Dr. Matthew Schultzel performed a Robotic umbilical hernia repair with mesh for me 2 weeks ago. He was able to get me in right away for a consult and Emily was able to get me scheduled for surgery the following day. He has wonderful bedside manner and performed a beautiful surgery on my hernia with little scarring. You can tell he really cares about his patients and Emily is quick to resolve any questions or concerns that a patient may have (ask for her if you have any questions). I just saw Dr.Daniel Burgess yesterday for my 2 week follow up and he was great! Answered all of my questions and was very kind and sincere. He throughly examined my incisions and advised that everything looked great! Thank you for your wonderful care and being so skilled at what you do! read more

I call Dr. Matthew Schultzel, Doctor Magic. December 12, 2021 he Robotically performed my small bowel resection removing a tumor that could have been cancer, but I was the lucky 20% that did not have a malignant tumor. I was surprised that the surgery was painless. I asked him, how can it be painless and he said that he puts in less gas than some and gave me drugs to remove the gas. All done robotically with 5 small holes. Then June 9, 2022 he did my second Robotic surgery on an outpatient basis which was to repair a very large Abdominal Spigelian Hernia which I've had since 2017. He told me that surgery was going to be painful for 4 to 5 days and he was correct - it was exactly 5 days of pain as he had to sew together a very large hernia and put in a large piece of mesh to protect the repair. Externally the hernia appeared to be 4" diameter and 3" high. I feel blessed to have found Dr. Schultzel on the Internet. He's an excellent and very skilled surgeon with a clear understanding of the surgeries he performs and how long each will take for recovery. He gives easily understood, well written guidelines for what to do after surgery and both times I followed them. May 2020 at Cottonwood Hospital ER in Arizona I was diagnosed with an intussusception bowel condition which continued to create bowel blockage issues. August 2021 my condition worsened and my Primary Doctor in the California Desert ordered more bowel studies which by early November showed a Tumor in the Intussusception. I called a number of surgeons in the Coachella Valley, which is where I live, and no one could see me until the end of March as all were fully booked. November 12, 2021, I decided to research the Internet and found Dr. Matthew Schultzel and his Robotic surgery. Desperate I emailed Dr. Schultzel's Info address at 6:44 AM and included copies of all my medical records and tests. At 7:45 AM, I received an email response from Dr. Schultzel telling me "He could help and that he would have his office call me". They set up an appointment for me to see Dr. Schultzel that Friday November 19th. When I met with him, he said "your tumor needs to be removed", but wanted more tests to make sure there were no other tumors so he set up a surgery date for December 12 with various other tests prior to that. I feel blessed that my tumor was benign and to have found such a skilled surgeon as Dr. Matthew Schultzel on the Internet. My Surgeries were done at Sharp Hospital in San Diego and I found both the hospital and nursing service to be excellent. I highly recommend Dr. Matthew Schultzel for any lower abdominal, bowel or colon surgery you may require. With offices in La Jolla, Encinitas & Murrieta he is easily accessible for clients from the California desert. Camille P. read more

This man is incredible. His holistic approach identified a hernia I didn't even know I had. His skill as a surgeon and diagnostician completely changed my bowel habits from a lifetime suffering from constipation and being miserable, particularly when on long haul international flights to newfound normalcy. I cannot overemphasize the transformation to my 66-year-old body. It borders on disbelief after all the other practitioners failed to get the same or even fractional results he immediately and unambiguously attained. The man is a star physician and healer in every sense of the word. Thank you Dr. Schultzel. read more

I had Rubber Band Ligation done by Dr. Matthew Schultzel, DO. He was very professional answering all my questions. I was also provided information of what to do before and after the procedure. His staff in La Jolla were courteous and very helpful. read more

Dr. Schultzel is the best doctor I have ever encountered. He is an expert, has incredible professionalism, and is so calming. He actively serves many clients yet he is present and patient with you, answering any and all questions you may have. He is an honest, highly skilled surgeon, I was fit into his schedule when an emergent situation arose and thanks to the high tech tools and methods that he uses, I rapidly recovered afterwards. Unlike most surgeons who operate and you never see them again, I was closely monitored by him and his staff for weeks until I completely recovered. He has an incredible team and I love that I can visit him in the Temecula Valley where I live, or San Diego where I work. I am so grateful to have met him. read more

