Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals

I had surgery by Dr. Finnell on March 23th. Prior to surgery had a number of meetings with him and felt that everthing was explained as to what to expect before and after quite well. He set my expectations realisticially and I consider myself lucky to have chosen him.

Hi, I just got banded, June 1st by Dr. Siddiqui. Has anyone else been banded by him?

Being a moderator at another lap band forum, It's not often I can praise a doctor and his office staff. I just can't say enough about Dr. Watkins, Melody and the rest of the staff at Synchrony Health in Oakbrook IL. Being a Mexican lap banded patient myself, their willingness to accept Mexican patients for their aftercare is a big plus. Every time I go to Synchrony Health for follow ups, fills, support groups or whatever, Dr. Watkins and his staff go that extra mile. If your looking to be banded or need follow up care, check these guys out. So far I've never been disappointed.

Researching doc.'s still. Anyone out there have Dr. Fielding preform their surgery? He is one of a few who work with my insurance carrier, but he has also personally had the lap band surgery, which I guess is why he is one of my top contenders.

I am very interested in undergoing this procedure. Anyone in the Alpharetta, Johns Creek Georgia area I can talk to?

Hey this is sort of new. Had my surgery done at Lahey by Dr. Brams last August and he's terrific. Great job. I am looking good......a success story so far. Great support at Lahey

Anyone else use Dr. Ollie Jackson at Top Surgeons and Weight Loss Centers?

Hello all is there anyone familiar with UCSD's WLS team? I am waiting for an approval of an appeal for VSG thru Pacificare and will be using this hospital. I do not see much info on Dr Horigan or Dr. Jacobsen. Any comments good and/or bad are welcomed. Also is there anyone that has gone thru a request for VSG thru Pacificare within the last year or so? Were you denied on the first go round and if so how and what did you do to get an approval?

Dr. Ganta is my surgeon and im getting banded on June 10th, hes been great and i love his office staff.. the personal trainer / office manager has also been banded so she knows exactly what its like..love it, so excited can't wait

I was banded by Dr. Robinson on October 6, 2008 and I'm down 55 pounds as of today. I've had a couple of fills (and one "unfill" -- just a little) and I'm at a good place right now. I feel great. I recommend Dr. Robinson to anyone in the area considering the procedure. It was one of the best things I've done -- No regrets!!!

Anyone had Dr. Hammer? My primary care doc recommends him highly - but thought I'd get the skinny (ha ha!) from you! I envision myself using the phrase "It's Hammer Time" many times when I am actually his patient... :smile: TIA Tina

Hello, I was banded on May 14, 2009 by Dr, Ahmed in Lawrence hospital, Bronxville, NY. He is a kind, gentle and very professional surgeon who tells it like it is. When I had my preop appointment with him I went loaded with a ton of questions and he patiently answered each and every one. On day of surgery he came to my bedside preop and held my hand to reassure me. I think he's an awesome doctor and encourage anyone to see him.

Anyone get their band by Dr. Boorse at Lehigh Valley. Did you have a good experience?

Hi! My PCM sent my referrel for surgery to OHSU in Portland. I know there are many other places to get it done as well. I live closer to Salem and wouldnt mind having it done at Salem Hospital for convenience but ultimately what I really want so less of a wait. Has anyone recently had surgery in the Salem/Portland area who can tell me how it went for them and how long the process with the surgeon took from start to finish? Thanks so much!

I am meeting with Dr. Cunningham this week for my first consultation. Has anyone else had him as their surgeon??? Ash.

I was just banded by Dr. Walton on 6/8/09. So far so good.

Dr Charles Beall did my husbands surgery 05/2007 and did mine 10/2008. I wouldn't trade him, or his staff! So far my husband has lost between 80-100 lbs, and I've lost 45 lbs. I have to give major props to the Mother Frances Bariatric Deptarment all together. My surgery in general was a great experience. The office kept in touch with me at all times durning my 6 month pre stuff/diet and seemed to get just as excited as I did when I was approved. Surgery went really well, I had a scare the night of surgery - about 9 PM that night I got extremely nauseated and actually vomitted, Chris called the "on call number" and Dr Beall called back in less than 5 minutes. I was O…

I am in search of a Dr anywhere within a 6 hour radious of Amarillo Tx that takes Aetna. I have waited 8 months for Dr Crum here in Amarillo. I AM DONE WAITING!! It took me 3 and a half months to get an appt, the day of the appt, it was canceled due to emergency. I called, emailed and faxd everyday for a month to get another appt. Never got an answer. A friend of mine who had recently had gastric bypass, begged me to go to the Meeting they were having about the concerns of everyone that had been left in the dirt. I go, and Dr Crum asked me later on that evening if I really wanted to begin the process. He told me to show up the Thursday after christmas and he would see me.…

I am getting banded tomorrow and couldn't be more excited. I am ready for this new lifestyle I am about to begin.

