Astar Medical Group

Mariana Bubucea is one of the best OB GYN I’ve ever been to. I’m really happy that I decided to work with her for my prenatal appointments and delivery. She was always super helpful and attentive to every tiny detail advising the best solutions possible to make sure me and my baby are doing great. I’m really grateful to her that she helped and guided me all the way. I had different expectations for delivery but what I didn’t expect that it would be such an amazing experience. We were having a nice chat during labor and I was even laughing at some of the stories. Though I was not able to deliver naturally due to wrong fetal position and ended up having a C-​Section, but it went so well and the recovery was so fast that I would not change a thing about how the delivery went. Was like a fairy tale for me. No pain, no fears, just lot’s of joy and happiness. Thanks so much to doctor Mariana for making the delivery being such an incredible experience!!! And a separate thanks to really helpful guys from Astar Medical who were always so friendly and helpful during my prenatal appointments.

I have been trying to get this office to honor my treatments or give me a refund for the past 6 months for laser hair removal. I spent almost $ 500 on groupon which they immediately redeemed (so groupon couldn’t refund my money) but then cancelled my appointment. Afterwards they were unable to give me another appointment and said that instead they will give me a refund. However this was many months, texts and phone calls ago. Each time I called to get an update they told me I’ll get the refund in 2 weeks, and after two weeks when I call again to see what happened I always get the same response «the manager is not available but they will call me back». No one has ever called me back and I have been at this for five months. It is getting to a point were I may have to file a small claims complaint just so they follow through.
Do not give this company your money. They will NOT honor the services that you paid for nor refund you the money.

This is the most unprofessional practice I have ever attended for OB/​GYN services. The staff in this place is so unfriendly and inefficient. I had a scheduled appointment at this place for the first time to begin receiving preconception services as my husband and I are trying to conceive. We were referred to meet with Dr. Maria Bubucea as we were informed that she is a great OB/​GYN and needed a regular checkup first. We arrived at this location and the staff at the front did not appear to be friendly. I was completing the preregistration forms and they were just rushing me that I could not finish the form until after being seen. One of the staff, tells me to go in so the doctor can see me, as I am getting ready to wait for the doctor, the technician/​medical assistant tells me that the doctor cannot see me yet because she skipped a lady that was in front of me. So I had to get ready to go outside again. Mind you, my spot was scheduled for 1:00pm and it was 1:30pm at that moment. As I wait, I ask them for the preregistration documents to finish them. It was not until close to 3:00pm that I saw Dr. Bubucea. After a quick examination, the doctor tells me that I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which I already knew after much research. Therefore, she prescribes me Metformin for 6 months to help level the insulin in my body and eventually help me conceive. After the appointment, my husband and I decide to go to the pharmacy to obtain the medication. However, the pharmacist tells us that the insurance needs a pre-​authorization from the doctor due to the dosage. The doctor was prescribing 1000 mgs x 3 daily, which is unheard of because usually for Metformin, the most you can take between 2000 – 2500 daily. But we thought, «hey, the doctor has a plan and it is just for 6months so I will be fine… the doctor knows what she is doing, she is the expert». So, I decide to call the office to explain this to them and I speak with the staff named «Ms. Amber», she tells me she will call the insurance in 20 minutes to wait at the pharmacy. My husband and I wait 30mins and the pharmacists says that nothing has been done. I call this place again, Ms. Amber says, she will call tomorrow (next day) because she didn’t have the chance. To make the long story short, it has been more than 3 weeks and I still have not received the preauthorization for this medication and I have just been given the run around, I have even called the insurance and they say that without the preauthorization, they cannot release the medication. Why has it taken this place over 3 weeks just call and inform the insurance «yes, the doctor authorized this dosage» and that is it?! Is it that difficult. A few days ago, I called and had to complaint. And the only thing the lady (maybe the manager) said was that someone will get back to me. I said no, thank you! I do not need anyone to get back to me. I am done with your business. It’s unfortunate, but you have lost a patient and any potential patients I could have referred. I would like to clarify, Dr. Bubucea appeared to be very knowledgeable in the field and I am not complaining about her. She seems to be a great doctor. But it is unfortunate that the staff is not as professional/​efficient and friendly as they should be because at the end of the day, they have a job because of us the customers/​patients. I gave a 1 star for Dr. Bubucea but I would have not given any stars at all if is for the staff. Whoever is the owner for this place, should properly train staff to obtain customer service skills and learn the importance of follow-​ups as this helps maintain your clientele. Good luck! Thank you but no thank you!!!

I always see Maria there. Love to work with her. She’s very knowledgeable, gentle and professional. Hi there we commend this place especially Maria. I got four light chemical peels there at a very beneficial package price, plus they give you free skin analyses with it. Did also laser hair removal. Very happy then at any other place. Procedures 100% worth your money…

Let’s be honest you guys, Groupon has screwed over any laser hair removal places out of ever charging full price again. There is way too much competition out there, too many people offering a good deal. Which the way I see it, is the right deal because laser treatments cost too much to begin with.
Now, I’m a classy broad which means I don’t trust my lady parts to strangers… except when I have no choice, in which case I do my research. Originally this place was called Elite Aesthetics and was located at Mount Sinai which was pretty close to me. I looked it up and felt confident that I wasn’t making an appointment for some lady’s Hialeah garage-​turned-​med spa. There were some cons to that location however. For example, I had to pay ridiculous hospital parking fees during each visit and the treatment room doubled as a plastic surgery consult room. This meant that while I was in my robe waiting for the treatments to begin, I was left alone with a bevy of breast implants and stacks of before and after pictures. This is surely to cause self-​esteem issues. Luckily I soldiered through and made it out alive and sans boob job.
One day Astar took over Elite, or something of the sort and the remainder of my treatments would now be at an office in Bay Harbor. I was bummed about this since it meant a longer drive but I can manage that once a month. Luckily the parking here is free so it all balances out. This place isn’t as posh as the old location but is still at a legit doctor’s office and the equipment and staff is the same. Fortunately I retained the same aesthetician which means one less stranger-​getting-​well-​acquainted-​with-​my-​intimates notch on my belt.
I’ve never had treatments anywhere else so I can’t compare them. Yes, it HURTS but do not fret becuase it only lasts a few minutes and it hurts less and less on each visit. Once you’ve made it through the first session, you’ll be alright. Chances are you’re not as tough as I am but you can do it, I have full faith in you. Plus the results are great so you will never regret it. All I can say is that when my Groupon treatments were over, I purchased more because the place is spotlessly clean, the staff is friendly, and the prices are decent. Another one for the «keepers» pile.