Top Plastic Surgeons in Houston

ABOUT

THE STORY

Dr. De La Cruz is a highly accomplished and double-certified plastic surgeon of Filipino American heritage. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Texas Tech University, where he graduated with summa cum laude honors. Throughout his academic journey, Dr. De La Cruz demonstrated his commitment to both his studies and community by volunteering at the Texas Mental Health & Mental Retardation Center in Lubbock, Texas.

After completing his medical education at the University of Texas in Houston, Dr. De La Cruz embarked on a path of specialized training and excellence. He underwent rigorous training in general surgery at California's esteemed Loma Linda University, where he honed his surgical skills and knowledge. It was during his third year as a surgery resident that he developed the innovative "Celtic cross technique" for immediate umbilical reconstruction, which was subsequently published in the internationally recognized Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.

As a testament to his expertise, Dr. De La Cruz achieved double certification from the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Driven by a deep-rooted passion for hand surgery, stemming from his personal experience of finger replantation, Dr. De La Cruz sought further specialization in Hand and Microsurgery at Oregon Health Sciences University. Under the esteemed Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, he acquired extensive experience in microsurgery and refined his surgical techniques to be meticulous and precise. Throughout his training, he successfully performed over nine hundred procedures, further solidifying his expertise in the field.

Continuing his pursuit of excellence, Dr. De La Cruz pursued specialized training in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Georgia Health & Sciences University (formerly known as Medical College of Georgia). This training allowed him to master the intricacies of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, with a particular focus on breast reconstruction, craniofacial surgery, abdominoplasty, liposuction, breast augmentation, facelift, rhinoplasty, and facial rejuvenation with BOTOX®/dermal fillers.

Notably, Dr. De La Cruz served as the Chief Surgery Resident in Plastic Surgery during his training and achieved an exceptional score in the 94th percentile on the 2010 Plastic Surgery Inservice Examination.

In addition to his surgical prowess, Dr. De La Cruz is also an accomplished sculptor and painter. He seamlessly integrates his artistic abilities into his plastic surgery practice, allowing him to create natural and beautiful results for his cosmetic surgery patients. Under the guidance of renowned French sculptor Philippe Faraut, Dr. De La Cruz further honed his skills in advanced body sculpting.

Driven by a deep sense of compassion and commitment to helping others, Dr. De La Cruz dedicates his time and expertise to volunteer work every year in the Philippines. His efforts focus on performing life-changing cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries, as well as breast reconstruction procedures for breast cancer patients. His selfless contributions have garnered him multiple prestigious awards, including the St. Jude's Children Research Hospital "Helping Hands Award," the "We Are One" Award in Stockholm, Sweden, and the Global 7 "Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award." Recently, he received Congressional Recognition for his exceptional humanitarian contributions.

As a testament to his expertise and innovation, Dr. De La Cruz was honored with the esteemed 2019 Grand Master Total Definer "Best B/A High-Definition Liposuction" award, presented by Dr. Alfredo Hoyos, the inventor of the High-Definition Liposuction procedure. This esteemed recognition solidifies Dr. De La Cruz's position as a leading authority in his field and highlights his pioneering techniques in achieving exceptional results. Dr. De La Cruz is also an invited author in a reputable plastic surgery journal "Clinics in Plastic Surgery." He published "Lipoplasty in the Overweight Patient" utilizing the most advanced techniques in plastic surgery with emphasis on patient safety.

Dr. De La Cruz's unwavering dedication to the field of plastic surgery, his exceptional surgical skills, and his commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others have firmly established him as a respected and highly sought-after practitioner in his field.

Professional Education

Residency

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

94th percentile nationally, Plastic Surgery Inservice Examination

Medical College of Georgia

Augusta, GA

Residency

General Surgery

Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Loma Linda, CA

Fellowship

Hand and Microsurgery

Oregon Health & Sciences Univ. School of Medicine

Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and Department of Orthopedics

Portland, Oregon

Education

University of Texas Medical School Houston, TX

Medical Doctorate

Frank C. Webber Prize for Medical Research

University of Texas School of Medicine

Texas Tech University

Bachelor of Science in Cellular & Molecular Biology; Minor in Biochemistry

Summa Cum Laude Graduate

Licensure&Certification

Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery

Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Medical Board of Georgia

Texas Medical Board

Medical Board of California

United States Medical Licensing Examination Steps 1, 2 & 3

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certified

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Certified
LASER Aesthetics with the American Society for LASER Medicine & Surgery

Awards&Distinctions

Member, The Aesthetic Society
Grand Master Total Definer "Best B/A High-Definition Liposuction", 2019 - awarded by Dr. Aldredo Hoyos, the inventor of the HIgh-Definition Liposuction procedure.
Invited Author in "Clinics in Plastic Surgery: Body Contouring"
Co-Author, Adult Umbilical Reconstruction: Principles and Techniques
Developed the Celtic Cross Technique for Umbilical Reconstruction
"Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award" by Global 7 International, 2018
"We Are One" Humanitarian Award in Stockholm Sweden, 2017
"Helping Hands Award" awarded by St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 2016