
Peter A. Hilger, MD, MS, FACS
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
AVAILABLE VIRTUALLYDirector of the Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery University of Minnesota
Edina, MNTop procedures of expertise
Meet Peter A. Hilger
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Dr. Hilger has been a leader in facial plastic surgery demonstrated by the techniques he teaches, national and international leadership positions, and the thousands of happy patients for whom he has c...

Professional & Academic Titles
- Director of the Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery University of Minnesota
- Professor, Department of Head & Neck Surgery at University of Minnesota
Professional Specialties
- Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Years of Experience
- 41 years of experience
Languages Spoken
- English
Board Certifications
- American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- American Board of Otolaryngology
Experience and Expertise
Learn more about the procedures performed by Peter Hilger, MD, MS, FACS
- Alarplasty
- Blepharoplasty
- Botox
- Botox Facial
- Brow Lift
- Chemical Peels
- Chin Augmentation
- Chin Reduction
- Closed Rhinoplasty
- Dermabrasion
- Dermabrasion Treatment
- Dermal Fillers & Injectables
- Ear Surgery
- Earlobe Surgery
- Endoscopic Brow Lift
- Facelift
- Jaw Implant
- Jawline Slimming with Botox
- Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Lip Augmentation and Injections
- Lip Augmentation with Autologen
- Lip Augmentation with Fat Transfer
- Lip Lift
- Modified Lip Lift
- Neck Lift
- Open Rhinoplasty
- Orthognathic Surgery
- Otoplasty
- Periorbital Botox for Crow's Feet
- Permanent Lip Fillers
- Revision Rhinoplasty
- Rhinoplasty
- Semi-Permanent Lip Fillers
Learn more about the concerns addressed by Peter Hilger, MD, MS, FACS
- Acne
- Acne Scars
- Age Spots
- Bags Under the Eye
- Breathing Issues
- Broken Capillaries
- Chin Augmentation
- Chin Reduction
- Ear Shape
- Eye Ptosis
- Eyelid Malposition
- Facial Skin Laxity
- Facial Volume
- Fine Lines & Wrinkles
- Heavy Brow
- Jowls
- Large Pores
- Lip Augmentation
- Lip Ptosis
- Lip Shape
- Lip Size
- Marionette Lines
- Melasma
- Nasolabial Folds
- Nose Angle
- Nose Bump
- Nose Shape
- Nose Size
- Openbite
- Overbite
- Prominent Ears
- Rosacea
- Sagging Lower Eyelid
- Sagging Upper Eyelid
- Scars
- Split Earlobes
- Stretched Earlobes
- Underbite
- Uneven Skin Tone/Texture
- Upper Eyelid Fold
Questions and Answers
A subnasal lip lift elevates the top portion of the lip and reduces the distance between the upper lip and bottom of the nose. The result is a smile that is fuller and more youthful.
To begin the surgery, Dr. Hilger will make a very small incision at the junction between the nose and lip. The surgeons usually make the incision in the natural crease of the area, so that it is well concealed. After making the incision, a small, curved strip of skin is trimmed away, to lift the lip area. The resulting wound is stitched up with sutures. Most of the sutures will be removed within 5 to 7 days. Some of the sutures are dissolvable and will fade on their own.
Injectable fillers have been used off-label for non-surgical rhinoplasty. While this is a good option for some patients, it comes with several drawbacks. First, the procedure is temporary. The results typically last no more than 6-12 months. It is also not appropriate for fixing many of the problems patients are concerned with. Only subtle changes can be made. Finally, there are some risks for unfavorable scarring. During your consultation, if you are interested in non-surgical rhinoplasty, be sure to discuss the option with your surgeon, as they will be able to advise you based on your individual case.
Although the surgery is overall very safe when performed by a reputable facial plastic surgeon, all surgery carries some risks. Bleeding, infection, anesthesia complications, unfavorable scarring, numbness, nosebleeds, hematoma, nerve damage, and poor aesthetic outcome are all possible complications. Experienced surgeons like Dr. Hilger know how to minimize these risks during surgery, and patients should follow postoperative instructions carefully to further minimize risk.
You may be a good candidate for facial augmentation with fat grafting if you are in good health and have experienced a loss of facial volume to due to aging. If you feel that you look tired or older than you really are due to a loss of volume in the cheek area, fat transfer can not only restore fullness to the face, it can also help you feel more confident. There are cases when a younger patient, who has little facial volume due to congenital conditions, might be a good candidate for fat transfer. But it’s often more likely that younger patients are better served by more permanent facial augmentation options, such as cheek implants.
For protruding ears, the surgeon will make small incisions behind the ears to trim, remove, and reshape the cartilage. The ears are then secured with sutures so that they lie closer to the head. Other deformities or shape issues can be corrected by removing skin and cartilage through incisions in the front of the ear or otoplasty. In both cases, scars are barely visible. Children’s surgery is performed under general anesthetic. The surgery typically takes about two to three hours. At the end of the procedure, a soft protective bandage is applied and this remains in place for 2 to 5 days. We generally then ask patients to wear a light elastic headband at night for an additional three weeks to minimize the risk of inadvertently putting traction on the ear or otoplasty.
