Surgeon needed in the Youngstown or Cleveland area

Hi everyone!
I'm looking to see if anyone knows of a good bariatric surgeon in the Cleveland/Youngstown area?  My mother is looking into possibly having surgery, and we need to find a doctor in that area.  I've already had successful RNY surgery 2.5 years ago, but I live in Pittsburgh and my doctor is too far for her to drive.

Any suggestions?  And, if possible, could you provide name of hospital/group that doctor works?

THANKS everyone!

Hi Tiffany,

i would HIGHLY recommend my surgeon.  His name is Dr. Aviv Ben-Meir.  He works out of ST. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland.  His record is phenomenal and he really knows what he is doing.  He is also selective about his surgeries and will NOT perform a surgery if the risk to the patient is too great!  The entire staff at the Cleveland Center for Bariatric Surgery is amazing.  I saw the nutrionist there for my 6 month diet as well as the general practioner, Dr. Salamone.  Everyone.. the nurses, the PA's, the receptionists... EVERYONE is outstanding!  The nursing staff on the floor after surgery were all great.  The suites, and I do mean suites, were newly remodeled last spring.  The floors are all hardwood in the rooms with beautiful dark wood (cherry maybe?) floor to ceiling closet/drawer things.  They are AWESOME!  The number to the CCBS is 216-592-2801.  They are definitely worth looking into and VERY VERY Thorough!!

GOod luck in your search!

Glad to hear my place of employment has garnered such a great review! I'm going to copy it and take it the Bariatric Center when I have my post-op visit next week!

Hi Julie,
I am also sched for surgery on 2/10 with Dr Ben-Meir. It was good reading about your experience with him. I have done my homework and know all the facts and figures and details. You are the first that I have had a personal endorsement from. Makes me feel better :) Good luck on your continued loss, see you soon on the loser's bench!

I'll save a place for you here on the bench!  Honestly.. I can NOT say enough good things about the entire team at St. Vincent's.  While, to me, my weight loss seems slow and I feel like I'll be the one person in the world that eats nothing and still gains weight... LOL.. I KNOW it's better for my body this way>  I also know that I've lost WAY more than I ever have in just 5 1/2 weeks!

Please keep me posted on your successes as you move forward.  It's going to be great.  I won't say easy.. but I will admit to great!!!  Good luck on everything!!

I would also highly recommend Dr. Ben-Meir! And NOT just because I work there! I had my surgery there last May and everyone was wonderful! Dr. Ben Meir was great - when I had problems with the foamies my 2nd day (stoma swollen shut), he made me stay an extra day because he didn't want me going home feeling so poorly.

A note on the post above. She was talking about our new patient suites on 6A - it's actually the Ortho floor but WLS patients go there if the regular Bariatric floor is too empty to justify keeping it open. I was hoping to be put into one of these beautiful suites, but 5B was open at that time so I got a regular room. Everyone on that floor was so great! I think one of the LPN's was actually running to cover patients' requests! 

I would recommend the team at Cleveland Clinic Bariatrics. My surgeon is Dr Chand, but the whole team there is outstanding. I feel so prepared and well educated for my surgery and post surgery. They are at the Cleveland Clinic main campus. I'm going in for my surgery on Tuesday.

I also went thtough Cleveland Clinic with Dr. Brethaur.  The preparation for surgery was awesome.  I was so well informed and prepared.  The nutritionist is awesome.  I am three months out now and would do it all again with Cleveland Clinic.

Dr Phillip Shauer at the cleveland clinic is the best

I went with cleveland clinic too-- very pleased but I had Dr. Chand and loved him!