Shitel Patel is a board-certified plastic surgeon and software entrepreneur whose career bridges the worlds of precision medicine, technology, and human-centered growth. As the co-owner of Lift Plastic Surgery and founder of Ad Vital, Shitel brings an uncommon blend of clinical expertise, operational intelligence, and emotional depth to everything he builds.
Whether performing transformative surgery or designing AI-driven systems to streamline healthcare operations, Shitel’s work is rooted in one question: How can we create more clarity, connection, and capacity—for ourselves and for others? His ventures aren’t just about scale or success—they’re about restoring wholeness in how people work, heal, and lead.
Shitel is married to Bijal Patel, his partner in both life and growth. Together, they are committed to deepening emotional alignment, embracing accountability, and building a relationship that models courage and connection. He is also a devoted father to their wise and creative 10-year-old daughter, Sayoni, and curious 7-year-old son, Jahi. Life at home is completed by their loyal Sheltie, Nacho.
At his core, Shitel is both architect and alchemist—a systems thinker who understands that the real breakthroughs happen when strategy meets soul. Whether in the operating room, boardroom, or living room, he leads with intention, building toward a future shaped by purpose, presence, and possibility.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts at 4:35 AM wakeup and then I’m off to workout from 5 to 6. On my morning commute, I listen to podcasts on 2X ranging from topics of AI, music, mindset, motivation and psychology. When I make it to the office, I have my morning meetings for the software company and then I see patients in the clinic on clinic days. For surgery days, I go see the patient and go over the goals and execute in surgery. The afternoons are a mix of clinic and masterminds to grown the mind and spirit. At 4 PM, I have a hard stop as I make my way to go pickup the kids from school and listen to what’s going with them. Then it’s family time and dinner where we do gratitude and hope. After the kids are sleeping, it’s my time with my wonderful wife, Bijal. We end the nights with meditations and our hopes of tomorrow.
How do you bring ideas to life?
My ideas come from different places and different inspirations. All the ideas go thru a process of whether they are something I am passionate about and do they bring me energy. I have found the future impact of the implementation of the idea is what generally drives me to execute.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The AI trend is the one that excites me the most currently. The use and application is mind-boggling and I’m here for the show. The creative uses of AI in all types of fields to the simplest use cases. The other part that is interesting is the speed at which the world is changing with AI. I love consuming the content and seeing what my minds comes up with along with others.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Listening to podcasts as a daily habit pushes my mind to be exposed to different types of content
regardless of my mood. The exposure to contrarian ideas allows for curious questions that can get me to state of wonder.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Laugh more and be unapologetically you. No idea, action or instance will define you. Its the frame you decide to believe about yourself which you allow to define yourself by.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
Cancer is an outcome of aging. With the replication of cells eventually there is an error where the cells die or multiply. Since cancer also occurs in the youth, the question remains of why their cells have replicated more to have the errors. With time being relative, there may be some errors that happen as faster times points versus what we currently measure.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Have gratitude for the opportunities you have been given and then one you have left to claim.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Exercise and meditation are the two core strategies I use to get me out of a funk. They calm my nerves allow me to expand my consciousness to see outside of my current state.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Ask bold and honest questions about who I am that holds me back from reaching my true potential.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I was dead wrong about being able to do pediatric craniofacial surgery in private practice where I wanted to live. There were no neurosurgeons available to do these cases and therefore I pivoted into cosmetic facial plastic surgery. Specialization is required for the masses to know you for that. If you do not decide on what you specialize in, then the public will decide.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Find out what your patients or customers love about you or your product and do more of that. Hone your flagship offer before adding others.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Ad Vital helps me be more productive with its clarity in communication, organization, marketing and
reporting for the entire practice. I also use Claude/chatgpt for a sounding board of ideas.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
I bought an eye mask for meditation, sleeping and breathing exercises. It has significantly improved my metrics on the Whoop!
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
The Diary of a CEO and Motiv8 podcasts have a wealth of knowledge and frames of opinions outside the ones I am exposed to with my current environments. They allow me stay curious in areas that are uncomfortable…
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently watched Mandolorian with the family and enjoyed the directness and living by a code rather than by rules. It made more sense in a way of life rather than a religion.
Key learnings:
- I think I am a person with depth and live with a growth mindset.
- I take on challenges and have grit.
- I like high-risk high reward scenarios.
- I constantly challenge my beliefs in hopes to reveal a better version of myself.