Dr M Gagner good or bad?

Well maybe he is looking, lol. I still don't think someone with his background and all would be doing anything like what I was told, lol. Nancy

Does Dr. Gagner have a support group? I would like to meet him. Please let me know where and when his group meets if he has one. Thanks, Paula

A friend of mine here in FL had her surgery done by him in New York a few years ago.  I honestly do not have all the details and every doctor has a case or 2 that has gone bad.  But, this particular woman has to have her stomach removed now since she has been having so much reflux from her pouch that the acid started eating away at her jawline.  She is now having surgery at the end of this month to remove the remaining stomach (sleeve) and to remove some instruments that he left inside of her.  I do not know how she feels personally about him but I can find out if you like. Charlene in Melbourne

Hi Charlene, Thank you for taking the time to write me and give me the information. Yes, please get more details if you can, like was it an open operation or was it done by Lap and so forth. Thank you again for doing this for me. Nancy

Hi Charlene... I'd be interested to know your friend's thoughts on the matter... whether she thinks this was just something that happens (the reflux/pouch issue) or if she thinks it was Dr. G.  The whole leaving instruments inside someone is insane and bizarre... I also don't really understand how it could logistically happen, but there are cases so I'm sure it does... but I'd be interested in knowing your friend's thoughts. Thanks... Kyle PS... I currently have a lap-band and will be getting it removed because of horrible reflux, but I dont think that has anything to do with my surgeon, because he is excellent, world-renowned and very highly regarded in that community... but still, I got me some reflux!

You referred to a pouch, did your friend have RNY?  Because with the DS (and VSG) we do not have a pouch.  You know the whole instrument thing is a little bizarre considering they do an upper GI a day or two after surgery.  Now I have what the radiologist calls surgical clips -- but it is my understanding these are suppose to be in there. 

I suppose I should have said sleeve rather than pouch.  It was the VSC because he would not do a bypass on her.  I know of 2 ladies who went to him.  They were high risk patients and he opted to do the sleeve with the intention of going back and doing a bypass when they were both more stable.  The first lady is doing great.  Never had to have more surgery because she lost all of the weight she needed to and remains healthy.  The second lady has had lots of problems.  Not that  Dr. Gagner actually did anything wrong or bad.  Sometimes people do not have optimal results.  As far as the "things" left inside of her she is having surgery on Wednesday to have them removed.  They were also remove most of her stomach and form a pouch like they would for a gastric bypass.  They are leaving the intestines intact.  She is very worried about losing more weight. To my understanding this new surgery is to take care of the extreme reflux and she will have to break all of the"bypass" rules so as not to lose weight. Every doctor has controversy.  I had RNY back in 03.  My surgeon had to stop practicing medicine due to all of the lawsuits.  I stand by him to this day and am doing remarkable.   When my friend heals I will contact her to find out more info.  I am concerned as a mother also because my son is in the process of VGB and I want to know..the good, bad and ugly of every doctor and procedure. Char

Charlene, I certainly hope your friend does well after this surgery. You are right, there are no guarantees.  Sometimes the surgeon and patient both do everything right -- and it still goes wonky.  I was actually > < this close to having surgery with your surgeon.  I was waiting for the insurance class and then I guess he started having problems, and they kept putting off the class and then told me he would not be doing any surgeries.  I know that he certainly had some fans because I went to his orientation and everyone was raving about what a terrific surgeon he was.  It was during that time that I learned about the DS and decided that it was the right surgery for me.   Red

Hi Charlene, Did your friend have lap or open? I'm sorry your friend when thought all of this, I sure hope it doesn't happen to me. I'm a high risk patient as I have alot of co-morbs. Nancy

I don't know about this, cause Dr. Gagner only does LAP........