I found a great group in Houston, Texas. UT Physicians rock! They do all their sleeve procedures at Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center which is a Bariatric Center of Excellence.:cool0:

Dr Foote did my lapband sugery in June 2007 2 years ago. He is a great doc I have recommended him to lots of people. I m 2 years out I have lost 100lbs I still have about 30 more to go but I just had to get my port replaced and relocated so hopefully once that heals I will feel more like exercising. Dr Foote is a great doc you can trust

I really like Dr. Fisher and trusted him 100%. His bedside manner was warm and friendly. He came to see me before the surgery and also a few hours later. He's very easy-going and easy to talk to. I look forward to working with him for my fills. His office staff is also friendly and professional.

I would love to talk to anyone who has used Dr. Lewis. I am thinking about having my surgery with him and would just like to hear some of his patients experiences!

Just curious to see who's out there that has used Dr. Monash in Tucson, AZ. What did you think about him? I personally love him! I think he's an awesome dr. and super attentive!! :smile:

I am in the VERY beginning phase of researching the lap-band procedure, and these 2 hospitals are covered by my insurance (Anthem/BC of CA). Has anyone in the Bay Area researched these 2 facilities? And if so, which one did you wind up choosing and why? I live in the Napa Valley, so SF and Davis are almost equal distance, but I have to say that Davis is a much easier drive to get to! Thanks for any help!

I have an appt. with a Doctor from weightloss centers in southern Ca area. The surgery is in Beverly Hills, but everything else will be closer to my home. Has anyone used this Center?

I was Banded June 3rd with Dr.Mir Ali under Lite Dimensions and I can say it was a pleasent experience, the staff is very nice and on top of things. Dr.Ali is very approachable and answered all my questions. I would highly recomend them to anyone looking to band in the OC.

Dr. Soriano is my doc. He's a member of the bariatric team at Temple University Hospital. My surgery is June 18th. I feel so comfortable with him, I think he is an excellent doctor and I feel confident that there will be no issues with my surgery.

I am thinking about going to Costa Rica for surgery, but I just cannot make up my mind. Does anyone have any experience with Costa Rica? I have found the Clinica Biblica Hospital a JCI accredited hospital and they offer the gastric sleeve surgery for a very reasonable price. The thing that really attracts me to this facility and the doc is the fact that they require basically the same testing that my doc in the US put me through. They require you see a nutritionist, psych, abdominal ultrasound, gastroscopy, respiratory test, and a metabolic analysis. You stay one night in the hospital and then four nights in a recovery facility. Is this too good to be true? Am I missing s…

I have the honor of being the first person here who posted on Dr. Kermodes forum. I was banded on May 22nd, 2009 and this is a fantastic doctor who knows his stuff. He is very friendly, and informative. A person feels at home when around him. I have nothing but good to say about this Dr. But, you know the saying behind every successful man is a good woman hahahahahahhaha well, I have to give tons of credit to Peg Ernst is my support group leader, scrub nurse, fantastic RN and all around beautiful person inside and out! My experience with this Dr. has been nothing but outstanding. I have a long road ahead to reach a healthy weight but I have no fear that with these people…

I was banded on March 27, 2008. I have currently 140lbs in 14 months. Dr. Hunter and his staff are great especially Kat and Karen. I like the fact that they really listen to your concerns and when you need a fill they do not automatically give a tiny fill. You are given fills based upon your eatting and hunger habits. Also whenever I have needed an unfill I was able to get in that day.

