Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

He’s awesome and spot on! Although I didn’t want to hear I need an extended tummy tuck or belt lift, he is 100% right and his expertise and knowledge makes me feel comfortable with him as my soon to be doctor for my face only and perhaps breasts someday too. Thank you Dr Tholen.

Hello! After 5 years of following Dr. Tholen and his work on Realself and doing my own research, I've finally made the decision and got my boobs done. Here are a few things about me:
- Surgery: August 2022
- 4'11"
- 120lbs
- 30 years old as of today
- Asian
- Mother of 3
- 345 cc on the left
- 375 cc on the right.
- Now wears mostly size M in bralettes
- 36 C bra (previous size 32B)
The surgery went smooth and fast. I had no pain and recovered quickly even with all the bruising and swelling lasting for almost two weeks. The team was helpful, friendly, kind, and great. I would recommend and is satisfied with the results after 1.5 years. I'm sure I left a few things out so, feel free to ask if would you would like to know more.

Updated on 27 Mar 2024:
Here are photos of my results from after the surgery and how my breasts look today. Let me know if I should add more photos. Or if there are any questions, leave them below and I will respond to them as best as I can.

Updated on 21 May 2024:
Here’s an update on my results. It’ll be two years in August.

Updated on 21 Oct 2024:
For those who are curious about and what implants I got.

Updated on 21 Oct 2024:
For those who are curious about and what implants I got.

Dr. Tholen is simply the best plastic surgeon you will find, period. Not just skilled but kind, honest, personable, and professional. Had breasts, arms, belt lipectomy, and thigh lipo, all post weight loss. He is la crême de la crême of plastic surgeons.
Additionally, his staff and his facility are top-notch. I have VERY high standard and am also prone to anxiety. I always feel safe with Dr. Tholen and his whole staff, and know that I'm getting the best treatment and care.
I would give 10 stars if I could.
No, Dr. T is not cheap, but you will never regret choosing him. Worth every penny.

Dr. Tholen, is absolutely amazing, honestly one of the best Doctors I've ever had. His thoroughness, detail and descript instructions is exactly what I needed to feel comfortable and confident in my choices and breast augmentation.

hands down, he is the best!

As an incentive for posting a review, this reviewer received an entry into RealSelf’s monthly $500 gift card giveaway.

If you are looking for a surgeon for a breast augmentation or reduction, look no further than Dr. Tholen. I could not recommend him more. He is meticulous and thorough and trustworthy and provides a top notch experience from consultation through the multiple follow ups after, ensuring perfection for all his patients. Highly recommend!

I recently (3 days ago) had a breast augmentation done by Dr.Tholen at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery. I cannot say enough good things about my experience so far. Within the first 2 mins of my initial consultation, I loved Dr. Tholen. You can tell he truly cares about his patients. His consultation was extremely informative and was not rushed at all. He is amazing at answering all questions and explaining what is to be expected throughout your experience. I found him to be incredibly knowledgeable and he is so kind. I definitely felt 100% comfortable with him and that I was in the best hands. This surgery was my first one ever and I was very nervous the day of. Dr Tholen and his team were wonderful at putting my nerves at ease. Everything went smooth and I woke up not feeling sick at all from the anesthesia. My pain has been extremely manageable, and I found that I don't even need to take the prescribed painkillers. I had a question for Dr Tholen the evening after my surgery, so I left a message with the on call staff and Dr Tholen called me back within 2 mins, happy to answer my question. (I had some swelling on my side that he assured me was completely normal). Again, I cannot say enough good things about Dr Tholen and his team at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery, they are all wonderful! If you are looking for a plastic surgeon, I really do urge you to meet with him.

Beyond thrilled that I discovered Dr. Tholen!

His precision and skilled surgical technique is bar none. Looking through his before and afters are incredible, but looking at my own results are blowing me away!!

Expect exceptional after care as well. His attention to detail starts during your consultation and continues even when you're home recovering from surgery. (Critically important!)

Lots of conveniences to enjoy when you book here, such as a messaging app directly to his nurses/office staff, all of your prescriptions being delivered right to the clinic, surgery taking place at the SAME location, discounted hotel rooms minutes away and more!

His staff is friendly, anesthesia is great and the results are picture perfect! I'm 2 weeks post op today, so I'll attach photos of my experience so far!

Thank you Dr. Tholen. You are truly the best.

Updated on 5 Feb 2023:
Here's a before pic for comparison, it was deleted from the first post somehow and apparently I can't add to that. I haven't taken too many pictures recently, but the scars are healing very well! I've taken/am taking Arnica (early on post op), turmeric from Further Foods and Ageless Multi Collagen. I think all of these are helping the healing process immensely!

