ABOUT HOUSTON'S BEST PLASTIC SURGEON

THE STORY

Dr. De La Cruz, a Filipino American, entered college at the age of fifteen and received his Bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, where he graduated summa cum laude, majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology. He successfully balanced his studies with volunteer work at the Texas Mental Health & Mental Retardation Center in Lubbock, Texas.

Following four years of medical school training in Houston at the University of Texas, where he earned the Frank Webber Prize in medical research, Dr. De La Cruz spent the next several years in California, where he successfully completed a rigorous training in general surgery at Loma Linda University. During his third year as a surgery resident, he developed the “Celtic cross technique” for immediate umbilical reconstruction, which was published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, one of the world’s leading international journals in reconstructive surgery. Dr. De La Cruz was subsequently double board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and by the American Board of Surgery.

With the aim of further refining his surgical skills and knowledge, as well as his interest in hand surgery since he was a child (after undergoing a finger replant himself), Dr. De La Cruz pursued further training in Hand and Microsurgery at Oregon Health Sciences University under the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. There, he acquired extensive experience in microsurgery, and learned to be more meticulous and precise with his surgical dissections. He finished the program with flying colors, and performed more than nine hundred procedures during his training.

Dr. De La Cruz pursued further training in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the Georgia Health & Sciences University (formerly known as Medical College of Georgia), where he honed his skills in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. At the Georgia Health & Sciences University, he refined his techniques in breast reconstruction (Free TRAM, DIEP free flaps), craniofacial surgery, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction and fat grafting, breast augmentation (breast implant surgery), facelift, rhinoplasty, facial rejuvenation with BOTOX®/dermal fillers, and other aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. With over nine years of surgical training, Dr. De La Cruz also served as Chief Surgery Resident in Plastic Surgery, and scored 94th percentile nationally on the 2010 Plastic Surgery Inservice Examination.

As sculptor and painter, Dr. De La Cruz blends art and plastic surgery to create natural, beautiful results for his cosmetic surgery patients. Under the tutelage of a world renowned French sculptor, Philippe Faraut, Dr. De La Cruz further honed his skills in advanced body sculpting.

Every year Dr. De La Cruz volunteers his time to help indigent children in the Philippines. There he performs life-changing cleft lip and cleft plate surgeries as well as breast reconstruction in breast cancer patients. Because of his humanitarian efforts, Dr. De La Cruz received multiple 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." He recently received a Congressional Recognition by The United States Congress for his humanitarian efforts.

Dr. De La Cruz also received the Grand Master Total Definier "Best B/A High-Definition Liposuction" in 2019 , which was awarded by Dr. Alfredo Hoyos, the inventor of the High-Definition Liposuction. Five plastic surgeons from all-over-the-world (Russia, Spain, USA, Dominican Republic, Argentina) were nominated for this prestigious award. The plastic surgeons who were nominated were selected from all the surgeons from all-over-the-world who perform the High-definition liposuction procedure.

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

Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX

Bachelor of Science in Cellular & Molecular Biology

Minor in Biochemistry Summa Cum Laude Graduate

Licensure&Certification

Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery

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

Awards&Distinctions

"Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award" by Global 7/Houston international Trade Development Council, 2018
Congressional Recognition Award by The United States Congress 2018
"We Are One" Humanitarian Award in Stockholm Sweden, 2017
"Helping Hands Award" awarded by St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 2016
94th percentile, 2010 Plastic Surgery Inservice Examination