WOW... I had hemorrhoid bandings & have tell you I'm a "New Person." I had a serious bowel problem where I could barely eliminate due to an internal hemorrhoid. After 2 ER Visits. 2 Urgent Cares, 2 Sigmoids, I was referred to Dr. Schultzel by my Scripp's Primary. BINGO... GREAT RESULTS!! Do not be 'afraid' of this procedure... it's really painless & the whole procedure takes less than 2 minutes plus no super prep. Hemorrhoid falls off in about 2 1/2 days. WHOOPIE!!!!!!!! Internal hemorrhoids can cause a lot of problems... but now mine are taken care of & I feel great. No more distress & don't even have to take Mira-Lax or Prunes ( Ha! ) Try him... He's one of the best!! read more

Great doc. Clean office, and super nice staff. Was always very good experience going into the office. Couldn't ask for a more awesome team. Dr. Matt is super nice and would highly recommend him to anyone in need. read more

Dr. Schultzel did my gallbladder surgery at the end of 2019. He was fantastic. Super comforting in the consultation, and let me know that if I ended up at the ER again and needed emergency surgery between my consultation and my scheduled surgery date, he would show up to the ER at any time to make sure I didn't get surgery from a doctor I didn't know. Gave me his cell phone number. Luckily, I was okay until the scheduled surgery and he was very kind the whole time, along with my follow up check ups post surgery. My scars are barely noticeable and my recovery couldn't have gone any smoother. Best surgeon ever! read more

I had an emergency appendectomy performed by Dr. Schultzel's partner, Dr. Burgess. At a post surgery follow-up, he informed me that the pathology report revealed two cancerous tumors in my appendix as well as a precancerous mucus on my colon. For that reason, I would need another surgery, a partial colectomy that would be done by Dr. Schultzel. I was instantly impressed by Dr. Schultzel's quick intelligence and his take action attitude. These doctors turned a scary situation into a manageable and hopeful one. I could feel their concern and appreciated their vigilance with my case. Throughout the process, I always felt comfortable, because I was confident I was in good hands. I'm all healed up now thanks to them! Very grateful to be able to say that and happy to have awesome doctors that I look forward to seeing on my follow-up appointments for the years to come! read more

Going to the doctor is never a fun experience. Doctor Schultzel and his staff were amazing from entering the lobby to the actual exam. They set the standard for professionalism, medical expertise, and care. read more

Dr. Schultzel and his team are amazing! I had to have an appendectomy after my appendix ruptured, and he made the experience as comfortable as possible for me. I felt confident and safe in his hands. I would highly recommend him to my family and friends as I fully trust in his expertise. read more

My mother had to have her gallbladder removed. She was in a lot pain and scared. Dr. Shultzel treated her with kindness and respect. He also gave me helpful information and advice and now I want to be his patient! He is the best in his field and I would not trust another for my mother's care. He is beyond excellent with a bedside manner that is not common and should be. He will tarnish your anxiety and you'll feel 100 percent in no time. read more

Another surgery with Dr. Schulzel done about six weeks ago went very well and I'm greatly appreciate his professionalism and friendly caring approach. I'd definitely recommend him to anyone who's in need. When I'm treated by Dr Schulzel I know I'm in good hands. Thank you again Dr. Schulzel! read more

Dr. Schultzel was great & went above and beyond to help. He came in to the office during his week off (and during the covid-19 outbreak) to see me, which was extremely appreciated & kind. After dealing with a wound that landed me in the ER 5 times in a week, I was referred to Dr. Schultzel and he cleared my infection in one visit. Aftercare & follow ups are great as well. For a very unpleasant medical issue, he & his team made my experience as pleasant as possible, you can tell they put a lot of effort into patient care. Would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a personable & professional doctor/ surgeon :) read more