I had a breast augmentation in 2014 by Dr. Tholen. He was very nice and seemed knowledgeable, which is why I booked with him. The surgery and recovery went well, but my scarring is definitely more pronounced than I anticipated. Regarding the incision he said he sews one side and his nurse sews the other, and to be honest, there’s a considerable difference in the scars. One is more flat and is closer to the color of my skin but the other is raised, bumpy and much darker than the other. While this isn’t a huge issue for me now I would have felt very self-conscious if I was still dating. I’m writing this now as I was thinking of getting other work done but after seeing a few poor reviews on his facelift patients I felt compelled to share my experience as well. If you’re going to see him just ask lots of questions and it’s probably a safe assumption that only the best results are shown in his before and after photos.

Absolutely beyond impressed with the professionalism, picture perfect results, welcoming atmosphere of the clinic, and wonderful staff attitudes. I thought somewhere along the way I’d hit a snag with either lack of communication skills, off end results, the vibes in the clinic or with staff but I was pleasantly surprised and it’s been a dream ride the entire way!! All the ladies are amazing and Dr. Tholen is the most charismatic, personable and professional doctor I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I can’t say enough how happy I am that I trusted my BA to him and it came out EXACTLY like my wish pics! Even if you think you’ve found your PS, I URGE you to meet with Dr. Tholen, and it’ll change your mind :)

Dr. Tholen did my belt lipectomy on July 6, 2022 after I lost 100 lbs in one year with the help of bariatric surgery. At the 24-hour check in appointment I got to see my incisions, and they were amazing! Smooth, completely shut, very mild bruising, and perfect positioning. Nothing scary-looking about them, which is incredible considering my skin is usually very fragile and prone to severe bruising. For my fellow individuals with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or other connective tissue disorders, Dr. Tholen knows what he’s doing, and he knows how to take care of you. Don’t be scared to go to him for your cosmetic surgery.

The best part was actually seeing my body without the extra fat and loose skin for the first time in my life—truly the first time in my life. I was so happy I cried a bit. Dr. Tholen has given me something I’ve never had: my actual figure. Even with my drains and my compression garment on, I feel beautiful and I finally feel like me.

It looks like this procedure definitely lifted my thighs, my buttocks, and especially my pubic area. Dr. Tholen’s amazing job with my belt lipectomy may save me from a thigh lift in the future. I just could not believe that was actually my body in the mirror. It was pure joy and validation for all the hard work I did. I am SO glad I took it upon myself to find my own surgeon, and I am SO glad I found Dr. Tholen.

The rest of the staff at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery are also 5/5 stars. The way everyone handled me before the surgery and the day of the surgery made me feel very confident in them, and I did not have a single question left unanswered. The surgery day very calm, considering what I was about to undergo, thanks to everyone there being calm and confident in their process for the surgery. Amazing anesthesiologist, too.

I’d had a mild waking event during my bariatric surgery a year ago, and that surgery was 45 minutes at the most; this surgery at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery was about 4 1/2 - 5 hours under anesthesia and I did not have a single second of inappropriate waking. I went to sleep on the table and woke up in recovery just as I should’ve, and I’m so grateful for their anesthesiologist and their anesthesia delivery method. Zero nausea upon waking or afterward, too.

I had awful nausea a year ago after my bariatric surgery, but I had absolutely none after this surgery. They are truly the absolute best at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery in every aspect. I am beyond grateful for all the wonderful front desk staff members, the techs, the nurses, the anesthesiologist, and of course, Dr. Tholen. All wonderful, caring, helpful, highly skilled people. I 100% recommend them above any other clinic or hospital.

Updated on 8 Dec 2022:
I was doped up on pain medication during my last review, so I was a bit gushy and probably jumping the gun on the thigh lift thought—having a good laugh now at my gushy review, though. However, I still see what I saw at the time of my first review, and I still stand by my recommendation of Dr. Tholen for anyone.

Back then I was insanely swollen and I couldn’t yet stand upright, but I could easily imagine my real figure under the swelling and stiffness. As the swelling continued to go down, what I could imagine was under the swelling became real. Now I’m wearing size 4 jeans, and small or extra small sizes for other clothing. I’ve never had that before. I actually feel like myself, and I don’t feel like I’m trapped by all that loose skin I had. It’s so much easier to move around without all that heavy extra skin—I think it was 8.2 lbs. It’s still incredible to actually see ME. I feel beautiful and transformed. I am so thankful. I do notice that my thighs are lifted a bit, too.

The only thing that bugs me a bit is that my butt crack appears longer. However, after a busy day I do still have very noticeable swelling in my lower back, buttocks, and thighs, so I am optimistic that over time things won’t always be so squished together from swelling and creating a long crack. In the photos I’m attaching you can see a bit of the swelling in those areas, but not nearly as much as it still gets.