Bernard Shuster Plastic Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S

I recommend Dr. Shuster to any and all people seeking a professional, caring plastic surgeon to complete what you started by having bariatric surgery and loosing alot of weight. He and his staff were supportive, truthful, and showed unlimited patience and knowledge with my many pre-surgery questions. After my discussion with him I felt comfortable and well informed with my decision to have a lower body lift. The day of the surgery his professional and confident attitude relieved the fears/concerns of both myself and my husband. During my recovery, Dr. Schuster was extremely vigilant. On a Friday afternoon after a routine post-op office visit, he called me and said that he didn't want to wait until my next apt to check something that he saw that concerned him and made an apt with me for Sunday morning (Mothers Day) just to check me out. I knew then that my doctor was willing to go that extra step to take care of me and thank God all was well. It has now been approx 2 1/2 months since the surgery and I look and feel great! Just ask my husband.

Sorry this is so long but I obviously can't say enough about Dr. Shuster & Staff......./* * * * * */

I had Gastric By-Pass Dec 2002 I was 360lbs
I lost almost 200lbs. /* * * * * */

JULY 2005: LOWER BODY LIFT/* * * * * */
I finally decided to have plastic surgery for the skin that wasn't going anywhere. I felt so disfigured it was horrifying. I felt like Freddy Krueger. It was really affecting me psychologically. I had better self-esteem when I was 360lbs. I didn't want to date. I would cry that I couldn't keep living like this. I felt so disfigured. People would tell me "Aren't you happy you lost all this weight? You look so beautiful" but underneath the clothes I hid this horror. They would say "It can't be that bad" Then I would show them. They would see that I wasn't just being vain or trying to look like Pamela Anderson. It was a necessity./* * * * * */

I went to Dr. Bernard Shuster in Hollywood. /* * * * * */

2 of my friends went to him previously & raved about him & his staff. His staff gets back to you right away. They make you feel like you are their only patient. Dr Shuster & staff gave me all of the information-set my expectations & they are always there to answer any of my questions. /* * * * * */

When I first went to the office I just stopped in without an appointment to ask some questions in person. I figured it would take me a month to get a consult with him & I wanted to write down some information. They were so nice. They gave me the information-then asked me if I wanted to see Dr. Shuster. He did the consult right then & there. I didn't expect it at all. Thankfully I shaved my legs, He was so kind & patient with me-he made me feel like this consult was booked for months. He does your consult in such a dignified way. He puts you at ease because you have to stand there naked./* * * * * */

I can't say enough about him & how grateful I am to him for doing such an amazing job without tearing up. He's not just doing cosmetic surgery on you...it's Reconstructive,...not only getting rid of what you feel is disfigured or making you look normal-it actually looks beautiful. I just wanted to look normal but I figured I'd still have to hide myself. I got out of the prison of weight after Gastric By-Pass but went into another kind of prison feeling so disfigured with the hanging skin. I can't explain the gift he has given me in my life./* * * * * *//* * * * * */

It's hard to describe everything he exudes but once you go there & meet him & his staff you too will know there is no one else you will want to go to. He is very warm & kind. My one friend went around to 6 different plastic surgeons for consults-once she met him..that was it for her too. His personality, demeanor & expertise solidifies it for you./* * * * * *//* * * * * */

I was considering going elsewhere just because the other Doctor was at the hospital I am very familiar with. Once I met Dr. Shuster-I knew I had to go with him. He has qualities I admire besides all of his impressive credentials. You can tell he has a lot of pride in his job & integrity./* * * * * */

Being fat all your life going from weight loss program to program you can tell when people are just in it for the money. You can tell he is not like that at all. When you feel this way about yourself a Doctor could line you up to get redone from head to toe but he doesn't do that. He told me what I need done & things I wont need done. He is honest with you. He doesn't want you to look like you've had plastic surgery. His work looks very natural. Not only does he want the best results for you because he wants to help you & make you look good. He knows it's his name on his work. You are his walking advertisement I certainly am a chatty one /* * * * * */