Dr Schultzel is my hero! 5 star general right here. The man is a gifted surgeon and he will do his best to minimize your pain. I developed an anal fistula after bad surgery and poor care from Kaiser. Living with an anal fistula is an extremely depressing way to live your life. So I started looking for the top colorectal surgeons in CA and Dr Schultzel was at the top of that list. FOR GOOD REASON!! 5 months later and I am fistula free!! I urge you to go see Dr Schultzel! Don't allow a general surgeon to make your issues worse. Receive the best possible care from Dr Matthew Schultzel. I can not thank him enough. read more

I've been seeing Doctor Schultzel since the beginning of the year. I was referred him from my Doctor. I finally got the all clear today and to see him on an as needed basis. He is the best Bootie Doctor around. Very clear on what I needed, very understanding. His staff is amazing. I felt very cared for under his care. If there was an award for the best Bootie Doctor he would win hands down. read more

I would highly recommend Dr. Schultzel!! He took the time to listen!! I saw 3 other doctors prior to seeing him, none of which actually did a thorough exam. I was in severe pain. He did my surgery a little over a month ago. No more pain! I feel like I have my life back!! Thank you, Dr. Schultzel, for taking the time, truly listening, and getting me back to normal!! read more

I cannot sing Dr. Schultzel's praises enough! I had a bowel resection surgery in November of 2018. Not only were he and his office INCREDIBLE during the pre-op, preparation, and post-op phases, but he's an EXCELLENT surgeon! He truly cares about your well-being and recovery. His office was diligent in getting my surgery on the calendar as quickly as possible, and I've felt incredible since! He took the time to answer ALL of my questions (and there were A LOT), explained in awesome detail what was done, and took the time to counsel me in what to expect with my new, shorter guts. I'll be seeing him in the future for my colonoscopies and all of my poopchute care. :) Absolutely glowing experience! read more

Too quick to use the knife. Very quick visit with no real explanation of the issues I was facing. He made me believe I had no other options and disrespectfully referred to past doctors I had seen for the issue. Id get a second opinion before you rush into any surgery with him. read more

Great Physician! He was responsive and patient in my treatment and understanding of the issues and options. Definitely would recommend him for anyone looking for a good doctor. The whole office was efficient and response to get me in and out. All were observant to COVID-19 protocols. read more

Dr Schultzel did my husband's colon resection.Everything went smoothly and the doctor communicates well.My only problem was the poor communication with the office,who after we were referred to them, did not get back to us. read more

Excellent Care and Bed Side Manner. I went to Matthew Schultzel, DO based on other reviews I had read. He did not disappoint. I was able to get in right away and he addressed my issues and scheduled the immediate procedure needed. Highly recommend his services!! read more

I was very late in getting my first colonoscopy (age 64) and they removed a very large polyp (along with several smaller ones) that the pathology report said was pre-cancerous. The pathologists also said there might be cancer in the colon at the site of the polyp. The recommendation was to have a colon resection. I was referred to Dr. Schultzel's practice and am very glad I was. He and his team were really fantastic. He communicated clearly what he saw as the options and recommended robotic surgery to remove a small section of the colon. He explained the procedure clearly and in detail and answered all of my questions. His team shepherded me through the entire process. He/they explained what the surgical process would most likely entail (while indicating things vary) and it turned out pretty much exactly as they outlined. They have also been really great with the follow-up. I highly recommend Dr. Schultzel and his team. read more

Dr. Schultzel is one of the most amazing doctors I have ever met. His empathy, knowledge, and bedside manners are outstanding. He took the time to explain procedures in great detail so I could prepare. He carefully responded to all the questions. After the procedure, I followed his advice and I recovered promptly. Dr. Schultzel is surrounded by excellent staff. They are attentive and knowledgeable. I highly recommend Dr. Schultzel. read more

