John Hilinski

Dr. John M. Hilinski is a board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon with over 30 years of surgical experience serving San Diego and Southern California. He founded his private practice in 2005 and established The Hilinski Ambulatory Surgery Center, where he serves as owner and medical director.

He graduated summa cum laude with distinction in biologic science from San Diego State University before attending Harvard Medical School (1991-1995). He completed a general surgery internship at UC San Diego Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, followed by a head and neck surgery residency and chief residency at UCSD's Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and a facial plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship at the University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine under Dean M. Toriumi, M.D.

He is board-certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and specializes in primary and revision rhinoplasty, facelift surgery, eyelid surgery, otoplasty, and facial reconstruction. He has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on otoplasty, soft tissue augmentation, and facial rejuvenation, delivered over 50 presentations at academic institutions and conferences, and has served as a retained medical-legal expert in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery since 2003.

His care philosophy centers on a collaborative, patient-centered approach, transparent communication, and personalized treatment plans aimed at natural-looking, harmonious results. In 2010 he co-founded The Hilinski Foundation for Surgery, a nonprofit providing charitable facial plastic surgery to underprivileged youth in San Diego.