Dr. Tholen has been associated with Minneapolis Plastic Surgery since he completed seven years of surgical training at the Mayo Clinic in 1987. Dr. Tholen serves as Medical Director of Carillon Clinic, Ltd. He has completed additional training in cosmetic surgery, breast surgery, suction-assisted lipoplasty (liposuction) and ultrasonic liposuction, and laser surgery. He served as co-director for laser education at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and was co-chairman for annual courses in Cutaneous Laser Surgery taught at Abbott’s Laser Center, Minimally Invasive Care Center, and Center for Cosmetic Care.
As a faculty member of Laser Centers of America, he has taught numerous courses nationally, and has been an invited instructor in Seoul, Korea. Dr. Richard H. Tholen has written several journal articles in the peer-reviewed plastic surgical literature,and has written and presented over 150 papers on all aspects of cosmetic surgery and other plastic surgical procedures as visiting professor, invited lecturer at national plastic surgery meetings, and individually. He has served on several plastic surgical and medical/surgical committees, has been a case reviewer for Blue Cross/Blue Shield as well as Medicare, has served as president of the state and regional plastic surgery societies, and remains a strong advocate for advanced training, education, and certification for doctors who perform cosmetic surgery.
As a plastic surgeon for Operation Smile International and Children’s Surgery International, he has performed cleft lip and palate surgery for children in Peru, Venezuela, Philippines, Romania, and Honduras. His private practice at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery, Ltd. is aesthetic in nature, and has been focused virtually exclusively on cosmetic surgery for the past decade. However, with his full training and Board-Certification in General Surgery, followed by full training and Board Certification in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Tholen has the depth and full breadth of clinical and surgical experience as foundation for his aesthetic and artistic surgical expertise. His Minneapolis plastic surgical practice is recognized for excellence in cosmetic breast surgery, facial surgery, body lifting and contouring, and laser surgery, as well as for other aesthetic concerns.
Dr. Tholen enjoys travel with his wife Sami, and occasionally with one or more of their six children, golf, and plastic surgery teaching trips at least once per year. Besides spending time with his family, Dr. Tholen enjoys all things electronic and sporty automobiles. Sami Tholen, R.N. is a former Mayo Clinic critical care nurse with 30 years experience. She can often be found in the recovery room at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery, caring for patients after their cosmetic surgery.