The consultation will most likely point to surgery, but if you develop complications postoperative, you are referred to a pain specialist. Post-op CT scan showed a new small hernia created during surgery which was not there before, and Dr. Schultzel recommended placing another mesh or receiving nerve blocks. A second opinion with another surgeon (an M.D.) pointed to a new fat nodule that should have been seen during surgery and was created when the mesh was placed. There is a new hernia pushing into the abdominal wall, and it was not present before. I recommend going to an M.D. for hernia repair, someone who is skilled in laparoscopic repair as Dr. Schultzel does robotic surgery only (and is a D.O.). I have been in pain for 10 months and will likely require a second surgery (laparoscopic). There is associated nerve pain radiating down my leg. I found the following article helpful: "What is the best inguinal hernia repair"by Dr. Jennwood Chen in the Advance in Surgery Journal. read more

I was staying in San Diego for several weeks, and needed to see a doctor during my visit. Dr. Schultzel was referred to me, and he was able to relieve the pain I was feeling from three hemorroids with 3 banding procedures over the course of 3 weeks. I will soon be returning to my home and won't have the need to see him again, but I highly recommend him to anyone in the San Diego area. He and his staff were outstanding! read more

Dr. Schultzel is most knowledgeable, comprehensive Doctor I've been to. He took time to explain my options and procedures and guide me thru the whole process. I'm no longer in pain and I can't thank Dr. Schultzel enough! His bedside manner and aftercare were so caring, I can't recommend him enough! read more

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT CARE! I am so fortunate to have found Dr. Schultzel. I was in a lot of pain for more than a year until Dr. Schultzel helped me. He explained everything and everything went and progressed as he said. A previous Dr. had misdiagnosed my problem. I was at my wits end. Once Dr. Schultzel performed the procedures the pain ended. My quality of life is back to being wonderfully normal again. THANK YOU DR SCHULTZEL AND THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF!! read more

I have been treated by Matthew Schultzel for over the past two years. He performed robotic hernia surgery plus surgery for a perianal fistula. Both surgeries were performed flawlessly with absolutely no post-surgery complications. Dr. Schultzel's advocacy for surgical treatment of the perianal fistula was crucial and resulted in ensuring that an excellent Urologist was present during the surger. He work's tirelessly for his patients and I trust his skill as a surgeon and his judgement as a doctor. I will consult him first should I need any additional robotic or general surgery. He is that good. read more

He is a very good doctor. Communication with the office and getting an appointment can improve a lot.

I had a procedure done recently by Dr. Schultzel and my experience was great. He is an excellent doctor who is very personable and takes his time to explain things. He never made me feel rushed. The procedure was rather painful but I appreciate the fact that he was honest upfront about how unpleasant everything would be. A lot of doctors will downplay the post-surgery pain which may leave patients unprepared to deal with the complications. Thankfully I knew exactly what to expect and took the necessary time off to recoup and heal. I've been to other gastroenterologists here in SD and he is by far the most competent and knowledgeable. Highly recommended! read more

I'm so thankful I found Dr. Schultzel. For a whole year my symptoms were ignored by multiple providers I've seen at my health care insurance, which is Kaiser and because of that my symptoms got even worse. Due to not getting any resolution, I decided to look up the best rectal specialist on google and that's how I found Dr. Schultzel. I was able to get my consultation booked within 2 weeks, as well as my surgery! I was really nervous because I knew this was an uncomfortable area for surgery, but Dr. Schultzel assured me that everything will be fine and made me feel confident. Since my surgery, I can enjoy life again. Him and his team were VERY supportive the whole time & I felt like they truly cared about my health. If I had any questions or concerns during my recovery, they were always very prompt and helpful. If I ever have any more problems in the future, Dr. Schultzel will be the only doctor I will ever contact for help. Highly recommend! He will not disappoint! read more

Dr. Matthew Schultzel is the BEST! For years I suffered with issues "down there" but was way too embarrassed to see a doctor, or even talk about to anyone. Unfortunately, my symptoms kept worsening over time and I knew I had to seek help. I did my research for the best specialist in San Diego and luckily found great reviews of Dr. Schultzel. From my first visit, Dr. Schultzel was extremely understanding and kind about my situation. He developed a plan which we went on to complete after about a year of various procedures and treatment. I am happy to say that I have made a full recovery and no longer bothered by those symptoms I had for YEARS that were absolutely diminishing my quality of life day to day. I highly suggest if you are dealing with ANYTHING "down there", please schedule an appointment to see Dr. Schultzel so you can get on the road to recovery rather than sacrificing your quality of life and peace of mind like I did for years and years. Thank you Matthew! read more

