Venkat K Rao, MD, MBA
Professor
- Division of Plastic Surgery
rao@surgery.wisc.edu
(608) 263-1223
600 Highland Avenue
Box 3236, Clinical Science Center
Madison, WI 53792
Education
- MD, University of Madras, India
- Master of Surgery, University of Madras, India
- Internship and Residency in General Surgery, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
- Residency in Plastic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center, Bronx, NY
- Research Fellow, Microsurgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Fellow, Hand Surgery, University of Kentucky, Louisville, KY
- MBA, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Honors
Best Doctors in America Award Surgery, Hand/Microsurgery & Plastic & Reconstructive
Madison Magazine Top Docs 2012 Award Surgery, Hand/Microsurgery, Plastic & Reconstructive
Clinical Specialties
Dr. Rao is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He specializes in breast surgery, cosmetic surgery, hand and microsurgery. Dr. Rao provides a wide range of services at UW Hospital, Transformations and Meriter Hospital which include breast reconstruction, breast reduction, breast augmentation, body contouring, liposuction, hand injuries and carpal tunnel surgery.
Dr. Rao provides a wide range of services including Arthritic Reconstructions, Brachial Plexus Surgery, Breast Reconstruction, Brow Lift, Carpal Tunnel Release, Digital Replantation, Extended Efforts in Limb Salvage, Hand Arthroplasty, Lower Eyelid Tuck, Microvascular Reconstruction, Nerve Repair, Rhinoplasty, Tendon Repairs, Upper Eyelid Tuck.
Research Interests
Dr. Rao’s current research interests include breast reconstruction and outcomes in cosmetic surgery.
Recent Publications
Charting Tomorrow: A Practical Review of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Documentation.
Zeitouni F, Botros NE, Khosla AS, McKinney M, Craig JN, Alamo-Irizarry L, Rao VK
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2026 Jun; 14(6): e7822
[PubMed ID: 42317592]"Morphology Over Identity: A Call for Retiring Broad Demographic Descriptors in Rhinoplasty".
Craig J, Satish K, Zeitouni F, Tierney M, Rao VK
Plast Reconstr Surg 2026 Jun 17;
[PubMed ID: 42312605]Revisiting the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: Practical Applications for the Modern Plastic Surgeon.
Quach MP, Carbullido MK, Craig JN, Wirth PJ, Via EC, Rao VK
Aesthet Surg J Open Forum 2026; 8: ojag096
[PubMed ID: 42395034]Posting With Purpose: A Strategic Instagram Workflow for Plastic Surgeons.
Botros NE, Mosca N, Gupta S, Zeitouni F, Wirth P, Rao VK
Aesthet Surg J Open Forum 2026; 8: ojag095
[PubMed ID: 42317647]Leveraging TikTok in Plastic Surgery: A Practical Framework for Patient Education, Professional Branding, and Ethical Use.
Gupta S, Botros NE, Khosla AS, Zona EE, Fine KS, Wirth PJ, Rao VK
Aesthet Surg J Open Forum 2026; 8: ojag084
[PubMed ID: 42266712]