How did you choose your doctor?

[litlbubbls 0]

I have attended the seminars and checked with my insurance and there are 3 different doctors and programs to choose from. I just don't know where to go now.

If you had a choice, why did you choose the doctor you are using?

[QuasiTova 0]

I went to several seminars and met several doctors before deciding on the one I chose. I also talked to patients of each doctor before deciding.

I really liked his personality for one... he was honest about complications that he had with previous patients... but most of all, I liked the fact that he has the lapband HIMSELF, as well as several of his office staff.

To me, this made it more likely that they would be understanding of what was going on at each stage of the process... from emotional aspects to physical ones.

[Maya314 0]

If I had it to do all over again, I'd do what quasi did, My Dr really lacked in the bedside manner department, not including surgery when I was passed out, I spent a total of 3 minutes with him. I really liked his staff and so I was willing to put up with the fact that he had no personality, but if I had it to do all over again, I'd make sure it was with a Dr that seemed genuinely interested in my health as opposed to someone just out to do another lapband for the money? Good luck in choosing, this is a commitment, be sure it's someone that you're going to WANT to put up with for a while.

[zippykat 1]

I chose my Dr. because my son had worked for him as a surgical assistant and told me NOT to go to anyone else. He has an impeccable reputation. I would go to seminars and talk to patients and check and see what support the Dr. offers post surgery. My Dr. has at least 10 support groups all over town, he has exercise and cookin and nutrition classes and any Dr.s patient are always welcome. After surgery support is very important. You need to ask how soon you can get in for a fill. Some people on here wait 1 or 2 mos.! My Dr. gets you in in1 or 2 days. Just ask evrey Question you can think of before you decide. good luck and keep us up to date! Kathy

[bigunc 0]

My Heart Specialist suggested I go to the seminar and hear what they had to say. He also told me that he recommended Dr. Treen because of his experience and success treating some of his other patients.

I also found out that 3 people I know are patients of Dr. Treen ( 2 have the Lap-band and one is in the pre-op stage ). All 3 told me that Dr. Treen and his staff are both 1st rate. I asked them what was their dislikes about them and none of them had any complaints at all.

[kbinaz 0]

I chose my doctor because she was a 'Center of Excellence', which means meeting pretty strict requirements - good education both pre and post-op, lots of different things like that. I also liked her when I went to the seminar - I think you get a good 'feel' for someone when you hear them speak. Also, I had been told to go to a doctor who had done a lot of lap bands and she had done like 3000 with very few complications and an above average rate of weight loss among her patients. I tell everyone the most important thing is safety/skill of the doctor but also to make sure your doctor has an extensive education program set up. I see so many people on this site that have no idea what they are supposed to be eating, what they can and can't do after surgery...the lap band is kind of labor intensive in that you really need to do certain things and behave in certain ways to have success (not like Gastric bypass, where the weight will come off no matter what) and if you aren't really well informed beforehand it is very hard to know what you are supposed to be doing. Check that out amongst your choices. Good luck!

[mlhawkins 0]

My wife brought home a packet for me from Dr. Adam Smith Ft. Worth. But that is all I know about him. I am in the first stages of checking out this option. Need advice.

[Pix 4]

Well sadly I don't have that luxury... I am a military spouse and we get which ever surgeon is on duty at the time. Granted we will meet all of them at one point, and there is only really ONE that does the band, but there is a chance another will do it if the main guy was up all night and busy with trauma surgeries. I met the main guy already one time, he is a nice guy, seems like he genuinely cares about the patients, he is trying to get involved with more and more lap band studies.

But, we shall see. So far so good though.

Oh yeah, forgot to add, he is also trying to expand into plastics also. He said this summer he will be away for multiple seminars on plastic surgery types. Tucks, lifts etc, but his main study this summer will be the thigh and leg lift plastics. He said he really wants to be there, all there for his patients so from start to finish they are with him. He said the only thing stopping him right now is the higher ups giving him the dead on thumbs up. But he said there is always a work around for everything and he will get done what he can.

[mlhawkins 0]

How long did it take to get from your first seminar to surgery?

[steph_co 9]

I found my doctor through the Lap Band website and investigated from there. I liked his bedside manner, his frank talk at the seminar about both Lapband and RNY, and I like his curriculum vitae (doctor speak for resume). And I liked the price and most of his staff. I didn't look any further after that. Kind of like finding the perfect pair of shoes...if they fit, why would I keep looking?

[blueangelkc80 0]

My cardiologist is the one that recommended Dr. Sonnanstine to me for lap band surgery, I had my first consult on Jan 24th and was impressed with how thorough they were even with just the consultation, while I was there I actually met with Dr. Sonnanstine in his office and was very impressed with him, he was very up front and very informative and very friendly as well.

[Teal 0]

While I was researching the surgeon my Primary Care Physican recommended I came across this surgeon. The more I read about him the more impressed I became with his experience. My part-time job at Lane Bryant I also came across a few patients who had great experience with him, and when I met him I just know that I wanted him to take care of me (I have no regrets at all about my decision)

[QuasiTova 0]

My wife brought home a packet for me from Dr. Adam Smith Ft. Worth. But that is all I know about him. I am in the first stages of checking out this option. Need advice.

Dr Adam Smith is AWESOME!!!

He is my doctor.. read my post above for a few reasons I chose him.

Of course, there are many other reasons as well... if you do a search on the board for him, you will find MANY people who sing his praises

[melissah 0]

My Dr really lacked in the bedside manner department, not including surgery when I was passed out, I spent a total of 3 minutes with him.

When and why did you pass out?

[QuasiTova 0]

When and why did you pass out?

I think she means when she was passed out DURING surgery... lol