need some help

Hi I live in Indy and had wls over 2 years ago...my sister in Ny near Kingston NY is thinking of having the band done...she has got to have the best!!!!!! who is the best? she is thinking of a dr KAUL anda dr Yatco.... I am excited for her for thinking of taking this step...and want to make sure she is in as good of hands as I was....yeap i think she should come here and get it done....but she will need after support.....and fills so makes no sense to come here... any help?

Kingston is not all that far from Albany, The Bariatric Surgery Center at Albany Med has safely and successfully treated obese patients, particularly those at-risk, for 22 years. The American College of Surgeons recently designated Albany Med an accredited Bariatric Surgery Center. Albany Med is ONLY the third hospital in New York State - and is currently one of 15 Level 1 ACS-approved programs in the U.S. - to be acknowledged for treating "the most challenging and complex bariatric patients with optimal opportunity for safe and effective outcomes." They have a very comprehensive multidisciplinary program. Dr. Paul T Singh is one of the 2 bariatric surgeons, he performs both the Lap Band (since 2003) and the RNY (open and lap) he is a very skilled lap surgeon (background in trauma/organ transplant). I highly recommend him (He was my surgeon) but I also work w/ as a Nurse Practitioner in psychiatry and do preop evals for many patients in the program over the years as well running a local support group. She can consider it..Here is their new website and contact info: http://www.amc.edu/Patient/services/Surgery/Bariatric/bariatric_home.html Dr. Paul Singh Office (518) 262-5623. I recommend starting (most need to) w/ Clinical Nutrition Group in Albany: (they do all sorts of nutrition issues, up to and including bariatric surgery.....all are great providers I see Dr Denning)... Albany Clinical Nutrition 1240 New Scotland Road Slingerlands, NY 12159 (518) 475-7000 X4 Vanessa Denning, MD Ann V. Michelek, MD Barbara Kapuscinska, MD Carol R. Santoro, MD Ellen Goke NP Kathleen Callahan RD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lap Band Support group at Albany Med SECOND Monday of the Month 4:30pm-6pm in the Alumni Lounge Room A 164 free and open to all....This is Dr. Singhs pt forum page: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/forums/index.phtml?ID=TR-965610413 or post to the lapband forum asing for other referrals in NY!: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/LapBand/ Please have HER join OH and start posting to our NY board! Take Care, Jamie Ellis 100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY 320(preop)/163 (lowest)/174 (current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/ "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

I also had LapRNY with Dr. Singh and I have nothing but the best things to say about him. I had surgery August 21,2006 and have so far lost 112 lbs. Included in that loss is 20 lbs lost before surgery. If you have any questions reguarding Dr. Singh or anything please feel free to contact me. Good luck in whatever you choose. Cathy

Maybe things have changed but I know at least 3 folks personally who were not happy with Dr. Singh, very bad experiences, forgetting to take out gall bladder, significant amount of pain, horrible bedside manner, etc... I had surgery in Springfield, MA, not far from Albany (about 1 hour). The dr's, Fiallo and Haag are part of a Bariatric Center of Excellence at Springfield Medical Center and there are a group of 6 doctors at this hospital that do these surgeries regularly (Lap RNY and Lap band). They DO NOT require a loss of weight prior to surgery. I can't say enough about the hospital and doctors as I went through surgery this past September. The nursing staff was VERY familiar with this surgery and patients post -op care needs. I was home in 2 days with no complications after Lap RNY. Should you need more info please feel free to contact me. Renee