South Texas Health System Heart Hospital

My surgeon is Dr. Ernesto Garza and I had my gastric bypass surgery on December 21, 2009. I was nervous upon meeting him for the first time because he looks so young, but I soon discovered that he is wise and very experienced. After my first visit with him, I knew that I had made the right choice in a surgeon for my procedure.

Patients should know that Dr. Garza only has your health and what is best for you in mind. He is caring and takes the time to listen to your concerns and makes every effort to make sure you are aware of all aspects of the procedure that is right for you. The care I received after my surgery was awesome; Dr Garza visited with and updated my family immediately after surgery, which my family (and I) greatly appreciated. He also visited with me each day I was in the hospital and that was so comforting.

Post-surgery office visits are great(for the first time I'm excited to get on the scale)and the staff is very pleasant. The monthly support group meetings offered are very informative and inspiring; at those meetings Dr. Garza always takes time before and/or after to chat and catch up, making sure that all is going well. Dr. Garza has changed my life!!!

It's been more than a year since I started this journey...ten months since surgery. I am so pleased! I've lost 120 pounds from my highest pre-surgery weight and what a difference in my health and the way I feel and look.

Dr. Reyes is a very competent surgeon with the experience I needed to do my difficult surgery. Even tho he tried to do it laparascopically he had to change to open because of extensive scar tissue from several past surgeries. He was very careful to insure no hernias would result.

The pre-surgery program is a good one. After care is OK. Basically make your appointments and keep them, and follow the rules. It's occasionally hard to get answers from the staff via phone. Doctor Reyes only has office hours on Wed. so it gets crowded. The waiting time in his office for appointments could sure use improvement however. I usually have to wait at least an hour for 5 minute face time with the doctor.

I enjoy talking with him and he listens. Good bed-side manner. I know several of his other patients and we are all very satisfied, both with him and the surgery results.

My first impression was one of a very successful, busy doctor who knew exactly what he was doing. I still feel the same way. The majority of his staff have had a weight loss surgery and were very understanding. I have been seeing him every three months for after care, sometimes i think that is too much, but shows that he is very interested in the well-being of his patients. I am very pleased that I decided on Dr. Reyes to do my surgery.

Well i met Dr. Reyes and his staff on December 9, 2009! he is so awesome he just makes you feel so comfortable he expresses his opinion but not in a rude manner at all he's very caring to make sure you understand him and his staff is the best especially Laura she is so nice! I am so happy I went for a second opinion instead of staying with Dr. Del Pino<very very rude! && Dr. Reyes seems so experienced all i have heard is good things so far :)

Dr. Reyes was very receptive and understanding of the reasons I had to want to have the surgery. My first impression was that he was very enthusiastic about WLS and he wanted to make sure I had all the education and information prior to making any decisions. My impression did not change much because he made me feel like an individual and not just part of a group that wanted to have surgery just to lose wt and look good. He understood my medical needs and reason for the surgery. His staff was great. The ability to speak to him openly without feeling like I was being judged based on my weight or appearance. That he genuinely has their best interest in mind. He is constantly reinforcing diet, exercise, and aftercare at every visit to assure success. As time passed his program has become more structured. He did address the risks of surgery with me during our first visit and again prior to surgery. On a scale of 1 - 10, I'd give him a 10 for his services. I believe that surgical competence is of extreme importance as is bedside manner.

Dr Reyes office is extremely busy, he has only one office day per week, seeing him can be a daunting task. His office staff is always professional and while they are also very busy, they make a real attempt to be available to his patients.rnrnHe is extremely easy to talk to, he is caring and never fails to put you at ease.rnrnMy surgery went really well. My pain and discomfort were treated without my ever having to ask. rnrnHe has both a good bedside manner, and he is a great surgeon. He did my preop EGD and an IVC filter placement as well as my surgery and all three proceedures were done with no complications and great outcomes.

*My first impression was good he insipired me a lot of trust.rn*Myt first impression has not change I believe he's an excellent surgeon.rn*Although his staff isn't perfect at all, hey take a long time to return my calls, they never have time, I felt sick and they never could help me. I had puss in my belly and instead of helping me out they kept telling me that they didn't have time or space to see me, I actually had to go to my general doctor for help, of which my incisions were already infected.rn*Dr. Reyes is an excellent surgeon, my surgeory went smooth and I never had major complications. And just by talking to him you know you are in good hands.rn*He kept telling me people that behave bad, well bad things happen to them. And it was up to me after sureory if I wanted to be in good health.rn*If he does I realy havent checked into it. rn*They gave paper or and a quiz about the risks and change of life I was about to take. He said that everything in life was a risk but that I was in good handsrn*Over all I would give him (-A). I guess he needs to work on his post Op or probably on his staff.rn*Surgical competence, I don't care if he's rude (which he wasn't) I wanted someone that knew what he was doing.

Hi! My name is Lisa Tucker and I am from Houston Texas. There was time 15 years ago I was 300 pounds. My son was 18 months old and
I found it difficult to keep up with him phsically. I thought about a life I was going to put him through.So I obtained information on weight reduction.Being a nurse I already had an understanding of the procedure they would do.I met the requirements according to my insurance company,100lbs over idea body weight, I had 3 previous back surgery and high blood pressure,which only added to the need for this gastric bypass.So I had what I belived to be stapleing up the stomach and reattaching to the intestines.I drop 100 lbs in a year and things started looking up for me. Approxmally 20 months later I was at 180 pounds and started throwing up no nausea just an overwhelming feeling of my stomach being overfilled,like the feeling you have after you eat thanksgiving dinner.I was eating small amounts of food I would not even keep water down.I sought out help from the hospital emergency room but everytime I go in they just hidrated me and sent me on.It had been going on for 14 years to where I got down to 92 lbs.I did not want to let my family see me like this.One day one of my nieces came over then got the family involved.No one knew what to do.No one would help me I did not have any insurance and could only work two days a week Then my oldest sister just so happen to work in OR and got to talking to Dr. Luis Reyes and was able to get down to the valley and finally get some help.Dr. Luis Reyes did a Reversal on My so call Gastric bypass which turned out to be a gastric bypass plasty and lap band.If it was not for this Dr. Luis Reyes I think I would have just died. I had this reversal on Feb 13,2009,I weigh 92lbs.As of July 18,2009 I weigh 155 lbs. I still do eat small meals but I seem to be getting back to myself.You just do not know what this has done to me for 14 years thing I was going to die and This Dr,Luis Reyes saved my life.I understand I was his first reversal gastric bypass.I can not tell you I will ever be greatfull and never forget Dr. Luis Reyes.He is my guargian angel.You could not ask for a better surgeon anywhere than this Dr.

I haven't met with him privately yet but did go to a seminar he hosted. There were only 3 of us patients there and he was very friendly and informative.

He was very professional and very knowledgeable.... He became a much nicer and friendlier person and made me feel like family. His staff is vey kind hearted. He is looking out for your best interest and would not recommend something if he didn't feel it was not for your benefit. You know the surgeon is not the only one to thank praise because a lot of the work also comes from the staff at the office. They have been not only angels, but monumental in the support they have given me. THanks Ladies.