Our Staff

Gaby Avalos

General Manager

Gaby has been with Cheng Plastic Surgery since 2015 – simultaneously fulfilling her duties as General Manager and Financial Adviser all in one. We love to refer to Gaby as the “heart” of the office – as her first priority first and foremost is to make sure all of her staff is happy, taken care of and supported. She is responsible for managing our amazing team and making sure the day to day operations run smooth – always being the one person our doctors, staff and patients can go to in any situation.

Although her main role in the office is our General Manager, she continues to maintain her finance duties – as her first true love with always be numbers! She has a degree in public accounting from Western Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESO), from where she graduated with honors. She has experience with renowned companies such as Hewlett Packard, where she got to manage accounting and payroll processes. During her work experience, she has performed audits, accounting and financial analysis, budgeting, cost control, event and schedule planning.

Gaby’s hobbies include dance, painting, running and traveling. Her true passion is her family, as she loves nothing more than to spend her free time with her two sons and husband.

Edina Wittekind

Patient Care Coordinator / Medical Assistant Director

Edina came to Cheng Plastic Surgery in 2011 and currently serves as our Patient Care Coordinator. She also fulfills her duties as Medical Assistant Director – leading all of our medical staff to ensure our patients receive the best care possible. In the many years she’s been with the practice – she’s fulfilled almost every job title from receptionist to medical assistant and everything in between. For that reason, her vast arsenal of knowledge is able to better educate our staff and patients with any and all inquiries they may have.

Edina’s compassionate personality and love for the industry is why she loves taking care of patients and seeing how happy they are after having procedures at our center. In fact, she has her own after-care service, offering our patients at home care after surgery. She feels there is no greater feeling than guiding our patients through their surgical journey, both emotionally and physically.

Married with a daughter and adorable dog Coco, Edina was born and raised in San Jose and lives in Willow Glen. She loves spending time with her family and friends and volunteering in her community.

Teresa Trinh

Director of Nursing

Teresa Trinh is our Director of Nursing here at Cheng Plastic Surgery! Being a jack of all trades, Teresa has assumed many roles in our surgery center including operating room director, circulating nurse and scrub nurse. Her collaborative work with our board-certified surgeons and anesthesiologists is what ensures the comfort and safety of our patients during their journey in aesthetic surgery.

In addition to her role in the surgery center, Teresa is also one of the four talented providers in our medspa. Trained by Dr. Jackie and Dr. Elbert, Teresa specializes in non-invasive procedures such as Thermage, CoolSculpting and PiQo4. Her love for aesthetics is what motivates her to stay up-to-date on the latest technology, techniques, and trends in the industry.

In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family, hike, play volleyball, or travel city to city to try new foods.

Alex Gowda

Nurse Injector

Alexandria Gowda came to California 6 years ago with her husband and two cats after graduating from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a Bachelor's in Nursing. Alex is our specialist in all laser and non-invasive treatments; from tattoo removal and skin tightening, to botox and dermal fillers. She enjoys getting to know each patient and their personal aesthetic journey from their first encounter to their last follow up.

Her natural compassion and genuine love for all things medical is what drives her passion in the field of aesthetic surgery. She also loves to accompany her patients, providing them with the care and guidance to feel comfortable and receive the best possible outcome. She gets so much joy from interacting and engaging with patients on a daily basis; helping them achieve their aesthetic goals is the cherry on top!

In August 2020, Alex welcomed a beautiful baby girl. Outside of the office, she and her family love to explore. She has visited over 20 countries and almost all 50 states. Alex says, "There is so much to learn from other cultures; from the food they eat to the way you are greeted, walking into a shop. I cannot wait to show my baby girl the world and watch her grow immersed in diversity and the vast beauty this world has to offer."

Nam Saha

Licensed Medical Esthetician

Beauty and skin care have always been the greatest passion of Nam’s life. It is not only an art through which she can express herself, but it is also a powerful tool to help boost an individual’s self-esteem. Nam attended the Salon Professional Academy to convert her passion and skills into a profession. Her knowledge in the dynamic, ever-changing skincare/beauty industry ensures that she stays informed with the latest technologies and cutting-edge ingredients in skincare, which she loves to share with her clients.

As a self-professed "beauty junkie" she continues to enjoy searching for the best in unique and "must have" beauty items and services. Every product at Cheng plastic has been tried, tested by Nam herself. Prior to those studies, she worked as a student counselor and holds a bachelor's degree in Economic Geography.

Through the eyes of Nam-

“I draw inspiration from my Indian heritage, various lifestyles that I have been part of, my love for fashion and fitness helps me achieve proven skincare essentials that work with everyone’s everyday lifestyle.”

Elissa Kurns

Project Manager

Elissa joined Cheng Plastic Surgery in August of 2016 as the Administrative Assistant and now works as our Project Manager, ensuring that operations run smoothly behind the scenes.

Before joining our team, she worked as a licensed cosmetologist and salon manager for several years. Elissa has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management Economics from UC Santa Cruz, as well as Associate degrees in both Economics and Business Administration, so she is well versed in business operations and has a knack for organization.

She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, family, friends, and especially her two cats, Leo and Kona. She loves to travel, camp, and try new restaurants and wineries!

Saraya Barat

Front Desk Coordinator

Saraya is our Front Desk Coordinator. She is one of the first faces you will see at Cheng Plastic Surgery. She welcomes and connects with patients. She is key to the sense of community within the office.

Saraya has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and is a licensed esthetician! She is a double threat here at Cheng Plastic Surgery. She helps to keep things running smoothly around the office.

When Saraya’s not working, she loves to cook delicious meals for her family and friends and spend time with her three dogs.

Morgan Giuliani

Social Media & Marketing Specialist

Morgan is our social media extraordinaire! She is currently studying Business Administration and Marketing, in addition to a minor in Public Relations! She has a passion for all things fashion and aesthetics.

At Cheng Plastic surgery, Morgan showcases our lovely patients and staff! Her friendly demeanor and big personality reflects in our social media presence! She especially loves the process of creating exciting content to show our audience, from treatments and surgeries to daily skincare tips.

In her free time, she enjoys shopping, traveling, and spending time with friends. Her favorite trip thus far was her semester abroad in Paris where she studied luxury brand management!

Celeste Venegas

Lead Medical Assistant

Celeste is our lead medical assistant. She is Dr. Jackie's right-hand woman assisting with her patient's treatments and procedures.

As lead medical assistant, Celeste is a key part of making sure all our patients have the best experience here at the office. Before Aesthetics, Celeste has spent 5 years in Dermatology. She is passionate about helping patients look and feel their best. Her reward at the end of the day is seeing patients happy with their results.

Celeste loves to spend time with her husband and two daughters. Outside of work, she loves to travel, watch her daughter play softball, and meet up with her "bookies" for their book club.