Meet Dr. Mithra Gonzalez: Bringing World-Class Oculofacial Plastic Surgery to Atwal Eye Care

When you meet Dr. Mithra Gonzalez, one of the nation’s few fellowship-trained oculofacial plastic surgeons, you immediately sense his passion for precision and purpose. Now, through a new partnership between Atwal Eye Care and Elmé, Dr. Gonzalez is bringing an extraordinary level of specialty care to patients across Western New York. It’s care that has long been underserved in our region.

Oculofacial plastics is a term many people have never heard of. Nationally, there are roughly 30 surgeons trained at Dr. Gonzalez’s level.

That gap meant patients were frequently traveling outside the area for conditions that are actually quite common: eyelid drooping, tear duct problems, facial trauma, orbital disease, skin cancers around the eyes and even defects in children.

Seeing this longstanding unmet need, Dr. Gonzalez, who led the Division of Oculofacial Plastics and Orbital Surgery at the University of Rochester, knew it was time for a change.

“I’ve been taking care of Buffalo patients for years,” he shared. “When we realized just how many families were having to drive long distances for this care, the opportunity to better serve this community was impossible to ignore.”

Instead of building something entirely new from the ground up, Dr. Gonzalez sought partnership with a team he deeply respected: Atwal Eye Care

“The collaboration is seamless,” he explains. “We share a commitment to patient-centered, high-touch care. And being physically located within an Atwal office means patients already feel comfortable because they know where they’re going, and they trust the environment.”

This integration allows patients to receive high-level subspecialty care without feeling like they’re navigating an unfamiliar system. Instead, Dr. Gonzalez’s expertise comes to them.

So how is he helping patients?

Oculofacial plastic surgeons focus specifically on the eyelids, orbit (the bony eye socket), tear drainage system and surrounding facial structures.

His practice ranges from reconstructive surgeries, such as repairing trauma (including pediatric dog bites), treating orbital infections, correcting congenital issues, and removing cancers … to cosmetic procedures, like eyelid lifts and facial rejuvenation.

About 95 – 98% of what he currently performs is reconstructive — most of which is covered by insurance, handled seamlessly by his team.

One of the most compelling reasons Dr. Gonzalez left academia after more than a decade was the desire to create a patient experience that feels personal, responsive and deeply human.

“We wanted to build something different; high expertise paired with high touch.”

That means:

Phone calls returned promptly
Concerns addressed quickly and compassionately
A focus not just on the diagnosis, but on the person behind it

“We want people leaving not only looking better, but feeling better,” he adds. “Connection is the treasure in this work. Helping someone, truly seeing them and supporting them, that’s the part I love most.”

Dr. Gonzalez performs surgical procedures out of the Buffalo Ambulatory Surgery Center, where the atmosphere and patient-first mindset align perfectly with his philosophy.

“Our patients rave about their experience there,” he says. “Kind, efficient, thoughtful — it mirrors exactly what we want our care to represent.”

Although his practice is new to Buffalo, his experience is anything but. Over the past decade, Dr. Gonzalez has treated some of the most complex cases in Western New York and beyond, from Toronto to Vermont.

“This isn’t a new practice. It’s a relocated practice. We have thousands of surgical reps and a depth of experience that patients can trust.”

With his move into private practice and partnership with Atwal Eye Care, Dr. Gonzalez now has increased availability for clinic visits, typically within a few weeks.

Appointments can be made via:

“There’s a guiding philosophy behind what we do,” he says. “It’s not just about being skilled surgeons – it’s about creating an unrivaled guest experience with authentic care at every touchpoint.”

Atwal Eye Care is fortunate to welcome Dr. Mithra Gonzalez, whose rare expertise and compassionate approach will undoubtedly elevate the standard of facial and reconstructive care for years to come.