An efficient and caring process from pre op, to procedure and post op. Dr. Schultzel was at all times empathetic and extremely personable. Dr. Shultzels entire team reflected his attention to detail and always were respectful of my needs and time. The hernia procedure he conducted on me was completed without pain and with excellent follow up - no drama's, just great results! read more

Dr. Schultzel was recommended to me by my internal medicine doctor as someone who was extremely proficient for his expertise with colon and rectal surgery. As a cloacogenic carcinoma survivor this was important to me. Dr. Schultzel is extremely thorough, professional and courteous. I have driven in from out-of-state for surgery and treatment by him. I highly recommend him for his knowledge and conscientious kind demeanor. read more

Dr. Schultzel performed two complicated bowel surgeries on me in the past year, one to remove a foot of my colon, reconnect and give me an ileostomy bag until my reconnected colon was healed, then to reverse the ileostomy and remove the bag so that I did not have to live with an appliance. Using the robotic method that is minimally invasive was great for me, I did not want a huge scar and opening from breastbone through my navel which would have made for a longer recovery. Due to this surgery I am saved from further life threatening infections, and from a life of discomfort and hassle when another doctor might have saddled me with a full time ostomy bag and no hope of functioning normally again. These operations save lives, but are very scary for the patient, no one wants to be sick or have a life of difficulty during recovery or after. Where another surgeon might have left me with a permanent bag, Dr. Schultzel did not, for which I am extremely grateful, and thanks to his expertise I have many more years of life to look forward to with family and friends. Scripps in La Jolla is a wonderful hospital, I got great care there, Dr. Schultzel and staff were attentive and extremely competent. I am now fully healed, happy and functioning well in all regards. Thank you, Dr. Schultzel and staff for being competent and patient providers of excellent care! read more

I was recommended to Dr. Schultzel by my GI dr. Years ago I had a hemorrhoid removal surgery that never healed properly. A fistula had formed and little did I know the problems I continued to have every 3-4 weeks was an easy fix (for him). He's an absolute magician as a surgeon. Minimal recovery as compared to my prior procedure. I also had Dr. Schultzel repair a hernia in a separate surgery. Amazingly quick recovery. He is a very caring doctor and amazing surgeon. read more

Strongly recommend Dr Schultzel! He is very professional, efficient and attentive to his patients needs. My dad recovered from his surgery immediately under Dr. Schultzel's care. read more

I met Dr. Schultzel when I was in the hospital. He seemed very nice, down to earth and confident, but I was very sick and all I knew is that he was a surgeon and I wasn't interested in what he suggested. He instructed me to make an appointment to see him once I was discharged because he felt I needed surgery (they couldn't do the surgery while I had an active infection). Of course, I didn't want surgery so I went to my primary care doctor for my post hospital check, who said I could very well try a modified diet and that surgeons want to cut, but it is not always the best or only choice. I was thrilled, until 1.5 months later when I was back in the hospital. I thought for sure Dr. Shultzel would make me feel foolish for not going to see him, but he was gracious and still very kind and took the time to explain 'why' I needed the surgery. I finally made the appointment and even though I was terrified, I had surgery. Although I was asleep, my husband said that he was kept informed every step of the way during my very long procedure. The best part and the reason YOU WILL WANT TO GO TO DR. SCHULTZEL, is that he is very aware of different techniques that he uses not only during the surgery, but in the recovery process. I didn't have one narcotic and barely needed more than OTC meds once I was released from the hospital 48 HOURS after being admitted----YES I was only in for 48 hours and was just fine to go home. I didn't mention in the beginning, but I have been a nurse for 25+ years and I mean it when I tell you that if you don't at least see Dr. Schultzel and get his opinion on your GI concerns, then you may be missing out on the best care for yourself and your family. Ii spent a lot of time in the hospital between September 2016 and January 2017 and I haven't been back since he performed surgery! I have kids that need me healthy and we couldn't be happier now! read more