Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Doctors in Western Washington?



Recommended Posts

I am trying to pick a doctor as well as a hospital to have my surgery. I have had a couple of consults with surgeons and have not felt all that comfortable and am curious if anyone on here has a sugestion for a GREAT doctor in this area.

Any help is much appriciated!

Also - is there a way to check a doctors track record at all?? i feel like it is sort of a crap shoot - which scares me.

Sara in WA

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sara, I live in Ferndale and did lots of research on banding with Seattle area doctors. I decided on Dr. Kirshenbaum of Denver, CO for a few reasons. I found a topic on this forum about him and the patients were raving about him. I did some research and talked to his office and band coordinator and was impressed by his record. He has been doing laproscopic surgeries for decades and has been doing lap bands for a couple of years now. He is a very gentle, kind, patient and caring doctor. Another huge issue for me was his fee - I was self pay and he beat the doctors up here by far. He charges $9950 for everything and that includes 3 months of follow up and fills. He then charges $15 per fill for his patients. Yes it means traveling to Denver.

I had my surgery on 12/5/07 and have been back for 1 fill. I am going again in 10 days for another fill but don't really need it terribly. Just a little tweaking. My experience with him and his staff has been awesome.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

by Kelly Clinch. He is a friend of mine (his kids go to my kids' schools) and he did a terrific job. I am a self pay, too. All follow ups and fills are free for first year.

All the nurses in his office have had it done too and they are so happy!

:thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery with Dr. Oh of St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, he doesn't have the greatest bedside manor, but they are a Bariatric Center of Excellence. I have had great results, and the rest of his staff is very good to work with !

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sara -

My surgery was done by Dr William Neal. He performs surgery in Olympia and Bremerton (where I went), and perhaps Shelton as well. Fills right now are done in Olympia, but they're trying to add a fill site in Bremerton, too.

At least half the staff are banded so you can always talk to someone who has direct experience - besides that, they're very nice.

Dr Neal's office has been certified as a Bariatric Center of Excellence and he's done quite a few surgeries so I was comfortable trusting his expertise. He's very straightforward and kind.

Here's the website: Pacific Surgical There are weekly information sessions, and Dr Neal is one of the docs who will be at the Splash this weekend.

Hope that helps - good luck with your decision!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi,

I used Dr. Rob Landerholm in Edmonds and the Pacific sugerical service center. Had the best experience with everyone in the office. Dr. L is very caring and has a great sense of humor to make sure you are at ease. He always answered my questions and didnt feel rushed.

Kathy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sara,

I will be going with the NW Weight loss surgery center in Everett. Check them out, I think they are great. Yes there is a web side where you can check out doctors and if they have complaints.

Bir

PS Maybe I will see you at NW:thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dr. Neal did my surgery in September. I have had a great experience. All fills free for the life of his practice!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Could you please let me know where doc Neal is located at? Thanks
He's in Olympia, but also does surgery in Bremerton and Shelton. I linked his website a couple posts down.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×