Has anyone gone through the Barix Clinic in Ypsi??

 Trying to find an excellent surgeon who has done "enough" VSG's to warrant not being considered "new at this".

DId anyone have Dr. Papalowski as their surgeon??

www.obesityhelp.com/profiles/bariatric-surgeon/dr-steven-pop lawski/#profile_procedures


Looks like he has only been doing vsg for a yr  I went to barix but had schram for rny.  great hospital.


Look at those surgeon profiles for vsg surgeons and their stats.  or go to the vsg board and ask for MI surgeons....

Dr. Foote and Dr. Kemmeter at Grand Health Partners in Gr. Rapids have done a lot of VSG's.

Thanks for your help

 I'm an hour and a half away from GR.  Do they require multiple pre-op support group meetings?  I also work10-12 days at a medical office so group meetings are hard enough to make in town let alone that far away.  I know I'm worth it and will put in a great effort but  an hour and a half drive there, group meeting time, then an hour and a half back after working all day sounds like it would be easy to talk yourself out of going.   

Also, did GHP require you to buy pre-op diet products from them?

I had my surgery 3 1/2 yrs ago, but at that time you were only required to attend an orientation, which are usually on Saturday.  I have never heard of them requiring attendance at a support group prior to surgery.

Yes, they want you to buy their pre-packaged high protein food for two weeks prior to surgery and two weeks after surgery.  I think it ran about $300 for the four weeks supply.  

I can understand your reluctance about going that far, but this group of surgeons and their staff are outstanding.   I am 2 hrs away and have made a lot of trips there in the last 3 1/2 years, but I don't mind because of the quality of care.   Dr. Kemmeter is even going to do gall bladder surgery for me -- I wouldn't let anyone else touch me.

Good luck and please don't hesitate to contact me for more information.   e-mail: [email protected]


Pat

To be honest.....that hospital has one of the worst reputations.   I live 15 minutes from it and I traveled up to Grand Rapids (2hrs and 10minutes)  to have my DS done.   I WAS going to get the RNY and was going to use a surgeon out of Henry Ford Macomb, until I decided to get the DS.    Almost got the VSG....and would of went to Grand Rapids for that as well.   

My advice....RUN!!! 

Last year when I went to my PCP to let her know I was interested in WLS, she warned me about that place. She said that with some of her patients the follow up care wasn't great. Something about the patients getting "dumped" in the ER.
Now I live in that area and it would have been nice & close to my house, BUT I know I definately wanted to go with a bariatric clinic that was attached to a hospital. I went to St. Mary's in Livonia. If I didn't go to St. Mary's I would have gone to Henry Ford or U of M or just about any other place but there.

I know many people who have gone to the Barix Center in Ypsilanti.  I don't know of anyone who has had a terrible outcome there.  Barix Center has more experience than University of MI with weight loss surgeries.  Their program is basically just getting started 2-3 years.  It has gone through changes to improve.
 At UM you would be seen by residents and placed in the same rooms / units has any other surgery patient. 
If you have a problem after you are discharged, they would refer you to the ER, you would be seen by a resident or the attending on call. 
Both hospitals have  positive  reviews. Sometimes insurance plays a part in where you have surgery also.

So you're saying the surgeon's at the Barix  Center are more experienced than the ones at University of Michigan?

One of my best friends nearly lost her husband after one of the surgeons there at that facility gave him a VSG.   He ended up on life support for several days afterwards.    Close enough to home for me!!    I will pass and drive the 2hrs.    Plus I used to know one of the nurses there personally.    Never met a nastier woman in my life and definately NOT who I would want to be taking care of me after my surgery.