Dr. Ronald Moy, a prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, died on June 23 from complications of neck surgery, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. He was 68 years old.
The medical examiner’s office ruled Moy’s death as accidental, though the case remains open. He passed away at a hospital, with the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal surgery remaining unclear.
Moy was a leading cosmetic and facial plastic surgeon with Moy Fincher Chipps Facial Plastics & Dermatology, which operates locations in Beverly Hills on North Rodeo Drive, as well as in Encino and Torrance. His practice had developed a substantial social media following, where he regularly provided skincare tips and cosmetic advice to followers.
Throughout his distinguished career, Moy held several prestigious leadership positions in the medical community. He served as president of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons, and the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery. His academic credentials included a professorship at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he also served as former Co-Chief of the UCLA division of Dermatology and former Chief of Dermatologic Surgery.
Moy specialized in various cosmetic procedures including facelifts, liposuction, laser skin resurfacing, and eye lifts. However, his particular expertise was in Mohs micrographic surgery, a specialized procedure used to treat skin cancer lesions. During this methodical process, surgeons remove thin layers of skin one at a time, examining each layer under a microscope to determine if cancer remains until only cancer-free tissue is left.
Over his 25-year clinical practice, Moy performed more than 30,000 cases of Mohs micrographic surgery and facial plastic surgery procedures. His extensive contributions to the field included publishing more than 200 scholarly articles on cosmetic and dermatologic surgery and treatments. He was a member of the American College of Mohs Surgery, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery.
Recently, Moy received the Samuel J. Stegman, MD Award for Distinguished Service, recognizing his contributions to the field. As recently as January 2025, he was actively posting on social media about medical treatments, highlighting the importance of Erbium laser treatment for targeting sun damage on the chest while eliminating precancerous cells to help prevent skin cancer.
In 2021, Moy launched the skincare line Cellular MD alongside his daughter, Lauren Moy, who also worked at their practice. In a 2024 interview with Practical Dermatology, Moy expressed his pleasure in watching his daughter flourish in dermatology, adding that sharing an office allowed them to discuss medical cases throughout the day while he enjoyed seeing videos of his grandson during lunchtime.
Moy’s client base reportedly included A-list celebrities, with sources indicating he had provided treatments such as DNA facials to performers including Christina Aguilera and Lea Michele from the television series “Glee.” His Beverly Hills practice catered to a high-profile clientele seeking various cosmetic and dermatological treatments.
The surgeon completed his dermatology residency training at UCLA and built his career around both clinical practice and academic medicine. His dual role as practitioner and educator allowed him to contribute significantly to training the next generation of dermatologists and plastic surgeons.
Moy’s death represents a significant loss to the Beverly Hills medical community and the broader field of dermatologic and plastic surgery. His extensive experience, particularly in Mohs micrographic surgery, and his leadership roles in multiple professional organizations had established him as a respected figure in cosmetic and reconstructive medicine.
The circumstances surrounding his neck surgery and subsequent complications remain under investigation by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office.