Dr. Baker

Hello everyone. I am new to this board and was wondering how many of you have used Dr. John Baker in Little Rock for your procedures. I have been in contact with his office for a couple of months and my insurance approval finally came through. I plan to have the LapBand around the end of September or first of October. I still have to attend a seminar and a group. Anyway, just wanted to know your opinion on him because I have not yet met him. Any info would help me.
Thanks

i went to his seminar in july and i think he is great. he was very informative and really seem to know what he was talking about. i was going to use him and then he quit taking medicare so now i am using dr weaver in memphis. but all in all dr baker seems really great. good luck and best wishes..

If you got insurance approved you should go for the RNY.  You won't regret it.  Dr Baker and his staff are wonderful!!  See my pics.  I have lost 111lbs since 9/14/05.  Best of luck to you.  P.S.  The Lap Band is just as expensive as the RNY.....with the RNY you don't have to have fills!!

I love Dr Baker and I am using him for my RNY in 5 days! I agree with someone else who said that you should go for RNY though.   Long-term results are MUCH better for RNY than the band.  The following is a link to an article featured on the American Society of Bariatric Surgeon's website.  http://www.asbs.org/html/pdf/soard_featured_article.pdf I will summarize the weight loss results of the article for you in case the link doesn't work. At 5 years, lapband has a failure rate of 34.6%.  At 5 years, RNY has a failure rate of only 4.2%. Insurance only gives people one chance.  If I were you, I'd go with the RNY. 

Thank you guys for responding. Please don't laugh at me, but what is RNY? Is this the gastric bypass? I have done all my research on the Lap Band and don't know a whole lot about the other procedures. Thanks again for the good comments on Dr. Baker, it really makes me feel better.

yes the rny is the gastric bypass, and dont feel bad for not knowing, i once was also in the dark. lol.. anyways, i agree with them. i am going to have the rny. but dont let us make your mind up for you. decide what's best for you and your lifestyle and go with it. good luck to you and best of wishes..

yes RNY is a type of gastric bypass... I also used Dr.Baker and I really think Highly of him.

he is not a sugar coater and he demands complience with your proceedure but he is very into his patients and helping them regain thier lives! ooooRaaaaa for him! nutti

First off, let me say congrats on approval!!  I used Dr. Baker on Feb 12, 07 for my Lap RNY and I think the man walks on water.  Im sure he doesnt but please dont tell me!!  He is an excellent surgeon, has a great staff, very busy, but great.  He cares deeply for his patients and insures they get the best care while in the hospital as well as when you go home.   I was in the hospital in May (not surgery related) and Dr. Baker  came by to see me every night.  He is wonderful.  Very straightforward, but also very honest.  He wants you to do well, and you will as long as you do as you are told.  If I were to have any other surgery, I would want Dr. Baker to do it as well.  I cannot tell you anything bad about him or his staff.  They are extremely busy, other than that, they are great.  Best way to communicate with them is thru email, or repeated phone calls.  Give me a yell if I can help you with anything. Rhonda 97 plus pounds gone forever!!!!

Hey Kiddo......how you doing? Hope your new job is what's keeping you away, that you're soooooo busy and tired that you just fall into bed when you get home. We miss you though!! Take care and let us know how things are going.

Dr. Baker is an excellent doctor and I'm glad I chose him. Stick with the Lap Band if that's what you feel comfortable with. I did and I'm happy with it. Amy