I tell everyone who I get into a conversation with about my Gastric By-Pass Surgery because it is like being let out of a prison. My Doctors were so amazing. Now I can add Dr. Shuster to my story because I figure if someone didn't tell me about him or my other Doctors I would still be so miserable-existing & hiding through my life-instead of living life & being happy. /* * * * * */

I'm very outgoing. I work on the phones for a living. I work in building of 5,000 people. I gab to everyone in my nail shop. I volunteer all over town. I go to a lot of places & talk to a lot of people...I will tell everyone how AMAZING he is. /* * * * * */

* * * * * */

I was so eternally grateful to my Gastric By-Pass Doctors Dr. Perez & Dr. Marema for giving me another chance in life & for letting me out of this prison. I definitely have them on a pedestal-now they better scooch over because I'm sticking Dr. Shuster up there too. I'm eternally indebted to all of them. Do they understand the miracle they perform in people's lives? I'm so grateful to God for bringing them into my life. I will think of them & be thankful everyday for them for the rest of my life./* * * * * */

My friend had 3 surgeries with Dr. Shuster so far: lower body/upper body/ then thighs. She has helped me a lot with the expectations & questions. My other friend had the lower body lift. They both rave about him./* * * * * */

I was impatient I wanted upper done first & all the procedures done as close as possible. Dr. Shuster told me it's better to do Lower first so you can see how your waist settles. Then do upper to make it proportionate. I didn't want to hear that but because I could see how great he was I decided to trust his expertise & I'm so glad I did. He told me whatever I want he would do but his recommendations were that to get the best results. He wanted me to wait at least 8 weeks in between procedures-I trust him ..so I will be a "patient" patient. /* * * * * */

It is only 6 days after my Lower Body Lift & I barely have any pain.
After Gastric By-Pass anything is a breeze. Maybe I just handle pain well but it isn't that bad. The recovery isn't fun. I have to lay around so fluid wont build up. I have 4 drains in for 10 days but it's all bearable knowing the future joy I will have. The results look amazing already.
I'm doing Upper Body (Boobs & Arms) with him in September. /* * * * * */

But it already looks beautiful. It is still hard for me to grasp that not only one day I won't have to hide my body & not feel disfigured-but that I might actually be able to wear a bathing suit. Dr. Shuster I have to remember is an expert when he says this because I soooo doubt him when he says it. He says in the future I can wear a bikini-I was only shooting for a bathing suit & for people not to run away screaming like a Godzilla movie.
I'm still finding that hard to believe because I've spent my whole life having a body I have to hide & be ashamed of. It's mind blowing sometimes to see my picture at 360lbs to see how far I've come. I've been ashamed of my body at least since I was 9. I'm 34./* * * * * */

I can't recommend him enough. He is an amazing Doctor./* * * * * */

He has a great reputation in helping Bariatric patients. He wants the best results for you with minimal scarring. My stomach was so riddled with ripples & stretch marks. It looks amazing.
I still have the stretch marks...Hopefully one day technology will offer more to eliminate them but I'm still happy with the results. I am determined to pursue a remedy for my stretch marks./* * * * * *//* * * * * *//* * * * * */Dr. Shuster is so wonderful!!!/* * * * * *//* * * * * */


My Bariatric Surgeons Dr. Marema & Dr. Michael Perez are probably one of the TOP Bariatric Surgeons in Florida if not in the US. They only recommend a certain select list of Plastic Surgeons to deal their patients & Dr. Shuster is one of them....Now I know why!/* * * * * */


Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!!! /* * * * * *//* * * * * */

Contact me anytime with any questions.
Kristina Woeltjen
[email protected]
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UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 2005 UPPER BODY /* * * * * */

Still Loving Dr. Shuster..Still Raving about him & his staff. /* * * * * */ /* * * * * */

I just had my Upper Body done (Boobs & Arms as I call it but I'm sure it has the official medical terms which I always forget)/* * * * * */