Practice and Location
Hilger Clinic

Credentials
- Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Head and Neck Surgeon, Fairview University Medical Center, May 1979
- University of Minnesota Medical School (1974)
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (1970)
- Fairview Southdale Hospital
- Regions Hospital
- American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- A Director of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- A Fellowship Director of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Associate Editor JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery
- President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- President of the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
- Professor and Director of the Division of Facial Plastic Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery University of Minnesota
- Selected as “Top Doctor” by Minnesota Monthly and Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
Professional & Academic Publications
The Saddle Deformity: Camouflage and Reconstruction.
2017 - Facial Plastic Clinics of North AmericaUtility of a Systematic Approach to Teaching Photographic Nasal Analysis to Otolaryngology Residents
2017 - JAMA Facial Plast SurgComparison of Neurovascular Characteristics of Facial Skin in Patients After Primary and Revision Rhytidectomies
2017 - JAMA Facial Plast SurgCysticercosis with an Orbital Tropism in Twins.
2015 - Am J Trop Med HygImproving posttraumatic facial scars
2013 - Otolaryngol Clin North AmAssessment of pulsed-dye laser therapy for pediatric cutaneous vascular anomalies.
2013 - JAMA Facial Plast Surg3D Analysis of Tissue Expanders
2011 - Facial Plast Surg Clin North AmA Comparison of Anterior vs. Posterior Isolated Mandible Fractures Treated with Intermaxillary Fixation Screws
2011 - Arch Facial Plast SurgOsseocartilaginous Rib Graft Rhinoplasty: A Stable, Predictable Technique for Major Dorsal Reconstruction
2011 - Arch Facial Plast SurgClinical Consensus Statement: Diagnosis and Management of Nasal Valve Compromise
2010 - Otolaryngol Head Neck SurgThe next decade
2010 - Arch Facial Plast SurgThe First Composite Face and Maxilla Transplant
2009 - JAMAGrafting in rhinoplasty
2009 - Facial Plast Surg Clin North AmAn overview of nasal dorsal augmentation
2008 - Semin Plast SurgGrafts and implants in rhinoplasty-Techniques and long-term results
2008 - Operative Techniques in OtolaryngologyMale face-lift.
2005 - Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North AmericaPersistent blurred vision after blepharoplasty and ptosis repair
2004 - Arch Facial Plast SurgLip augmentation
2004 - Facial Plast SurgModification of the Skoog dorsal reduction for preservation of the middle nasal vault
2004 - Arch Facial Plast SurgThe use of “inside-out” lateral osteotomies to improve outcome in rhinoplasty
2003 - Archives of Facial Plastic SurgeryIncorporation of titanium mesh in orbital and midface reconstruction
2002 - Plast Reconstr SurgReconstruction of the nasal columella.
2002 - Arch Facial Plast SurgReconstruction of large nasal defects.
2001 - Otolaryngol Clin North AmManagement of congenital nasal anomalies.
2001 - Facial Plast Surg Clin North AmProspective comparison of panoramic tomography (zonography) and helical computed tomography in the diagnosis and operative management of mandibular fractures
2001 - Plast Reconstr SurgContribution of conventional axial computed tomography (nonhelical), in conjunction with panoramic tomography (zonography), in evaluating mandibular fractures.
2000 - Ann Plast SurgThe use of unilateral deep plane neck lifting to improve the aesthetic appearance of the neck dissection deformity
2000 - Am J OtolaryngolA reliable absorbable intranasal bolster for proper maintenance of fractured nasal bone position
1999 - RhinologyThe in vitro evaluation of a local pedicled osteomyocutaneous mandibular flap for the reconstruction of composite mandibular defectsq
1999 - J Oral Maxillofac SurgThe AAFPRS Web site
1999 - Facial Plast SurgSurgical Solution: Nasal Valve Collapse
1999 - Archives of Facial Plastic SurgeryHypertrophic Lip Scar Following Dermabrasion
1999 - Archives of Facial Plastic SurgeryEffective step-by-step technique for the surgical treatment of protruding earsq
1999 - J OtolaryngolA new flap for reliable nasal reconstruction.q
1998 - J OtolaryngolThe role of ethmoid sinus surgery in the treatment of the twisted nose.q
1998 - RhinologyMaximizing patient comfort and optimizing the results of carbon dioxide laser skin resurfacing
1997 - FACEThe aesthetic challenges of the nasolabial foldq
1997 - FACEA convenient and efficient moldable dressing for skin grafts
1997 - LaryngoscopeModification of the Mustarde otoplasty technique using temporary contouring sutures
1997 - Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryUse of auricular cartilage for reconstruction of cartilaginous defects of the nose: emphasis on reconstruction of the lower lateral cartilage complex
1994 - American Journal of Cosmetic SurgeryAquaplast thermoplastic (Opti-Mold). A unique moldable tie-down dressing for full-thickness skin grafts.
1994 - Dermatol Surg OncolHereditary agenesis of nasal cartilage: surgical implications
1989 - Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck SurgLaser therapy of dysphonia plica ventricularis
1987 - Ann Otol Rhinol LaryngolComputed tomography in the diagnosis of cochlear otosclerosisq
1986 - Otolaryngol Head Neck SurgVenous hum as a cause of reversible factitious sensorineural hearing loss.q
1985 - Ann Otol Rhinol LaryngolMandibular reconstruction with the A-O plate
1985 - Arch OtolaryngolA computerized nasal analysis system
1983 - Arch OtolaryngolReconstruction of the mandible
1983 - LaryngoscopeConchal bowl and postauricular flaps for reconstruction of the external auditory canal.
1983 - Otolaryngol Head Neck SurgCystic fibrosis
1980 - Arch Otolaryngol