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Dr. John M. Hilinski, MD - Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon in San Diego, California

Dr. John M. Hilinski, MD

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

San Diego, California
NPI: 1659330645· License: A063027 (CA) verify

24+ years of experience · self-reported

Industry payments (2024): $1,676 across 13 payments (what this means)
4.62(72 ratings)

✓ Free consultation

In Dr. John M. Hilinski's own words

How Dr. John M. Hilinski describes their own approach, from their Instagram posts. Each statement links to the original.

Approach

  • But here's the real skill. The art isn't the lift. Anyone can over-rotate a nose into something obvious and done

Specialization

  • In fact, I would go out on a limb and tell you I've done more of this than anybody in the world, which is why so many patients fly to San Diego to have their surgery done by me

Technique

  • That's why we often combine rhinoplasty with a face and neck lift
  • For years and years now, I've been performing an ear reduction procedure that is unlike any other surgeon out there
  • We're not talking about pinning an ear back. We're talking about making an ear smaller in size and still making it look like a normal ear

Training & credentials

  • Double Board Certified in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
  • Fellowship-trained under world-renowned rhinoplasty pioneer Dr. Dean Toriumi
  • Double Board Certified in Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery
  • Dr. Hilinski has the largest gallery of ear reduction results in the world.

Consultation

  • Dr. John M. Hilinski's practice offers remote follow-ups for most of their patients.

Recovery guidance

  • One surgery, one recovery, a result that looks like it was always meant to be there

Results

  • The goal is never to look like someone else. It's to look like you, just more rested, refreshed, and back in balance

Statements are quoted or closely paraphrased from Dr. John M. Hilinski's own public posts and are their claims, not NavMDs' medical advice. Doctors can correct or remove any item via their claimed profile or support [at] navmds.com.

About

Dr. John M. Hilinski, MD, is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in San Diego, California. A Harvard Medical School graduate, he is fellowship-trained under rhinoplasty pioneer Dr. Dean Toriumi. He advances facial plastic surgery through precision, innovation, and exceptional patient care. His philosophy focuses on creating a balanced version of a patient's existing features, aiming for natural results uniquely suited to the individual, never making them look like someone else. He specializes in rhinoplasty, emphasizing subtle, millimeter-precise changes to refine the nose without erasing existing features or creating a "done" look. For ethnic rhinoplasty, he focuses on understanding unique anatomy and preserving features that should not be changed. In revision rhinoplasty, he rebuilds patient trust through careful listening, realistic expectations, and long-term commitment, offering follow-up consultations at no additional cost. His approach to ear surgery involves conservative reshaping for an unnoticeable, natural outcome, actively avoiding overcorrection. He also performs upper blepharoplasty to create a brighter, refreshed appearance while preserving natural eye shape and facial harmony.

Connect with Dr. John M. Hilinski on Social Media

SpecialtiesProceduresAverage CostReviewsIndustry PaymentsInsuranceLocationAffiliationsEducationFAQ

Specialties

  • Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Procedures & Services

Select a service to schedule an appointment · each is approximately 60 minutes

Procedure details

Everything on this page about each procedure Dr. John M. Hilinski offers: pricing in context, what they've said about it, related videos and photos, and what patients ask.

Average Cost of Surgery

Healthcare costs shouldn't be a mystery. Below, you'll find crowdsourced data on the actual costs of surgeries performed by Dr. John M. Hilinski, submitted anonymously by the patient community. Use this as a guide to better anticipate your own expenses. Please note that final costs can vary based on your specific medical needs.

Skin Tightening

$2,800

About typicalTypical nationally: $288–$7,625 (median $1,850, 8 reports) compare ↗

Revision Rhinoplasty

$13,000

About typicalTypical in California: $10,000–$18,250 (median $15,000, 20 reports) compare ↗

Help us keep this data current and accurate. If you've had a procedure with Dr. John M. Hilinski, please take a moment to contribute your cost information.

Questions, Answers, and Information Directly from Dr. John M. Hilinski

Sourced directly from Dr. John M. Hilinski's social posts and replies.

Is the V-Y advancement a one-time surgery?
Yes, the V-Y advancement is a one-time surgical procedure.
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Can excess fullness in upper eyelids affect younger individuals?
Yes, excess fullness in the upper eyelids can occur in individuals in their 20s or 30s, creating a tired or heavy appearance.
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Is macrotia surgery a common procedure?
No, macrotia surgery is considered one of the rarest procedures in facial plastic surgery.
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Does Dr. Hilinski perform macrotia surgery regularly?
Yes, despite macrotia surgery being one of the rarest procedures in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Hilinski performs it regularly.
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Does Dr. Hilinski charge for follow-up consultations after revision rhinoplasty?
No, follow-up consultations for revision rhinoplasty patients are provided at no additional cost.
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Is ear reduction a single procedure?
Yes, ear reduction surgery is completed in a single procedure.
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What is the typical patient reaction to ear reduction results?
Patients often express surprise and regret for not having undergone the procedure sooner, frequently asking 'why wouldn't you just do it?'.
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Are heavy upper eyelids always a sign of aging?
No, heavy upper eyelids are not always a sign of aging; they can sometimes be attributed to genetics.
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Are the results of V-Y advancement permanent?
Yes, the V-Y advancement creates permanent lip fullness, and the results do not fade.
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What materials are used in V-Y advancement?
The V-Y advancement uses the patient's own tissue, with nothing artificial.
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Does V-Y advancement result in external scars?
No, the V-Y advancement results in no external scars.
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Does V-Y advancement require ongoing maintenance appointments?
No, the V-Y advancement eliminates the need for standing appointments for maintenance.
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What kind of results can be expected from V-Y advancement?
The V-Y advancement creates soft, natural lips that stay.
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From Dr. John M. Hilinski's Instagram

@drhilinski →

Recent photos posted by @drhilinski, Dr. John M. Hilinski's own Instagram account. Each image opens the original post on Instagram.

