Choosing a Dr. & Hospital in CT. Please help!

[RachaelL 0]

Hello,

I have just decided to pursue weight loss surgery and the sleeve in particular. I live in Waterbury, CT and am looking for the best Dr. and Hospital within an hour drive or so!

Please if you be so kind and leave suggestions referral - your experiences - both positive and negative to help me chose - I would truly appreciate it!!!

Thank you so very much in advance!!!

[BestYet2Come 97]

Hi Rachel,

Congratulations on your decision to pursue WLS. We all know it isn't a decision to be taken lightly.

I live in Fairfield County, CT and have been researching doctors and hospitals in the area for 3 years. In the process, I met with the following:

1) Dr. Kurian @ NYU in NYC;

2) Dr. Daniel Davis @ Stamford Hospital;

3) Dr. Bruce Molinelli @ Greenwich Hospital;

4) Dr. Craig Floch @ Fairfield Bariatrics;

5) Dr. Neil Floch @ Fairfield Bariatrics.

Dr. Marina Kurian in NYC is very experienced (she did Al Roker's surgery), but in the end I felt that I wanted a hospital closer to home to facilitate in the case of an emergency and also because of the follow up visits.

Dr. Daniel Davis has a great staff, his nutritionist is the best (Jane Conway) and they do not charge for her services because his practice believes this is a very important part of the long term success of the surgery. He is a nice guy, but didn't inspire much confidence as a surgeon. I also know of a case where his patient didn't receive the proper care during a complication that didn't end well.

Dr. Bruce Molinelli is a PHENOMENAL surgeon. He took out my gallbladder in 2011 via a single belly button incision without any complications. He is a general surgeon, however, and all my friend doctors told me that I should look for a surgeon who did volumes of the surgery I was interested in. In surgery, volume matters. So, several people pointed me to the Floch brothers because WLS is 95% of what they do.

In the end I chose Dr. Neil Floch. He is VERY experienced, his practice is a Center of Excellence and so are the two hospitals where he operates (Norwalk and St. Vincents). Actually, he just started operating at Griffin Hospital. He does sleeve surgeries weekly and has a lot of practice. He has excellent bedside manners, but he is also firm and straight forward. I had surgery at Norwalk hospital and there were three of his patients at the same hospital floor. All surgeries went smoothly and everyone was recuperating well. The average complication rate for the sleeve is 5%, his average is 2%. Never had a leak, and never lost a patient in the operating room (Yes, I asked them all the tough questions).

I had my gallbladder surgery at Greenwich Hospital (5 start hotel) and 2 c-sections at Stamford Hospital. I was nervous about going to Norwalk, but I had a great experience there - excellent physician's assistants, MDs and nurses. All very experienced and professional.

I am so glad I chose Dr. Neil Floch and I would do it again in a heartbeat. And PS, my incisions are beautiful and tiny. He is amazing!

If you have any specific questions, feel free to message me, or post them here. I am happy to answer them!

Best of luck on your decision!

[Truth&Gutz 20]

Hi.....best wishes on your decision to hav eht VSG.....I had mine in July at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhatten with a Dr. Daniel Herron....who is a brilliant surgeon ..he as post graduate fellowship training as well.....thus far...I have had no issues.....and have lost 108 pounds......there is an adjustment to eating post surgery..... going to the gym is helpful..... all the best.... in your new journey....