I have some info in the Drs that will be used by TLC Edge in Dallas. I was sent some bios from one of their staff. If anyone would like this please email me at shanmorton@gmail.com. It's a word document and it's fairly large. I am going to use them b/c 1) insurance denied me and 2) they have a special going on right now until the end of Feb. I am researching the drs myself on the web. Shandra

here is my before and 10 pounds to goal pictures...i've lost over 125 pounds in under 8 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(This will work for Mexican or US Sleeve surgeons) RESEARCHING MEXICAN DOCTORS 101 Getting a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy/Sleeve Procedure Surgery in Mexico is handled a bit differently than it is in the United States. In the US, you will receive a bill from each physician: the surgeon, anesthesiologist, internal medicine doctor, assistant surgeon, radiologist, etc. That is not how it works in Mexico. In Mexico you pay the surgeon for a "package" Gastric Sleeve procedure. He pays all the other doctors. In the US (for example) the anesthesiologists contract with the hospital and their agreements are with the hospital, not the surgeon. The surgeon does not alway…

He did mine on Jan 21,2008.very nice guy and a very good surgeon.Office staff extremely careing and helpful.Had to have the surgery twice. The first band was defective and had the band replaced six days later.Try getting a surgeon to he hospital on a Sunday morning.There are very few that would do it.Have lost 105 pounds under his care and have 8.5cc in a 14 cc band.Not very aggressive with fills which ,in my mind is a good thing.

Hey anyone out there banded or being banded by Dr. Stephen Clark in Indianapolis? I am on October 22,2008. I am really excited, but also very nervous. I just wanted to seek out some people who are going through the same things as me or have already had surgery with Dr. Clark. I am excited to know what happens the day of surg and afterwards. I havent had my nurse visit yet, so I am just trying to prepare myself. Thanks to anyone who answers. I look forward to any new friends or any new advice. Kelli :smile:

I was banded by Dr. Phelps on February 5th, 2009. The surgery was great, hardly any pain and a quick recovery. The fills have been great so far as well. I've been filled twice and I've lost 30 pounds since surgery. Very happy with how things are going so far! :party:

Had mine done by Dr. Matei last August. I find him very informed, quiet-spoken, and extremely pleasant. I recommend him highly. He is conveniently located right adjacent to Memorial Regional Hospital. The office staff is also enjoyable and friendly. There are - I believe - three surgeons in the practice. To date, I have lost over 80 pounds since the end of August. Hoping to make it 100 pounds by the one-year mark!

I am new to this forum and was wondering if anyone has ever seen Dr. John J. Gonzalez from San Antonio, Tx? He will be my surgeon on June 12. I have met with him and really liked him. I just wanted to talk with anyone who has had him as a surgeon and see what their experience was like with him.

Hi all! I am being banded on June 11th at Temple University Hospital. Was just wondering if there is anyone getting their surgery at TUH with Dr. Soriano (my surgeon) or Dr. Meilahn? If not, anyone from the Philly area getting it done elsewhere (Penn, Jefferson, etc.)?

Dr. Argotte left the Paducah area.

Does anyone have any experience with either Dr Milton Owens in Southern California (San Diego, San Pedro, Torrance, Hawaiian Gardens, etc.) or the Bariatric group at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange, California? I had a hard time finding a nutritionist and psychologist that Dr. Owens' staff is asking me to find, especially those that might be familiar with Lap Band surgery. So I searched hospitals that are covered by my insurance and found St. Joseph's. I sent them an email requesting information, but it was the end of the day and I haven't heard back yet (didn't expect to). Dr. Owens' office didn't give me any referrals for a nutritionist or psychologist, which I found od…

I had my surgery by Dr. Lane 7/16/08 and she is such a wonderful caring doctor who really cares about our success and our wellbeing. I really like her because I can always count on her to tell it like it is and I need that! Also the whole office staff is great, always helpful.

Wonderful surgeon! Very patient and knowledgeable. Now if we could just get him to be on time.....:thumbup: He is worth the wait!

Has anyone else utilized Hamot Bariatrics in Erie, Pa? :tongue_smilie:

Hey my name is Breanne and I am having the lap band surgery on June 19, 2009 and my surgeon is Lelan Sillin! I'd love to chat with others who have had or are having this surgeon!

Im looking into having my surgery done with Dr. Kieth Kim of the Florida Hospital -- anyone else? Can you tell me your experiences with the surgery in general?

I would like to know some info on Dr. Zapata in Monterrey, Mexico. I am set up to have a lap band on May 18 and would like to get some thoughts about him. Thanks

Hi, I have my band but not happy with my Dr. My friend is looking to get a band but needs to find a Dr here in NY on Long Island. Anyone on LI that is happy with their Dr? Thanks,

So I have been going through pre-op lap band treatment for about 6-8 months and all of a sudden my insurance decided to dump me ,but I am going to fight them till the end, but if they still won't cover my cost then my family and I have talked about getting it done in Mexico.. and I was wondering if anyone has any information on the doctors and the hospitals down there or could even recommend someone..Thanks for the help,Emily