Rumors and Recomendations

thank you wendy i will go to both of their seminars

thank you

Hey there.  Dr. Roller in NWA is the only fellowship-trained surgeon in the state, and does all his surgeries laparoscopically.  He has great bedside manner and is supposed to be one of the best laparoscopic surgeons in the state.  He is also an option. 

Hi there,

Personally, I think you need to see doctors who practice at hospitals which are considered Centers of Excellence in the bariatric field, such as Baptist.  The two most prominent ones are Baker and Gibbs, and now Fuller (who is in with Gibbs).  Dr Gibbs did my surgery and the reason I chose him was because he had been doing rny's laproscopically for quite a long time before Baker started doing it that way.  I'm self employed and needed to get back to work asap.  Hospitals can't be designated centers of excellence without meeting a very strict standard, including  ones set for the surgeons who practice there.

One of my doctors told me that the only person he would let touch him for WLS is Dr. John W. Baker.  I agree that he is wonderful!  He has a bit of OCD and makes sure everything is just right....he is very serious but kind....I love him!

Susan, I agree with you that a Center of Excellence is important.  However, you must realize, that no matter who the surgeon is, the hospital must have a track record of at least 125 cases with good outcomes.  Dr. Roller trained at 2 different centers of excellence, UT southwestern in Dallas and Duke University.  He has started the program at Northwest Medical Center (which did not have one before he arrived) in Springdale, and in less than a year, they are in the process of obtaining a Center of Excellence.  The absolute most important thing for everybody to remember, is to research your surgeon completely and thoroughly.  This is the most important decision you can make, because we all have only one real good shot at this.  Ask for their outcomes, complication rates, recent training (as lots of things have changed in bariatric surgery in the past 5 years), and post-operaitve program details.  If your surgeon does not provide good answers to these questions, run the other way.  Hope this helps. 

I went to 2 WLS seminars.  I went to Dr. Wellborns first, and what put me off was how much they talked about not letting finances stop you from getting surgery with them.  It felt like a sales pitch more than learning about WLS.  I did learn some from it though.  The next one I attended was for Dr. Gibbs.  It was wonderful!  He was matter of fact about everything.  No sales pitch.  They answered questions about the financial end of it after Dr. Gibbs left the room  So far I am super happy with my decision.  His nurse Carrie is so sweet.  I have a friend that had Dr. Luttrell do her lapband and she's had so much trouble.  She is actually one they have on their commercials.

Kelley

I agree with Wendy. Dr. Roller is excellent also. Not only pre-op but post op. He and his staff are great. It is very important that you research your choice and go with the one that you are comfortable with but go to seminars and research each one of them not just the 1st one.
Good luck on your choice and will see you soon on the losers bench.
Ps Will answer any questions you may have.

OK EVERYONE!!!! After doing some serious research and talking to the RIGHT people I found out who and why the doctor is no longer allowed to do surgery at the hospital.

DR. Rex Luttrell according to my sources and they are very very very good sources, has the HIGHEST DEATH RATE  and has lost privledges to perform at the hospital. 

On the same note I was told the BEST Doctors in Little Rock is DR. Mark Gibbs for Laproscopic surgery and DR. John Baker for open surgery.

DR. Gibbs you have become my choice hands down. 

Good choice and good luck!  Keep us posted!