Spivak and Spiegal - Tell me more

[KariK 0]

Dr Spiegel does have slippage....i personally know 6 people banded by him and out of those 6, 3 including mine, has slipped and been taken out.

Sorry to hear that Kelly. What he is now saying is that from December 2005 he has no slippage. He says he has perfected the technique now that he does not think its possible for it to slip.

[cl_tx_42 0]

I would say go to both doctor's seminars, the seminars are free.

Dr. Spiegel's seminar is not free. They required me to bring my co-pay. I wasn't happy about him wanting $25 to decide if I want to use his service.

I went to Dr. St. Laurent's seminar instead and am waiting on insurance approval to be banded by Dr. St. Laurent.

[paula 4]

Sorry to hear that Kelly. What he is now saying is that from December 2005 he has no slippage. He says he has perfected the technique now that he does not think its possible for it to slip.[/

Im impressed.

Kellymoos - have you heard if Spiegel has any erosion cases?

[barbara465 2]

The surgicenter files your insurance. You only have to pay your co-pay. I have been 5 times and have paid nothing.

The office staff of many of these doctors runs hot and cold. Some days they are efficient and some days they aren't. I know Spiegel had a big shakeup in his and sometimes its good and sometimes its not.

I chose the surgeon. My support I get elsewhere. Each has to make their own decision. You know what you require from a doctor. I find most specialists to be short on bedside manner. It just depends on you.

[KariK 0]

Dr. Spiegel's seminar is not free. They required me to bring my co-pay. I wasn't happy about him wanting $25 to decide if I want to use his service.

I went to Dr. St. Laurent's seminar instead and am waiting on insurance approval to be banded by Dr. St. Laurent.

The seminar was free for me. Hm maybe they have too many coming to their seminars now?? I don't know. I went to seminar two weeks prior to my surgery which was on 7/28/06.

I just checked Dr. Spiegels website www.felixspiegelmd.com and it says seminars are free.

[KariK 0]

Im impressed.

Kellymoos - have you heard if Spiegel has any erosion cases?

I think thats a great question to ask both doctors. What percentage of their band patients experience erosion. And then compare it with the national average. My guess is that both doctors have a lower percentage than other doctors nationally. But if not, perhaps erosion has a lot to do with wether or not ppl stick to eating 6 oz. meals? Does anyone know what causes erosion? I guess I could look it up lol but .. im feeling too lazy. If I look it up later I'll post what I find out.

[faybie 0]

But if not, perhaps erosion has a lot to do with wether or not ppl stick to eating 6 oz. meals? Does anyone know what causes erosion? I guess I could look it up lol but .. im feeling too lazy.

From what I am gathering reading websites and posts of people who have had erosion, they have admitted for the most part that they did not stick to 6oz. meals in any way shape or form.

Dr. Spivak gives his stats in his seminar, so you don't even have to ask.

[mini_me 3]

I think thats a great question to ask both doctors. What percentage of their band patients experience erosion. And then compare it with the national average. My guess is that both doctors have a lower percentage than other doctors nationally. But if not, perhaps erosion has a lot to do with wether or not ppl stick to eating 6 oz. meals? Does anyone know what causes erosion? I guess I could look it up lol but .. im feeling too lazy. If I look it up later I'll post what I find out.

dr. spivak gave me a case by case run down of all the erosions that have occured in his patients.

he told me of 4 or 5 of the last 2000 bands. all of the cases had pre-existing conditions that contributed...ie-ulcers, alcohol consumption, admitted use of medications which are not recommended for use with band, etc. i cannot remember all of the details right now. he was very forthcoming and informative. i really think highly of him.

[tbear 0]

I am feeling very lucky now. I went to both doctors seminars.

Dr Speigel was the first one I went to. I didn't see any of the problems some of you did. I was mainly interested in having someone who knew what they were doing and didnt have a reputation of having a lot of complications. Everyone there seemed ok.

