Nestor De La Cruz - Munoz Bariatric Surgeon MD

I'll start it off like this: My mother says to me the other day: \"Are you sure you had surgery..these tiny little scars, and you bouncing around here in less than a week...\" His office staff took care of everything. They always answer the phone and someone always answered my questions. I went to a seminar on 9/17. My surgeon's consult was 9/18. My surgery date was 11/19. AWESOME. The office staff is very nice and treat me like they know me, always remember my name and speak to me with dignity and respect. I even sent Dr. Delacruz an email, and he responded the next day. As i sit here slowly eating my salmon and ricotta (i cant help my taste buds) I am ever so grateful for a job well done. I cant wait to see my transformation. I recommend Dr. De La cruz and his office to anyone who wants to know and have weight loss surgery!

Dr. Juan Carlos Fleites (Miami, FL) is a man of very few words, yet passionate about his profession. His bedside manner is excellent, not to mention his surgical competence. This, for me, is an essential component of my rercovery / journey.rnrnrnDr. De La Cruz (Coral Gables, FL) is scheduled to do a revision from band to Rny on 12/22/08.

My WLS journey dates all the way back to early 2000 when I started looking into the procedure. At the time, the only options available were the Fobi Pouch and Gastric Bypass; none of which were covered by insurance. With no $$$ to pay for the surgery, my inquiry ended right there!rnrnFast forward to 2007...I changed jobs, insurance coverage, and PCP. During my initial visit to the PCP, he talked about my weight and suggested that I have lap band and referred me to a surgeon. I was so happy he said that because I was actually visiting him to talk about the very same thing, he beat me to the punch!rnrnThe surgeon I was referred to was very well known in my area and I was impressed by his presentation, staff, etc. I then remembered a friend of mine who had WLS to find out who did her surgery...it was Dr. De La Cruz. I did some research about him, attended his seminar, and the rest is history. What I was initially attracted to was the urgency he and his staff gave to my case. The other surgeon wanted me to wait for insurance to approve me for the surgery BEFORE he even saw me in the office for a consultation. Dr. De La Cruz’s staff saw me the very next week and I was given a surgery date even before the insurance company was contacted. That was impressive to me and that’s why I chose to have Dr. De La Cruz as my surgeon.rnrnAdditionally, his staff is very knowledgeable about the in’s and out’s of bariatric surgery. They were very patient with me, answered all of my many questions and when problems arose along the way, they always had a solution.rnrnThe first time that I actually meet and spoke to Dr. De La Cruz was minutes before he operated on me! LOL He was out of the office every single time I visited his office for pre-op appointments…he’s a very guy in Miami. He is a young, friendly, and professional surgeon that I highly recommend to anyone who needs to have WLS. Thanks, Dr. De La Cruz, Dr. Aszuje & Staff! rn

He is a great doctor, when I went to his seminar he explained everyting so real, he gain my confidence inmediately, and he is uptodate to the latest techniques on the bariatric field.

My first impression of Dr. DLC was that he was young and had a really soothing personality. He had all the time in the world for me or at least thats how he made me feel. I went to his seminar and he talked forever. The people were dropping like flies but I walked out feeling like I had earned a medical degree. The wealth of information he gave was vast. The office staff is nice. I didn't have loads of interaction with them. The office wait is very very long. Almost discouraging. His anesthegiolist was hilarious. Great guy. I'm glad he'll be there. There isn't anything I can say I liked least other than the fact that you have to do the optifast diet for two weeks. Its rough. If you're in the market for a GB dr then I think he is one of the tops. I personally know several people who have done it with him and not one has one bad thing to say. He is very strict about after care and rightfully so. He asks/requests/demands that you come to one monthly meeting for the first year and then it tapers down for the rest. It makes all the sense in the world. You take your car in for an oil change - why would you treat yourself differently. He tells you all the possibly risks of surgery and what to do to avoid them. If you follow what he says then its really a walk in the park - with a little discomfort. This guys is great all around. I can't say one bad thing about him.

I met Dr. Nestor De La Cruz-Munoz five years ago, on my first try to have the surgery. I felt very comfortable and at ease with him.. He was very responsive, informative and very patient to my inquiries. To date he is still that same. rnWith his (1800 surgeries) experience in the field and being the chairperson for Bariatric Surgery, I'm so elated that finally my surgery has been approved and Dr. De La Cruz-Munoz will be performing my surgery 4/23/08.. rnI will give you more information of him as I go along.. Ohh another thing.. A good doctor can only be as successful with a good team on his side. His office staff are truly gems. They are professional and are super supportive in all aspects.rnrnrn4/16/08 I again met with Dr. De La Cruz after his seminar about the WLS and again patiently he addressed my concerns. My mom held my surgeons hands and pleeded him to, \"Take care of my baby. She's my life.\" As I sat back and observed this transaction, he was the most comforting, soothing and caring surgeon I ever met. He held my mom's hand and assured her that I was a perfect candidate for this procedure. He stressed that he's going to prolong my life and rid of my current ailments. She explained to him that she was totally against this surgery but coming to the seminar and seeing hands on what it entails, she's given me her blessings. He assured her that I was in the best hands. She had this huge KOOL-AIDE grin that was priceless. I knew she was reluctant no more.. rnrn

Very nice guy. He was highly recommended by a family member. All the girls in the office are very nice and helpfull. But I don't know what they are talking about, the strawberry Optifast shakes taste fine. The women who submits for approval to the insurance was very helpful and did not mind me calling for updates all the time.

As a pre-op patient, my contact with Dr. De LaCruz, has been minimum. I met with his associate at the consultation. However I did get the opportunity to meet with Dr. DelaCruz briefly at the orientation seminar. He seems very busy. I was really impress with Terry, the office manager. She is explained everything and followed up with test. She assured me she will get the approval timely and she did. But she failed to tell me there will be an additional cost to the surgeon that the insurance would not cover. This fee was totally unexpected and because I do not have the money, I might have to reschedule the surgery.rnSpoke with Terry and she explained the additional cost was my 10% which the insurance does not cover, (co-pymt). Surgery is on and they will work with me regarding pymt.rn

This is a talented and fantastic doctor. Professional, ethical, dedicated, and friendly. If there is a surgeon to whom I would place my life (literally) in their hands it would be Dr. Nestor De La Cruz-Munoz. I thank God for him.

He is a GREAT doctor. He took all the time in the world to answer all my questions (and believe me I had plenty, lol) I am scheduled to have rny with him on March 19th. I am just soo excited about it. I highly highly recommend him to anyone looking for a surgeon in South Florida.