Holocaust Survivor, Air Force Veteran and Facial Plastic Surgery Pioneer Dr. Harry Mittelman Retires After 52 Years
Born while his parents fled Nazi persecution, the longtime Los Altos surgeon built a remarkable life of service, medical innovation and patient care
LOS ALTOS, California: 7.21.26
Dr. Harry Mittelman, a Holocaust survivor, United States Air Force veteran, medical innovator and longtime Bay Area facial plastic surgeon, has announced his retirement after 52 years of caring for patients and advancing the field of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Mittelman’s journey began under extraordinary circumstances.
He was born on February 18, 1941, in what was then Soviet-controlled territory after his Jewish parents fled their home near Warsaw, Poland, during the Holocaust. They left behind their families and everything familiar in an effort to escape Nazi persecution.
Dr. Mittelman’s parents were eventually arrested and imprisoned by Soviet authorities and forced to work in a steel plant. As an infant, he was placed in a state-operated nursery while they were detained. After the war, his mother fought to regain custody of him when those caring for him initially resisted releasing him.
The family returned briefly to Poland before traveling through an underground network to West Germany. Believing their extended family had perished, they initially planned to settle in Israel. Their plans changed after discovering that Dr. Mittelman’s uncle had survived multiple concentration camps and had immigrated to Kansas City, Missouri.
Dr. Mittelman and his parents traveled to the United States by way of Venezuela and New Orleans, eventually arriving in Kansas City when he was nine years old.
He entered the second grade approximately two years behind other children his age. Despite knowing little English and having experienced years of displacement, he skipped grades, caught up academically and earned several university scholarships.
He chose Washington University in St. Louis over Yale University and later attended medical school at the University of Kansas. His postgraduate training included an internship in Chicago, general surgery training in the Bay Area and a residency at the University of Kansas, where he developed his focus on facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
After completing his residency, Dr. Mittelman joined the United States Air Force and served as a major at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Following his military service, he returned to the Bay Area and established his private practice in 1974. He also joined the clinical faculty at Stanford University, combining patient care with teaching, research and academic presentations.
“Having been born during the Holocaust, at a time when very few Jewish families were able to safely bring children into the world, I have often reflected that I may be among the youngest living Holocaust survivors,” Dr. Mittelman said. “My life and career have given me opportunities my parents could never have imagined while they were fighting for our survival.”
A Career Defined by Medical Innovation
During a career spanning more than five decades, Dr. Mittelman helped shape modern facial plastic surgery through innovations in laser technology, patented facial implants, national teaching and the mentorship of the next generation of facial plastic surgeons.
During the early years of his practice, he helped bring laser technology into office-based medicine and facial cosmetic surgery. He conducted independent research into medical laser applications and became involved in securing access to sealed-off military laser technology for medical use.
He subsequently helped establish one of the first office-based medical laser companies. The company and its technology attracted the interest of Johnson & Johnson, which acquired the business in the early 1980s.
The technology’s applications eventually extended beyond facial plastic surgery into several other medical specialties.
Dr. Mittelman also designed and patented the Mittelman Extended Chin Implant and the Mittelman Pre-Jowl Implant. The designs helped surgeons create more natural facial proportions and improve the balance between the chin, jawline and surrounding facial features.
The implants became widely used by facial plastic surgeons throughout the United States and internationally, with multiple medical implant companies licensing Dr. Mittelman’s designs.
His work in laser surgery, facial implants and surgical techniques was presented at national medical meetings and helped influence the evolution of modern facial cosmetic surgery.
Recognition for Contributions to Facial Plastic Surgery
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery recognized Dr. Mittelman’s contributions with two distinguished honors: the F. Mark Rafaty Memorial Award and the William K. Wright Award. He was also formally recognized for his leadership as Chair of the Academy’s Emerging Issues and Ethics Committee.
He also served for approximately 20 years as a fellowship director for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
In that role, Dr. Mittelman provided advanced, specialized training to physicians who had completed their residency programs and wanted to focus exclusively on facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Many of the surgeons he trained went on to establish practices and serve patients throughout the country.
“Teaching the next generation of facial plastic surgeons has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Dr. Mittelman said. “Knowing that the lessons and techniques I shared will continue to help patients long after my retirement is deeply meaningful to me.”
More Than Five Decades of Patient Care
Although Dr. Mittelman’s career included inventions, research, teaching and national recognition, he considers the relationships he formed with his patients to be among his most meaningful accomplishments.
For more than five decades, patients throughout Los Altos, Palo Alto, Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area trusted him with facial cosmetic surgery, reconstructive procedures and nonsurgical aesthetic care.
Many patients remained with his practice for decades and referred multiple generations of their families.
“My patients placed their confidence in my judgment, my hands and my approach to care,” Dr. Mittelman said. “I have never taken that trust lightly. Caring for them has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
Dr. Mittelman said he has always believed that the best facial plastic surgery results should be natural, thoughtful and individualized. That philosophy remained central to his practice throughout his 52-year career.
A Legacy of Survival, Service and Innovation
Dr. Mittelman’s retirement closes a remarkable professional chapter that began with his survival as an infant during the Holocaust and continued through immigration, education, military service, medical innovation and more than half a century of patient care.
At age 85, he believes he may be among the longest-practicing physicians and surgeons in the Bay Area.
His family now includes his wife, four children and 10 grandchildren. In retirement, he plans to spend more time with them and continue enjoying golf.
“I feel tremendous gratitude when I look back at my life,” Dr. Mittelman said. “My parents risked everything to keep me alive. This country gave me the opportunity to receive an education, serve in the Air Force, practice medicine, create new technologies and care for patients for more than 52 years.”
“I am grateful to my family, my staff, my colleagues and especially my patients. They made this career possible, and I will always treasure the relationships we built.”
About Dr. Harry Mittelman
Dr. Harry Mittelman is a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, medical innovator, educator, United States Air Force veteran and Holocaust survivor. He founded his Bay Area practice in 1974 and served patients for 52 years.
Dr. Mittelman helped pioneer office-based facial cosmetic laser surgery and developed the Mittelman Extended Chin Implant and Mittelman Pre-Jowl Implant. He also served on the clinical faculty at Stanford University and spent approximately 20 years training facial plastic surgery fellows.
For additional information, visit www.mittelmanplasticsurgery.com.
Media Contact
Shirley Cress Dudley
shirley@scdconsultingservices.com