A few days later I went to Dr. Spivak's seminar. Both doctors had people who had been through the proceedure. Now that I think about it though the people at Dr Spivak's did seem to talk to you more and really seemed to be there for you. I did a consult with dr Spivak mainly because I wanted to be sure that I qualifed for the proceedure. I was pretty sure I did. I knew my insurance wasnt going to pay for it and so that meant I would have to be self paying. One thing I did find out that no one has mentioned is that Spiegel's refills are $100 where as Spivak's fills if you were self paying are free for the first year. and if you lose at least half of what you want to lose in the first year the second year of fills will be free.

I went with dr Spivak and have no problems and I am trying to be very good and follow what they tell me to do. Everyone in his office and the surgery center has been wonderfull. And from what most of you are saying about Speigel's office I am glad I went with Spivak.

Mind you that is not to say that Speigel is not good or that others have not had good experinces with him.

Tbear

banded 7/28/06

Dr. Spivak

340 lbs.

-20 320lbs

Goal is 100lbs before next July from the time of banding

[sallyjo 0]

Well I guess I must have been lucky and went to his seminar and pre-surgery and first fill on good days. The office girls and Dr. Spiegel have always been super nice to me. I went on the first of April and had my surgery on the 25th. Have seen the doctor twice since surgery and has always been super nice. Have called his staff several times with questions and felt I have always gotten good answers. The surgi-center is wonderful also. I pay my deduct only for my fills and I have never had to wait a long time for an appointment.

[clarityseeker 1]

First, let me say that I and my fellow Houstonians are extremely lucky to have the skill and experience of many doctors, especially Drs. Spivak and Spiegel. I chose Dr. Spivak because I liked his presentation, his personality, his experience, and his low complication rate. The fact that his office and the surgicenter are both within 10 minutes of my house is a bonus.

I do think office staff is a big deal. I cannot comment on Dr. Spiegel's, but Dr. Spivak's staff has been wonderful. They always seem to be happy to answer any question I have and if they can't, they transfer me to someone who can. I also liked the way Dr. Spivak does his seminar followed by a consultation on the same day.

One thing that I did not realize until AFTER my surgery is how different their philosophies are on pre-op and post-op diet and how they do fills and post-fill diet. There are significant differences that I might not have considered to be a big deal BEFORE surgery, but now they seem more important. Generally speaking, Dr. Spivak's diet is more liberal -- pre-op, post-op, post-fill. Much less time on liquids. So, you might want to consider this, too. And, yes, as a self-pay patient, Dr. Spivak's 1 year of fills are included in the $15K price tag with the second year free if you lose 1/2 of your excess weight, which I don't know how much it is, but I expect it is what I have set as my goal.

Good luck!

[faybie 0]

Sorry to continue to be the bearer of bad news. You should read this story, her Dr. was Speigel.

In some ways I feel like Spivak's surgery center would have taken better care of her. I could not leave the surgery center until I reached 1500 eight times on the breathy thingy they give you. Bless her heart, I am just glad she has a persistent mother and is on the way to recovery now.

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=303120#post303120

I swear, I haven't seen anyone complain about Spivak's surgery abilities or the after care, however I have seen a complaint or two about their billing. However, billing issues don't risk a person's life.

[jahair 0]

This was exactly the kind of thing I feared when I couldn't even coordinate the dates of the information seminar with Spiegal's office. I was afraid that if they couldn't get that straight what would communication be like if there were a problem? Thank God her mother was willing to do what was necessary to get her treated!

[CCBSTX 0]

All I know, is that I flew in to meet w/Dr. Spivak for the consult and seminar. He was the first surgeon that I met, regarding lapband. His staff seemed friendly and efficient. When we met, he seemed kind and professional. He listened to my questions. My main concern was experience and bedside manner. Who want to come to multiple followup appointment to someone who is on a power trip??

I ended up with a surgeon that was closer to home. However, I probably would have went with him because of his experience and good reputation.

I can't say much about Dr. Spiegal, other than 2nd hand info.

Good luck with your decision. Shawn

[size8beauty 0]

Spiegel did my lapband in March 2006, I have lost to date 55 lbs. I can honestly say that I loved him & the work he has done for me. Everyone here in his office is banded & he has done more than 4000 surgeries. Feel free to visit his website if u have access to a computer, @ FELIXSPIEGELMD.COM. :clap2: