Anyone had a positive experience at CIBO?

[nisrine 1]

Hello everyone,

It’s nice to be once again amongst my banded peers. I used to be much more active on the sites, however when I started working in the field, I took myself off to allow patients more comfort in expressing feelings and opinions. I didn’t feel it was fair that I was in a position to read comments of those patients I was taking care of.

However, it has come to my attention that there is some confusion about the Canadian Institute of Bariatric Options - CIBO Clinic - and I thought it would be good that you have the proper information. I am now here both as a patient and as the Director of Patient Services at CIBO.

CIBO Clinic was started by a band patient who had a vision for a clinic that provides a comprehensive post-operative support program with personalized care.

Our surgeon is Dr. Monali Misra who completed her advanced laparoscopic and bariatric fellowship at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. She was later recruited by St. Joseph’s Healthcare and McMaster University in Hamilton to help develop their bariatric program. She is the Assistant Professor,Department of Surgery, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, McMaster University and Assistant Director, Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery (CMAS), St. Joseph’s Healthcare. She is currently involved in a randomized control trial study comparing results of band and bypass patients in the cure of diabetes. Dr. Misra has performed thousands of advanced laparoscopic surgeries including over 200 laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands.

The CIBO program includes the following:

• Free consultation with patient coordinator and with Dr. Misra

• Pre-operative full medical exam and testing by our internist and post-operative follow up for those patients who have co-morbidities and need more care for medication adjustments and such issues.

• Pre-operative assessment by our anesthesiologist

• Pre-operative assessment and meeting with our psychotherapist

• Pre-operative assessment and meeting with our nutritionist

• The surgery and the band - we only use the bands that have gone through HPB & FDA testing and approval

• Post-operative follow-up by our surgeon

• Post-operative one-on-one structured appointments with both our psychotherapist and nutritionist fully included for one year

• Post-operative physiological assessment by our doctor of chiropractic/kinesiologist and one-on-one training sessions with our personal trainer and, if needed, sessions with our physiotherapist. All fully included for one year

• Unlimited scheduled appointments with patient coordinator for weigh-ins, measuring and goal setting

• Unlimited, lifetime band adjustments

• Unlimited access to support group seminars and information workshops put on by CIBO specialists on different topics

The total cost for the above is $18,000. We do have the ability to secure low interest financing for most of our patients. The clinic itself does not provide financing.

I hope this post has succeeded in clarifying any confusion and if anybody has questions, I hope you will feel free to contact me at nshammas@ciboclinic.com.

I thank you for your time and wish you all what we want most as patients; success in weight loss and regaining control of our lives. We’re all in the same boat; let us support one another.

My very best wishes,

Nisrine

Nisrine Shammas

Director of Patient Services

t 416.LAP.BAND ext.222

1.866.511.2426 ext. 222

nshammas@ciboclinic.com

[jane.c 0]

Nisrine,

The original poster asked for people that have had any experience with CIBO to comment here, and I think it’s rather unethical of you to come forward as the Director o f Patient Services and put your sales pitch in this support thread. You have no true experience as a patient with CIBO and we all can read the sales pitches on each and every clinic’s website. The original poster was asking for those of us that actually interacted with the CIBO clinic to respond here. I interacted with you for months and have relayed what I learned and felt. I still stand by that your clinic is not the place for anyone looking for professional service to go to. You were very neglectful in answering questions, answering emails in a timely manner or even being available for phone calls. My overall experience with you personally was less than desirable and I have told both you and Tom, the founder, as much. I will always speak very openly of our communications and how they were not at all professional. Your whole reply here is taken directly off your website and since the link is at the bottom of the page and has been posted in various threads, I don’t think you needed to even post what you did.

This is supposed to be a support forum for patients not a forum for the clinics to try and drum up more business. If you were in fact a patient of CIBO then yes your comments might ring true but you were not banded there and are merely now trying to sell them. I am so happy that I listened to my gut and my DH and chose not to deal with you any longer than I already had. I cannot believe how ridiculous you are to post here as a non-patient and attempt to persuade anyone that CIBO is such a wonderful place to deal with. From the people that have dealt there and have posted here thus far, only one person had a positive experience.

Jane

[Doddie63 6]

Jane some of your comments hold true for the link about Mexico. I was criticized by two individuals for posting negatives on going out of country. It has since come out that they represent a clinic in Mexico. My personal belief is that clinic salespeople should be paying advertising to have their clinics displayed and stay out of the personal postings.

[Cindy_D 1]

I have been following this thread off and on for some time, a semi-interested by-standed. I have already been successfully banded (although a work in progress) and have my own bias on the clinic issue. This thread raised some very valid points for people contemplating surgery; first hand experience is very important for people trying to make choices. I fully concur with the majority of the posts in this thread - do your homework and choose the clinic best suited to your individual needs. While I do not have first hand knowledge of the workings of TLBC, I have met several patients from there and from what I can tell, they are as happy with their clinic as I am with mine.

CIBC on the other hand has not met the criteria of having patients from their clinic post unsolicited comments about their experience. While this may be due to the newness of this clinic, one has to wonder where these people are. One of the first things I did during my research period was look for this type of forum - I can't see that I am any different from most. Where are they?

I concur with both Jane and Doddie, that using patient support forums as a venue for self-serving advertising is under-handed and unethical. I don't know Niserine, but over the past few months thought I had come to know Andrew - I have lost respect for both individuals. The flags of caution are up - while both individuals may have altruistic intentions, these intensions are suspect - Travel to Mexico for banding if you must, or seek care from CIBO if you choose, but make those choices based on what you know from people who have had the first hand experience and beware of the sales pitches.

Cindy

[Ori 0]

Hi,

I'm new here and just going over some old posts to get a feel about things.

I was banded at CIBO 1 year ago and I had and continue to have GREAT experiences. My brother and daughter were also banded at CIBO 2 years ago.... between the three of us we've been in and out of that office countless times. I have never had a phone call or email ignored. One particular time, my daughter had an issue and needed an emergency de-fill and the fill nurse and the administrator met us at the clinic.... it was a long weekend on a Sunday evening.

So ... like I said ... my experience with CIBO has been fantastic.

[iceprincessca 0]

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if anyone has any positive experiences with CIBO? I really need to know as I am running out of options at another clinc (financial options):biggrin:. I would appreciate all input ...especially from those who have been banded there.

Thanks!

been there, done that, lovely people, really seem to care but the job is yours. You have to work at it ,they will help but it's up to you. Surgery was a breeze, and fills sooooo easy, but you have to be good lol..... I can drink milk shakes and eat chocolate all day but too much burger or bread and I ache. So it's up to you, great clinic though, couldn't find better I think ,Good luck xx