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
Mobile Devices Restricted-Updating the Surgical Timeout.
McCarthy JE, Rao VK
JAMA Surg 2025 Feb 19;
[PubMed ID: 39969898]Economic Predictors of Plastic Surgery Expenditures: A 14-Year Analysis of Unemployment, Disposable Income, and Stock Indices.
Fine KS, Bay CC, Wirth PJ, Shaffrey EC, Edalatpour A, Thornton SM, Rao VK
Aesthet Surg J Open Forum 2025; 7: ojae121
[PubMed ID: 39882214]Recent Increases in Violence Against Physicians and Plastic Surgeons.
Fine KS, Attaluri P, Wirth PJ, Shaffrey EC, Rao VK
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2024 Nov; 12(11): e6329
[PubMed ID: 39512660]Risk Factors for Acute Intraoperative Bradycardia in Patients Undergoing Gender-affirming Mastectomy.
Thornton SM, Shaffrey EC, Bay CC, Verhagen JC, Wirth PJ, Edalatpour A, Israel JS, Gast KM, Rao VK
Plast Surg (Oakv) 2024 Oct 09; 22925503241285458
[PubMed ID: 39545216]Plastic Surgery and Cryptocurrency: A 2024 Update.
Thornton SM, Attaluri PK, Shaffrey EC, Wirth PJ, Rao AJ, Rao VK
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2024 Jul; 12(7): e6006
[PubMed ID: 39071765]