Images © Dr. John M. Hilinski / @drhilinski, shown here with a link to the original post. Procedure labels are inferred from the post's caption and hashtags. If you are the account owner and want an image removed, contact support [at] navmds.com.

Patient Experience

Dr. John M. Hilinski Review Summary

4.6
Dr. Hilinski has excellent ratings, averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars. Patients frequently praise his skill, thoughtful approach, and the natural-looking results he achieves.

Ratings from Other Platforms

facebook.com

5 out of 5

Based on 8 reviews

View on facebook.com

Google Reviews

4.6 out of 5

Based on 136 reviews

View on Google Reviews
Dr. John M. Hilinski, MD - Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon in San Diego, California

Main Office

131 Orange Ave Suite 106, San Diego, California

(619) 296-3223

Book a Service Consultation

Free consultation

Each service is approximately 60 minutes.

Industry Payments

Federal law (the Physician Payments Sunshine Act) requires drug and medical-device companies to report anything of value they give to a physician — consulting and speaking fees, research funding, travel, royalties, and even meals. Medicare publishes all of it in a public database called Open Payments. We show it here so you don't have to go looking for it.

Total received (2024)

$1,676

Payments

13

Compared to peers

Moderate

Dr. John M. Hilinski received $1,676 across 13 payments in 2024. That is higher than about 71% of the physicians here who received any industry payment. Most of it was categorised as compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program, and the largest single payer was ABBVIE INC..

What this means for your care

  • A disclosed payment is a business relationship, not evidence of wrongdoing, and it says nothing on its own about the quality of your care.
  • Most payments are small. Across the physicians listed on NavMDs, the single most common category is food and beverage at industry-sponsored talks.
  • Larger consulting, speaking or royalty payments mean an ongoing financial relationship with a company whose products your doctor may use or recommend. That is worth knowing about, and it is reasonable to ask about.
  • A fair question to ask: “Do you have a financial relationship with the maker of the implant, filler or device you're recommending — and what alternatives did you consider?”

Source: CMS Open Payments, the federal database created by the Sunshine Act. View the full record on CMS Open Payments ↗

Insurance Information

Please contact Dr. John M. Hilinski's office directly for information about accepted insurance plans.

Phone: (619) 296-3223

Help us improve this profile

Do you know which insurance plans Dr. John M. Hilinski accepts? Share this information to help other patients.

Location & Contact Information

Main Office

131 Orange Ave Suite 106

San Diego, California 92118

Get Directions

Office Information

Phone: (619) 296-3223

Where does Dr. John M. Hilinski practice?

Doctor's Office

Main Office (Primary)

131 Orange Ave Suite 106, San Diego, California 92118

(87 reviews)

Hospital Affiliations

Hospital affiliations unknown

Do you know which hospitals Dr. John M. Hilinski is affiliated with? This information helps patients understand where they might receive care.

Education & Experience

Education

Harvard Medical School Graduate

Certifications & Licenses

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Double Board Certified In Facial Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery
Double Board Certified In Head And Neck Surgery
Board Certified San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make an appointment with Dr. John M. Hilinski online?
While the provided information lists contact information and social media links, it doesn't explicitly state whether online appointment booking is available. It's best to contact the office directly at (619) 296-3223 or visit his website (link available on his social media profiles).
Does Dr. John M. Hilinski offer telehealth?
The provided information does not specify whether Dr. Hilinski offers telehealth services. Contacting the office directly is recommended for the most accurate information.
What do patients have to say about Dr. John M. Hilinski?
Patients consistently report positive experiences with Dr. Hilinski, highlighting his surgical skill and ability to deliver natural-looking results. Reviews mention successful eyelid surgery, ear reduction surgery, rhinoplasty, and revision rhinoplasty, with patients expressing increased confidence and satisfaction with their improved appearance.
What areas of care does Dr. John M. Hilinski cater to?
Dr. Hilinski specializes in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, offering a range of procedures including rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, facelifts, otoplasty (ear surgery), eyelid surgery, and skin tightening. He also directs a medical spa and supervises all patient treatments there. Dr. Hilinski's approach to rhinoplasty, including ethnic and teenage cases, centers on refining existing features with millimeter-precise, subtle changes to create a natural, balanced nose that harmonizes with the patient's face, rather than erasing or creating a 'done' look. He emphasizes understanding unique anatomical characteristics and preserving features that should not be changed, especially in ethnic rhinoplasty, and ensuring long-term natural results for younger patients. For revision rhinoplasty, a highly demanding field, his philosophy involves rebuilding patient trust through careful listening, realistic expectations, and long-term commitment, sometimes employing advanced techniques like piezo refinement. In ear surgery, including macrotia (ear reduction), the goal is an unnoticeable, natural outcome achieved through conservative reshaping to restore normal size and proportion, actively avoiding overcorrection. Similarly, upper blepharoplasty aims to create a brighter, more refreshed appearance by addressing excess fullness while preserving natural eye shape and facial harmony, helping patients look more awake and confident without altering their fundamental appearance. When performing combined procedures like nose, midface, jawline, and neck refinement, Dr. Hilinski prioritizes restraint to ensure a single, balanced facial aesthetic.