael Lau has been devoting his academic and professional life to achieving three career objectives:

Dr. Lau’s excellence in surgical skills and judgment is attested by his patients and his peers, formalized by his election to be a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) – one of the very few gynecologists receiving such recognition.

Dr. Lau received his pelvic reconstructive surgery and urogynecology training from Dr. C. Paul Hodgkinson, a world renowned gynecologic surgeon and the pioneer of urogynecology. Dr. Hodgkinson was the first to recognize the condition of detrusor hyperactivity (overactive bladder) and develop the first urodynamic system. He also pioneered the retropubicurethropexy procedure, the gold standard of surgery for stress urinary incontinence. Over a period of four years, Dr. Lau was Dr. Hodginson’s resident and then chief resident, ever grateful for the tutorage that he received from the master surgeon.

Dr. Lau also received cosmetic plastic surgery training from Dr. Robert Alexander and Dr. Ken Tucker, cosmetic plastic surgeons of highest skill and reputation. While Dr. Lau was trained in and performed all aspects of body cosmetic surgery, his main objective was to apply cosmetic plastic surgery techniques to vaginal cosmetic surgery.

Taking from what he learned from Dr. Hodgkinson and other great pelvic and vaginal surgeons at Henry Ford Hospital, Dr. Lau developed his own gynecologic surgery and pelvic/vaginal plastic and reconstructive surgery clinics in Seattle. Recognizing that while the traditional invasive surgeries are effective, new technology innovation can be used to translate some of these operations to minimally or even non-invasive procedures to reduce the surgical trauma and recovery requirement. Leveraging his scientific training, Dr. Lau was one of the first surgeons in the U.S. to use laser for gynecology, both for vaginal and cervical surgeries and laser laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Lau also pioneered the use of microwave for endometrial ablation to reduce heavy menses in the U.S. Using high definition optics and laser laparoscopy, Dr. Lau translates the open microscopic infertility surgery for pelvic adhesions and endometriosis to minimally invasive laser laparoscopy, an outpatient day surgery.

As mentioned, in order to perfect his surgical skill for cosmetic vaginal surgeries, Dr. Lau devoted two years to a preceptorship in cosmetic and plastic surgery with Dr. Robert Alexander, a world-renowned cosmetic surgeon and pioneer in fat transfer grafts, and Dr. Ken Tucker, a well-respected plastic surgeon in Seattle. Out of this training experience, Dr. Lau further developed minimally invasive surgical technologies as applied to cosmetic vaginal surgeries, all done with only local anesthesia.

Dr. Lau studied nuclear physics and chemistry at the University of Washington graduate school. After his Master of Science degree, he spent two years towards his PhD degree, working on heavy ion nuclear physics and astro-nuclear physics, before deciding to go to medical school. Leveraging his knowledge of physics and chemistry, Dr. Lau has been developing innovative technologies applied to surgery and medicine, consistent with his goal of translating invasive surgeries to minimally or non-invasive procedures. In addition to laser and microwave, Dr. Lau is an innovator in using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapy for non-invasive surgery, specifically in treating uterine fibroids. Dr. Lau has multiple U.S. patents and patent applications covering HIFU therapy, laparoscopic surgery, surgical mesh for urogynecology and plastic surgery, and also tissue contouring technologies. In order to implement the development of these technology innovations, Dr. Lau studied at the University of Oxford in the UK, concentrating in technology innovation and implementation, and received an MBA degree from Oxford.

With his close association with Oxford and his affiliation with the University of Washington and the University of Utah, Dr. Lau has been able to utilize the network amongst these three great institutions for technology innovation in helping him to develop innovative technologies for medicine and surgery.

Licensed to Practice Medicine:

State of Washington, Hawaii, & United Kingdom

Board Certification:

Diplomat, American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Professional Fellowships:

FACS, Fellow of the American College of Surgeon
FACOG, Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Current Hospital Affiliations:

Swedish Hospital Edmonds, Edmonds, WA

Academic Appointment:

Clinical Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine.

Board Member, the STEM School Advisory Board, University of Washington Bothell.

Medical Advisor:

Former consultant and speaker for Microsulis America, American Medical Systems, and Pfizer

Education & Training:

Graduate School: University of Oxford – January 2008 – November 2009, MBA Nov 2009
Preceptorship: With Robert W. Alexander, MD, FICS and Kenneth R. Tucker, MD, FACS, Lynnwood, WA. Preceptorship in Cosmetic Surgery July 1999 – June 2001
Residency: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI – Chief Resident 1981 – 1982; Residency in Gynecology & Obstetrics July 1978 – June 1982
Internship: University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital – July 1977 – June 1978
Medical School: University of Hong Kong – Sept. 1972 – May 1977, M.B., B.S. May 1977
Graduate School: University of Washington – Sept. 1969 – Sept. 1972, M.S. Dec. 1970, Ph.D. Candidate in Nuclear Physics & Chemistry
Undergraduate: Church College of Hawaii, Laie, HI – Sept. 1966 – May 1969, B.S. in Chemistry May 1969

Membership in Professional Societies:

American College of Surgeons
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
King County Medical Society
American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
AAGL
European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy

Awards:

Gynecologic Urology Society Prize
Outstanding Teacher in Medicine by the Medical Students of the University of Michigan
Distinction in Pediatrics – University of Hong Kong
Dr. P.M. Yap Memorial Prize in Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Medical Association Prize for Research in Neonatology, University of Hong Kong

Symposiums & Lectures:

Symposiums and lectures on vaginal cosmetic surgery, sexual function enhancement with vaginal cosmetic surgery, endometrial ablation, urinary incontinence, and pelvic floor surgery at various locations nationally and internationally.

