Which Surgeon is right for me?

Hello everyone~ After reading from this site forever, I decided to ask for some input from you guys. I was scheduled with Luttrell for Lap-Band on April 2nd and cancelled. I know he is not the right surgeion for me and I am going to have gastric instead of lap-band. I just need some insight on the different Dr.s I have it narrowed down to Dr. Gibbs, Dr. Baker and Dr. Wellborn. I understand they are all 3 excellent surgeons but I am needing your personal experiences with each one and their staff. BTW I am scheduled for seninar w/ Gibbs and Baker on Monday and Wellborn on Tuesday. I am praying that between you guys and the seminars, I will be able to make a decision next week and get my journey started! Thanks in advance for your in-put! Rhonda T

Rhonda, I had surgery last Monday Feb. 12 with Dr. Baker. I had lap RNY and I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Baker or his staff. I have been treated like a queen thru the entire process. Becky, his insurance girl is the bomb, Christie, his office manager is so wonderful. When I call its like talking to family, and I even had to call Dr. Baker last night b/c I thought my incisions were getting infected, so I called the medical exchange, and within 1 minute, Dr. Baker called me back. He is so awesome, and he is extremely thorough. My surgery lasted over 4 hours, but that was ok, b/c I was told he is such a perfectionist that he wants it to be done right. He does his surgeries at Baptist in Little Rock, and the nurses there treat you like a princess as one of his patients. He demands the utmost in care for his patients. That is my opinion of Baker, I didnt attend any other seminars, b/c I knew he was who I wanted to use. Good luck on your search, and keep us posted. Rhonda

Dr. Baker has an excellent reputation among other health care professional. Altho I have not talked with anyone in his office, I do personally know someone who he did their surgery. She said he hung the moon! I understand he requires the shakes before surgery. I like the fact that he graduated from LSU. I am orginally from Monroe. I feel like you do, when I meet each of them, I will know which one is right for me. Dr. bakers seminar is Monday @4pm. Thank you so much for giving me your insight. I have been keeping up with so many of you on this board, I feel like I know each one of you already. Good luck Rhonda and I will keep you posted. Rhonda

Hi Rhonda, I'm 5 months post op. Dr Gibbs did my surgery lap and I haven't had a single problem. My experience is that everyone of us will tell you that their doctor is the best, which is how we should feel about anyone who we let dance around in our innerds! Now, Dr Gibbs has been doing Lap rny longer than any other doc in AR. Dr Ozmet, *****cently retired from practicing, and was the head of the bariatric program at St Vincent's told me that if he was to have a lap rny, Gibbs would be the guy he would go to. That's pretty impressive in my book. He doesn't require any pre op liquid diet, no night before bowel prep, no catheter, and my surgery only lasted 1 hour 40 minutes. I was driving in three days, and back to work in two weeks, although I could have gone back sooner. I never opened the bottle of liquid Lortab for pain until I tore my achilles tendon two weeks after surgery. So, there you have my opinion. Go see all of them, find the right fit for you, and you'll know it will be the right decision. Good luck to you, keep us posted on your progress Susan

Susan, Thanks for the input. Dr. Ozment did my husbands surgery 31 years ago so I know of him very well. Like you, I too am VERY impressed that Dr. Ozment would use Dr. Gibbs. Dr. Gibbs, I understand, did his residency at Baylor Mediucal Center in Dallas in the early 80's .Baylor is a miracle hospital, I spent 6 1/2 months there with my Mother. I know of an RN that used him for her gastric surgery and is doing great. His seminar is the 1st one I go to Monday. I can hardly wait. I am so ready to get started. I talked to a girl that works for Dr. Gibbs and she sent me information in the mail, I was very impressed with her and she even called me back to tell me that the seminar had been re-scheduled. Her Mother had the surgery and is very pleased with Dr. Gibbs. I have so far been unable to make a decision, that is why I am trying to gather all the information I can, I know that when I meet Dr. Right, I will know it. Thank you so much Susan for taking time to give me your thoughts, I appreciate it so much. I will keep you posted. Rhonda T

Rhonda, I had Dr. Wellborn. He did open RNY on my almost 2yrs ago and I've had NO problems what so ever. I've lost a total of 117lbs and am 20 below my goal and 10 below his. I went with him because he's has ALOT of experience as a Trauma surgeon. So I knew he'd be johnny on the spot. I had called Gibbs and Luttrells office at first, but didn't care for his staff, then I found Wellborn and they were all great there. He was the Dr for me! Good Luck in making your decision. Cathi

My son is using wellborn. I went to Shreveport and had mine done and have to say that I love Dr. Merriman. He doesn't require all the preop stuff, not the diet, nor the bowel prep, but he does have strict diet laws that you have to follow post op. I had my surgery on a Wed. and was back in front of my class room the following Wed. I never used my pain meds either and other than losing my hair, have not had one problem. I think most of the doctors who do this surgery, that is if they are board and bariatric certified, are good and will do well. I chose to go to Shreveport because of my lung condition and because none of the doctors here were affiliated with a center of excellence and at first I only had medicare but before my surgery date, we ended up with a new insurance that did pay for the surgery and that was good too. But, by that time, I had already had all of my preop lab test and had been scoped, so I stayed with Merriman and was glad that I did. You will know when you meet the doctors who you want and who will work well for you. Good luck.

hi rhonda, i used to live outside monroe, in the downsville area. i'm scheduled for surgery with dr. luttrell on the 12th. but i'm hearing good things about dr. wellborn, has anyone used him? trish

Just an update. A family emergency kept me from attending Dr. Wellborn's seminar this evening. I did however attend Dr Gibbs seminar at 12 noon yesterday and Dr. Baker's at 4 pm yesterday. WOW! It is a coin toss! I never make a decision before sleeping and praying about it so I will let you know tomorrow which one is right for me. I would encourage ANYONE who is contemplating WLS to attend both Doc's seminars. They really open your eyes to reality and help you put your priorities in order. I was impressed with Dr. Gibbs staff as well as how humble the Doc was. He is very excited about Baptist being the first hospital in Arkansas to be a Center of Excellence. Dr. Baker is sure to impress anyone who talks to him for 5 min. His knowledge is impeckable when it comes to WLS. He also is very excited about the Center of Excellence. Dr. Bakers nurse is Great! So laid back! Oh Brother....What a decision. Until tomorrow.......... Rhonda T