Arun Rao, M.D.

Board-certified and award-winning plastic surgeon Dr. Arun Rao is the owner of Rao Plastic Surgery in Tucson, AZ. Easily set apart from his peers by virtue of his kind and welcoming personality, Dr. Rao is a skilled medical professional who is able to make women and men of all ages feel comfortable and confident while in his care. At our practice, Dr. Rao takes the time to fully understand what his patients want to get out of their cosmetic transformation. He provides every client with a personally tailored treatment plan that addresses their unique body and needs. As a result of his excellence and a strong commitment to his craft, Dr. Rao was chosen by his fellow doctors and surgeons to receive the highly regarded Castle Connolly Top Doctors award, an honor that is only earned by those who are able to receive an acknowledgment from their peers. Dr. Rao has been chosen by Tucson Lifestyle magazine as one of the Top Plastic Surgeons in Tucson from 2016 – 2018. He has also been recognized in the Readers’ Choice Poll Favorite Plastic Surgeon by the Arizona Daily Star.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, Dr. Rao went on to attend medical school in Puerto Rico at the Universidad Central del Caribe. Following medical school, he completed his general surgery residency at Michigan State University. During his tenure at Michigan State, Dr. Rao was the recipient of several medical student teaching awards. Also while at Michigan State University, Dr. Rao was recognized during four of his five years of training for having the highest score on the American Board of Surgery Inservice Training Exam. After completion of his general surgery residency, Dr. Rao passed the American Board of Surgery’s written and oral exams and is board certified in general surgery. After Michigan State University, Dr. Rao completed a fellowship in burn surgery at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL. Cook County Hospital has one of the oldest and busiest burn centers in the country. Following his year of burns, Dr. Rao completed a fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Louisville.

There, he trained with the foremost leaders in the field of breast and facial aesthetics, as well as body contouring. During this fellowship, Dr. Rao secured the Academic Achievement award in plastic surgery and was named the chief resident in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

At Rao Plastic Surgery, Dr. Rao specializes in providing cosmetic enhancements for the breast, body, face, and skin. He is especially known for his work with breast procedures (such as breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast revision), tummy tucks, liposuction, mommy makeovers, and overall body contouring. Throughout his education and career, Dr. Rao has developed and perfected an impressive range of aesthetic techniques that allow him to channel both his creative and technical skills. His years of training under the best plastic surgeons in the field helped him to develop a thorough understanding of comprehensive plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Rao is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He holds memberships with the following societies:

• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• American College of Surgeons
• Arizona Society for Plastic Surgeons
• Pima County Medical Society
• The Aesthetic Society

Additionally, he is the chief of plastic surgery at both Tucson Medical Center and St. Joseph's Hospital. Dr. Rao holds staff privileges at St. Mary's Hospital and performs surgery at the following facilities:

• Tucson Surgery Center
• Carondelet Foothills Surgery Center
• St. Joseph's Hospital
• Tucson Medical Center
• St. Mary's Hospital

A lover of his Tucson, AZ community, Dr. Rao is proud to offer his services to patients all across the neighboring area. When he's not hard at work in the office, he loves spending time with his wife and two children. He's an avid fan of sports, loves golfing, and taking his Labrador retriever, Penny Lane, on long runs. Along with these interests, Dr. Rao harbors an appreciation for golf course architecture. His primary passion in life, however, is creating beauty through a unique approach that combines technical practices with artistic vision.