Hi Everyone,

It's been 3 month of pretty intensive research on surgeons and general information gathering. Finally, I thought I had found "the one!" lol. This Dr. is local, very reputable, and performs single incision which is the route for VSG I am interested in. On paper, he met my full criteria.

But, I was disappointed. First, he walks into the room and made some crack about my weight being suitable....if I was 7ft tall (I am 5'2). Eh, not good. I tried to look past that (made a crack right back like, "yeah, then I could probably model!"..lol) and gave him "foot in mouth" benefit of the doubt. There was just something about him I didn't really care for though. He seemed a little (and really just a tad, I want to paint a fair picture) tired/drain/know-it-allish but at the same time he was informative to be fair. However, he would go off on tangents and knowing how many questions I had, I did my best to get those in. I have been waiting to see him for awhile now (his office called two weeks ago cancelling the first scheduled appointment because he was sick) and had a lot of questions which I had written down. He was getting up and making the motions that it was time to wrap it up (understandable, he does have other patients) and I still had a few questions. I let him know I would make it quick, got to ask 2-3 (one of which was "Do post VSG patients ever talk about being more cold?" He had never heard of this, which was a little strange to me) then he was like "okay, I have go, have another patient but you can make another appointment with me if you have more questions,"and wrapped it up by adding a few key points. Now, I am self-pay and this consultation cost me about 250 bucks. I can't afford to keep going in and seeing him.

Now, he was polite. He did engage, I don't want to paint this Dr. out to be a total jerk. I just would have appreciate a "you can email me," or something. Perhaps that is an unrealistic desire, I am not sure. He made some kind of comment about me having to do more research (to wish I almost wanted to say try 3 months of 3-4 hours a day or even more to the point, I have and the questions I have are directly from that process) and that was irritating. If I am going to have a life altering surgery, why wouldn't I have several questions? He made me feel a little like me questioning him was...I don't know...a little insulting maybe. I just know I left feeling like, time to look some more. Just bummed, blew 250 of some hard earned money and didn't even get real answers to some of my burning questions. Perhaps he didn't even have them, now that I think of it.

Just had to vent to my peeps here and maybe get some of your thoughts.

When paying out of pocket you should be able to negotiate a lower fee. I work in health care and I know for a fact that they don't get paid the full amount they charge when they bill a patient's insurance. Ask what insurance normally pays and offer that amount in cash at the time of the visit. Ask for a prompt cash payment discount. Next is to find someone in the office that you can call with questions.

My consult was scheduled for 90 minutes. The surgeon never acted rushed, and answered all of my questions. I amna firm believer in needing to "like" who will be working on your body. Good luck!!

Hi Everyone,

It's been 3 month of pretty intensive research on surgeons and general information gathering. Finally, I thought I had found "the one!" lol. This Dr. is local, very reputable, and performs single incision which is the route for VSG I am interested in. On paper, he met my full criteria.

But, I was disappointed. First, he walks into the room and made some crack about my weight being suitable....if I was 7ft tall (I am 5'2). Eh, not good. I tried to look past that (made a crack right back like, "yeah, then I could probably model!"..lol) and gave him "foot in mouth" benefit of the doubt. There was just something about him I didn't really care for though. He seemed a little (and really just a tad, I want to paint a fair picture) tired/drain/know-it-allish but at the same time he was informative to be fair. However, he would go off on tangents and knowing how many questions I had, I did my best to get those in. I have been waiting to see him for awhile now (his office called two weeks ago cancelling the first scheduled appointment because he was sick) and had a lot of questions which I had written down. He was getting up and making the motions that it was time to wrap it up (understandable, he does have other patients) and I still had a few questions. I let him know I would make it quick, got to ask 2-3 (one of which was "Do post VSG patients ever talk about being more cold?" He had never heard of this, which was a little strange to me) then he was like "okay, I have go, have another patient but you can make another appointment with me if you have more questions,"and wrapped it up by adding a few key points. Now, I am self-pay and this consultation cost me about 250 bucks. I can't afford to keep going in and seeing him.

Now, he was polite. He did engage, I don't want to paint this Dr. out to be a total jerk. I just would have appreciate a "you can email me," or something. Perhaps that is an unrealistic desire, I am not sure. He made some kind of comment about me having to do more research (to wish I almost wanted to say try 3 months of 3-4 hours a day or even more to the point, I have and the questions I have are directly from that process) and that was irritating. If I am going to have a life altering surgery, why wouldn't I have several questions? He made me feel a little like me questioning him was...I don't know...a little insulting maybe. I just know I left feeling like, time to look some more. Just bummed, blew 250 of some hard earned money and didn't even get real answers to some of my burning questions. Perhaps he didn't even have them, now that I think of it.

Just had to vent to my peeps here and maybe get some of your thoughts.

I see you are in L.A. Check out The Association of South Bay Surgeons Dr. Solomon did my surgery, very personable and caring.