Contributions to Science/Patents/Lectures & Publications:

In the field of therapeutic ultrasound applying to aesthetic devices and surgery:

1. “Clinical Refinement of the Shell Ablation Technique for Rapid In-Office Treatment of Uterine Fibroids Under Ultrasound Imaging Guidance.” José G. Garza Leal, Ivan Hernandez León, Lorena Castillo Sáenz, Juan M. Aguilar Aguirre, Joel J. Islas Lagos, Jessica E. Parsons, Patrick Martin, and Michael P.H. Lau, poster presented at International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound, Belgium, April 2015.
2. “Office based high-speed ultrasound image guided HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) ablation of uterine fibroids.” José G. Garza Leal, Juan M. Aguilar Aguirre, Joel J. Islas Lagos, and Michael P.H. Lau. Presented at the European Society of Gynecologic Endoscopy Annual Meeting, Brussels, October 2014.
3. “In-Office Rapid Volumetric Ablation of Uterine Fibroids under Ultrasound Imaging Guidance: Preclinical and Early Clinical Experience with the Mirabilis Transabdominal HIFU Treatment System.” José G. Garza Leal, Ivan Hernandez León, Lorena Castillo Sáenz, Juan M. Aguilar Aguirre, Joel J. Islas Lagos, Jessica E. Parsons, Greg Darlington, and Michael P.H. Lau, poster presented at International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound, Las Vegas, April 2014.
4. United States Patent, Number 8,057,391 “Appartus for Delivering High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Energy to a Treatment Site Internal to a Patient’s Body.” Nov. 15, 2011.
5. United States Patent, Number 8,052,604 “Methods and Apparatus for Engagement and Coupling of an Intracavitory Imaging and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Probe.” Nov. 8, 2011.
6. United States Patent Number 8,277,379 “Methods and Apparatus for the Treatment of Menometrorrhagia,Endometrial Pathology, and Cervical Neoplasia Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Energy.” Oct. 2, 2012
7. United States Patent Application Publication US 2009/0318852 A1 “Ultrasound Based Cosmetic Therapy Method and Apparatus.” December 24, 2009
8. United States Patent Application Publication US 2009/0318853 A1 “Ultrasound Based Cosmetic Therapy Method and Apparatus.” December 24, 2009
9. United States Patent Application Publication US 2012/0271222 A1 “Ultrasound Based Cosmetic Therapy Method and Apparatus.” October 25, 2012

In the field of clinical medicine and surgery, including cosmetic surgery:

1. “Refinements in Labioplasty”. Presented at Aesthetic Medicine European Congress, Paris, October 2016
2. “Applying Anatomical & Physiological Considerations to Optimize Sexual Function in Cosmetic Vaginal Surgery.” Presented at Aesthetic Medicine World Congress, Monaco, March 2015
3. “Retrospective Study Comparing Rollerball, Novasure and Microwave Endometrial Ablation.” Presented at Global Congress AAGL Annual Meeting, November 2004.
4. “Suburethral mesh for stress urinary incontinence, comparing the transabdominal versus the transobturator approach.” Presented at Global Congress AAGL Annual Meeting, November 2004.
5. “Comparison of urethro-vesical junction anatomy with ultrasound and metallic bead-chain
   urethrocystogram” – presented at the Gynecologic Urology Society annual meeting, November 1985.
6. “Histiocytosis X of the vulva” – presented at the Michigan Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists meeting, May 1980.
7. “Clinical significance of unbound bilirubin,” R. Wennberg, M. Lau and L.F. Rasmussen, Pediatric Research, Vol. 10, no. 4, p.434 (April 1976).
8. “Quantitative assessments of albumin-bilirubin binding in newborns,” R. Wennberg, M. Lau and L.F.
   Rasmussen. Clinical Research, Vol. 25, No. 2, p.175A (Feb. 1977).
9. United States Patent, Number 5,383,860 “Two part conductive cannula with adaptive disposable noninvasive element.” January 24, 1995.

In the field of nuclear physics:

1. “Elastic and inelastic scattering of 18O by 18O and 16O,” R. Vandenbosch, P.H. Lau, and W.N. Reisdorf. Nuclear Physics, A230, 59 (1974).
2. “One-neutron and two-neutron transfer in the scattering of 18O by 16O,” W.N. Reisdorf, P.H. Lau, and R. Vandenbosch. Nuclear Physics, A235, 490 (1975).
3. “The 12C(12C, 8Be) 16O reaction in the vicinity of the quasimolecular resonances,” M.S. Cooper, W.N.Reisdorf, and P.H. Lau. Bulletin American Physical Society, 17, 920 (1972).