What is your surgeon like?? (Duncan, Williams, Daly?!)

Likes or dislikes? Why did you pick this one as opposed to another one. I was with Dr. Duncan's office and to be honest I am not very pleased with the treatment that I have gotten there. I have had Dr. Williams and Dr. Daly come very highly recommended. I like that Dr. Duncan's office (though he is "too busy" to do the surgeries anymore, so you get another surgeon in his office.) is right down the road from me, but the hospital he uses is very old and not up to date. I hear Dr. Daly is good, but that he charges a fee for aftercare *(not sure if insurance covers this or not!), and Dr. Williams charges $100 for the pre-approval aspect... and that is NOT covered my insurance. Like I said, I have already gotten almost everything done with Dr. Duncan's office, but that last meeting with the Nutritionist wasn't too great.  I am just sick of the 'used car salesman' approach to my damn health it is killing me.  Oh yeah, and the other wrinkle? My job is 'downsizing' for 'efficiency' and may 'consider' offshoring... so, that means that may be losing my insurance here soon. Ugh!  Any help would be SOO great!

Dr. Rashid from Dr. Duncan's office did my surgery. I personally can't say enough good things about her. She was very patient with me - I had tons of questions.  She's very professional also very personable. She made me feel really comfortable. You are absolutely right about the hospital being old and not up to date. The nursing staff was nothing to brag about either -less than mediocre in my opinion.  Although they did their jobs - it was a lot to be desired. I've had two very close friends who've had surgery at the same hospital within the past 9 months and Dr. Celio Burrows was their surgeon. Both spoke very highly of him.  His office can be found under the same hospital. They both raved about him but had basically the same opinion of the hospital and staff.

Dr Williams did my surgery, and I am very happy with him...10 months post op, I had a partially blocked bowel obstruction (scar tissue), and yes they billed insurance for it, but I was never asked to pay the co-insurance $$...so remember, once you pay him...you will never pay him again.  Insurance did not cover my RNY, so I do not have any experience with that issue.  One of my friend's daughter had him for her surgeon a year before me, and she loves him too... If your employer is downsizing, try to get the surgery done before you lose your benefits. Norma

I haven't done my surgery yet and it is taking me some time to figure out WHO to trust my life with... In the beginning I was going with either Dr. Duncan or Dr. Burrowers BUT I found out too much stuff I didn's like... I think I am finally 100% sure I will be doing my surgery with DR. FINLEY- He is the chief of surgery for Emory Crawford Long Hospital, he has ZERO malpractices cases and ZERO fatalities... to be honest with you that's what we ALL should be looking for when choosing our surgeons. I am a surgeon recruiter myself and it took me a while to figure out.  I have heard so many bad stuff about other doctors, I have heard ZERO bad things about Dr. Finley and based on his medical history I find he is THE one I am 100% confident with.

if i may ask, how did you find out that he had ZERO/ZERO malprac/fatalities? i have surgery scheduled for 4/7 with Dr Williams and was just wondering how to check this out for myself. any help would be greatly appreciated. thnks! kim

i went to Dr. Dunacn's seminar last year. he seemed very nice and patient. however after the seminar i had questions and they semed to be to "busy to answer' not only that i did not like the fact that i could not speak with the surgeon until i was approved! how am i to know what surgery is best for me? i would have a tom of questions to ask. but any way i ended up going with Dr. burrowes. he will do my surgery on 4/12/08. he did my friend and two of her friends too. the office staff is kind and he is as wel.

I had Dr Hobson and he is one of the surgeons in Dr Duncans office. He is WONDERFUL, and he saved my life for sure. I have not had the first day of sickness from him and I cannot say enough praises about him. The hospital was a pain in the butt I will agree about that but Dr Hobson was great. I would do my surgery again over and over with him. I did not get to see Dr Hobson but once after my surgery because I live in Macon and dont have a way to Atlanta to do after care, so really I have had no after care and that one time I did go to see him, Medicare paid for it. I did not like the nutritionist either, she was a pain to deal with but I did with her as I do other "authority figures" I simply ignored her haha.......I had done my homework with this surgery for ten years before having it and I feel like I know me better than she knows me and I am an expert at how I feel so I follow my own plan and currently I am doing very well, I am at 288 now from 551 and have not been sick the first day.......if you can deal with the sales pitches and get by those please let this place help you. Dr Burrows was a disappointment to me. I am STILL waiting to be called in for a consult and it has been almost two years since I faxed the paperwork to his office and spoke to his office personnel.....they are SLACK, really slack.......I tried Williams too and he would not take me because I was too big to have this surgery, those were HIS words not mine. I had a very hard time finding a surgeon to even talk to me much less save my life so when Dr Hobson called I latched onto him like flies do **&&&** haha cos I knew it would be my last chance at living......hope my point of veiw helps you.....God bless and God speed your life dear.......see ya later.......Renee

I used Dr. Daly and absolutely loved him.  He is so positive, knowledgable, and has a great bedside manner.  I would definitely recommend him and use him again.  He does charge for the aftercare and it has to be paid upfront (insurance does not pay for it).  It was 2500 but to me it was well worth it.  The hospital was Northside and the nursing staff was great.  I would recommend them.  They were nice, considerate, attentive, etc.  All in all I had a great experience and would definitely to eveything overa again.

Hello,  I have not had my surgery yet, I had all of my paper work together that my insurance had required and did not check with them on their requirements for this year and when Dr. Williams office faxed over my paper work they had added another stipulation. So the office manager called me and told me what they wanted to do which is now go through a 3 month process of diet and exercise with my personal physican which I am doing now. After it is done, then Dr. Williams office will be appealing my pre-approval. Dr. Williams also have a Baratric Center that you will go through the process with and the ladies over there are very nice. I think I paid a one time fee for their visit of $100.00 but you go to them for all you meetings before and after which are wonderful and fun. This center does not bill the insurance company, but they will provide you with the information so that you can bill your insurance company yourself to get your money back. I have been a medical insurance biller and collector for 18yrs so I know how to do this kind of stuff. I also paid  a one time copay $20.00 for the Physc visit which my insurance had required. But I am now on the right track and God will work things out for you financially and show you who to go to just pray and trust in him so you won't have to worry about all of this. Since I have been going through this process with my personal doctor she has done a complete physical and I have found so many other things that are wrong with me. One may say that is too bad and yes it is but it is also to my benefit as for as getting the surgery done. When she write that letter for the insurance company it will have all that stuff on it Keep me in your prayers, when you talk to him. Etoria

Dr. Rashid did my lapband at Emory, so you don't necessarily have to have the procedure done at AMC. And, the worst part of the process with the office is the paperwork. Once approved, everything moved quickly and smoothly. The fills (or getting appts) have not been a problem either.