About Us

Dr. Hilinski is "Double Board Certified" in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

Featured Case
Rhinoplasty Case Example

The current Featured Rhinoplasty Case Example was chosen because of the many complexities involved with her surgery. This is an otherwise healthy young lady who desired reshaping of her nose due to several areas of concern. She had no prior surgery on her nose.
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Meet Our Office Staff

MEET DR. JOHN HILINSKI
A San Diego native, Dr. John Hilinski was pleased to return here and establish his facial plastic surgery practice. Dr. Hilinski attended Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduation, he completed a General Surgery internship followed by a Head and Neck Surgery residency at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center. Throughout his residency, Dr. Hilinski focused his efforts exclusively on surgery of the face and neck.

Such specialty training and experience provided him an unparalleled foundation to become a facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Hilinski was chosen for a prestigious Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery fellowship sponsored by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He completed his fellowship in Chicago, Illinois under the direction of internationally renowned facial plastic surgeon Dean M. Toriumi, M.D. In conjunction with his training, Dr. Hilinski served as a Clinical Instructor in the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine. During his fellowship, Dr. Hilinski learned the latest advancements in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, encompassing all aspects of cosmetic facial enhancement. In particular, he received advanced training in rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty technique.

Dr. Hilinski is "double board certified" in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as Head and Neck Surgery. This places him in unique company among only a few plastic surgeons in the region that have dedicated expertise and qualifications to perform facial cosmetic enhancement. In addition, he is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Hilinski has published numerous journal articles and book chapters on a variety of topics in facial plastic surgery. This includes an upcoming instructional guide for surgical residents on advanced techniques for scar revision and two recent chapters on rhinoplasty that appear in the online Plastic Surgery textbook for Emedicine World Medical Library. In addition to his publications, Dr. Hilinski has been invited to lecture at several national surgical conferences. Beyond his position as a staff surgeon at the prestigious Scripps Clinic, he also holds an appointment as Clinical Instructor in surgery at UCSD School of Medicine.

In his spare time, Dr. Hilinski enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and wonderful kids.

MEDICAL EDUCATION

Medical Doctorate (M.D.)
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
Boston, MA

General Surgery Internship
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO MEDICAL CENTER
Department of General Surgery
San Diego, CA

Head and Neck Surgery Residency and Chief Residency
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO MEDICAL CENTER
Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery
San Diego, CA

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER
Chicago, IL

National Institutes of Health Research Fellowship
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO CANCER CENTER
Division of Head and Neck Surgery
San Diego, CA

CLINICAL APPOINTMENTS

Staff Surgeon
SHARP MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
San Diego, CA

Staff Surgeon
SCRIPPS CLINIC AND GREEN HOSPITAL
Division of Head and Neck
La Jolla, CA

Clinical Faculty Instructor
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Division of Head and Neck Surgery
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO MEDICAL CENTER
San Diego, CA

Clinical Faculty Instructor
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Department of Surgery
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER
La Jolla, CA

Clinical Instructor (Past)
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER
Chicago, IL

POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS
Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve on the California Health Facilities Finance Authority (CHFFA) starting in 2007

MEMBERSHIPS

Member - American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Member - American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Member - American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Member - California Society of Facial Plastic Surgery
Member - San Diego County Medical Society

EDITORIAL REVIEW

John M. Hilinski and Dean M. Toriumi. The Ageing Face. Scott-Brown's Otorhinolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery 7th Edition. Arnold Publishers.

John M. Hilinski and Dean M. Toriumi. External Approach to Revision Rhinoplasty. Essentials in Facial Plastic Surgery. Thieme Medical Publishers.

BOOK CHAPTERS

John M. Hilinski and Dean M. Toriumi. The Ageing Face. Scott-Brown's Otorhinolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery 7th Edition. Arnold Publishers.

John M. Hilinski and Dean M. Toriumi. External Approach to Revision Rhinoplasty. Essentials in Facial Plastic Surgery. Thieme Medical Publishers.

PUBLICATIONS

Hilinski JM, Beros A, Watson D. Spreader grafts in rhinoplasty. Plastic Surgery. Emedicine World Medical Library. Emedicine.com.

Hilinski JM, Moe KS. Vertical dome division in rhinoplasty. Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery. Emedicine World Medical Library. Emedicine.com.

Beros A, Hilinski JM, Moe KS. Gracilis muscle free tissue transfer. Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery. Emedicine World Medical Library. Emedicine.com.

Byrne P, Hilinski JM, Hilger P. Facial nerve repair. Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery. Emedicine World Medical Library. Emedicine.com.

Davidson TM, Hilinski JM. Scar Revision: Self-Instructional Packet. 5th Edition. Published by the American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, October 2003.

Mobley SR, Hilinski JM, Toriumi DM. Tissue adhesives in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Facial Plastics Clinics of North America, 10(2002):147-154.

LECTURES

"The Face"
Invited Lecturer
Human Anatomy Series
Garren Auditorium
UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA
November 18, 2004

"Fundamentals of Soft Tissue Surgery"
21st Annual Cutaneous Surgery and Dermatology Course
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla Marriott
June 14-18, 2004

"Advanced Rhinoplasty: Structural Grafting for Nasal Base Deformities"
Department of Surgery Grand Rounds
Scripps Green Hospital, La Jolla, CA
December 5, 2003

"The Face"
Invited Lecturer
Human Anatomy Series
Garren Auditorium
UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA
November 21, 2003

"Bioadhesive Use in Facial Plastic Surgery"
UCSD Division of Head and Neck Surgery
Veterans Administration Medical Center
La Jolla, CA
September 26, 2003

"Principles of Soft Tissue Surgery"
20th Annual Cutaneous Surgery and Dermatology Course
University of California, San Diego
July 14-19, 2003

"The History of Rhytidectomy"
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Grand Rounds
University of Illinois, Chicago Medical Center
June 12, 2002

"Rhytidectomy: Past and Present"
Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Grand Rounds
University of California San Diego Medical Center
February 2001

"Orbital Blowout Fractures: An Update"
Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Grand Rounds
University of California San Diego Medical Center
May 2000

Dr. Hilinski's office in San Diego, CA is conveniently located near the following: