Maximilian R. Padilla, MD, or as his patients call him “Dr. Max”, is the founder of Soleil Medical and Surgery.  Born in the mountains of New Mexico, and raised in the foothills of Idaho, Dr. Max was drawn to the sunshine state after spending a year in Southwest Florida during college.  Art in nature-inspired Dr. Padilla to combine the disciplines of biology and fine art during his time in college.  At the University of Utah School of Medicine, Dr. Padilla supplemented his income by painting portraits.  A lifelong dedication to exercise and nutrition has led Dr. Padilla to compete in natural bodybuilding competitions. 

While initially pursuing a career in Eye Surgery, Dr. Padilla completed his Ophthalmology Surgery residency at the University of South Florida, but the surgeries of the eye, while detailed and eloquent didn’t give him the satisfaction of the artistry of operating on the face.  The year he applied to the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowships there were 20 available positions nationwide.  Dr. Padilla was blessed to be selected to be the Oculo-Facial Plastic Surgery Fellow at the Wills Eye Hospital and accepted a teaching position at Thomas Jefferson Medical University.  Being on call every day for two years gave him unprecedented surgical volume and exposure to reconstructive, cosmetic, and trauma surgery, and he finished his fellowship with a surgical case volume of over 5,000 surgeries in two years. 

After moving to Fort Myers, Florida Dr Padilla pursued further advanced training in hair regeneration and transplant surgery.  What many people have noticed about Dr. Padilla’s hair is, he doesn’t have any! Dr. Max would like to help patients hold on to their hair with the advanced techniques that were not available when he started to notice he was losing his hair battle. 

After work, you can usually find Dr. Max working on his small farm, fishing with his family, or on a boat somewhere with his trusty Borderdoodle, Jessie, at his side.