I had very minimal pain...I was surprised. I was told by other friends who have had their Breasts done (mostly by other doctors) that it is very painful & because of the pain they sometimes regret having it done. But I had to go through it & have them done-everything looked so terrible before. I don't regret it at all. I highly recommend getting the pain pump Dr. Shuster suggests. I had very minimal pain but everyone is different. /* * * * * */

My friend who also went to Dr. Shuster said the pain of her Upper Body procedure was bad for her but bearable. She said all of the surgeries are never as painful as the Gastric Bypass we both went through. So that eased my mind. The Gastric Bypass was painful but worth it-as everyone says -they would do it all again. Even every additional surgery they had to go through. It is so worth it to be out of that misery/health threatening prison./* * * * * */

I stressed & pestered Dr. Shuster about the size to make the breasts-
That is a big & permanent decision but he told me he makes them proportionate to your size. I told him I just did not want to look like I had a BooB job & be all BooBs..It's hard enough dealing with the attention after the weight loss. He again was right. I'm glad I went with his expertise & I trust his judgement so much. I'm glad he puts up with me. He's very patient with this impatient patient. /* * * * * */

I still need some future nipping & tweaking. I would like to be done already but you have to wait in between procedures to recover properly &
for your safety. You can't keep having surgery after surgery close to each other, so Dr. Shuster tells me to wait. I know it's for my own good but I'm still impatient. It's hard living with stuff you know you need fixed but I'm almost done...I am so much happier & so much has been improved with my 2 surgeries ...So I will keep on keeping on & listen to him./* * * * * */

I want to wear a tank top even if my upper arms are bandaged...not to show the BooBs off but to show the arms. I think I have hidden them since I was 9 or 12 yrs old. It freaked me out to see nice arms & nice Boobs. I have never had cute ones...I always had to hide them both. This is mind blowing & life altering./* * * * * */

I am eternally indebted to Dr. Shuster for helping to eliminate so much misery in my life./* * * * * */

Since the hanging skin is gone..Now I can start my work out regimen so I can finish solidifying my Booti-Licious-Ness process & start living an abundant life instead of existing & hiding myself./* * * * * */

Thank You!! Thank You!!! Thank You!!! Dr. Shuster & Staff

I would highly reccomend Dr. Shuster! He is very knowledgable about bariatric patients, he takes his time with you and explains everything. MY surgery went GREAT! He ans his staff are not only very knowlegable but extremly nice and comforting! If you are looking for a surgeon this is the doctor for you!

I was most impressed with the personal care and attention I received from Dr. Bernard Shuster and his staff. I had a Facelift, brow lift and upper & lower eye surgery in Nov, 2003. I had a lower body lift in Dec, 2003. I am absolutely ovewhelmed by the results. Who could have imagined that spandex and mirrors would be my best friends. Thank you Dr. Shuster.

I was refered to Dr. Shuster by my surgeon and had seen terrific results he achieved for a freind of mine. Dr. Shuster was very knowledgable about bariatric surgery and we discussed all of the options available. He and his staff are so noce and thoughtful. It is now almost 5 months since my abdominoplasty and I can't believe how good I look. I hope to have him do my arms and breasts this summer.

After researching and visiting many offices of Plastic Surgeons I chose Dr Shuster to do my abdominalplasty. From the time I walked into his office and met him and his office staff, I knew I was in the right place. Dr Shuster explained in detailed length, exactly what would take place during and after my surgery. He took extra time to make sure that all my questions and concerns were answered. His confidence and caring ways made me feel very at ease in his care. The surgery was perfect from beginning to end. I feel great and look great thanks to Dr Shuster. I strongly recommend him! He is wonderful!!!

Dr. Shuster made me feel extremly comfortable. I have just had an adomaplasty and after 9 days I am doing very well. He has explained that after loosing 150 lbs it will be a long process to get everything back in place. Dr. Shuster is willing to work with Insurance.