Anyone willing to share their experience with Dr. Ronald Spier, Springfield
Kelly,
I had a consultation w/ Dr. Spier. He seemed like a nice guy, I didn't hear anything "bad" about him but this is what I came away with.
He doesn't do lap rny, only open. His open is from stem to stern if you know what I mean (boobs to belly button cut,all the way). I was self pay too so that was a factor for me. A girl here at work had him do hers and she didn't have any problems related to her WLS surgery however she has other health issues. I really wanted mine done lap so my sister found Dr. Maguire in Kettering. I absolutely loved them, went to the support meetings, etc, had my surgery date and about 2 weeks before I was set to have my lap rny they called me and told me that he wouldn't do lap rny for self-pays because he had had a couple people that had complications and had huge dr. bills. So I had to start all over. Someone on this website recommended Dr. Fallang in Dayton and I went to him. I ended up having open for a couple reasons. 1. His open incision is 4-6" (mine is 3 1/2") 2. His open price was $17K compared to $21K for lap 3. With lap I would have had 6 incisions, the longest one 2 1/2" and with his small open incision I only had 1 incision 3 1/2" long. 4. With an incision so small I felt better about him being able to "see" what he was doing as opposed to doing it lap (and I was SET on having it lap!) Those were my reasons for going to him, I've been an angel for a few people who have used him and everyone I know has been happy w/ him. I just really didn't want to be cut from stem to stern and I (and many other people) have a firm belief that if you need something serious done, to have it done in Dayton or Columbus, not Springfield. Just my honest opinion. If you want anymore info feel free to email me.
Good luck!! BTW, I had no problems.
Bev
I only wanted to make a few comments to clarify. The longest incision I make in laparoscopic RNY surgery is 1 1/2 inch which is of the same size/length all the way through the abdominal wall through which I can barely fit one finger and definitely not two fingers. The 3 and 1/2 inch skin incision is only that, the skin. I have attempted to put just my hand through such an incision and yes you can get it through the skin because it stretches but all the more important layers that contribute to strength and infection and recovery must be cut much larger or longer than 6 inches, what you don't see. The skin incision is only cosmetic and doesn't make it comparable to laparoscopic surgery in which all incisions are less than 1/2 inch except one which is usually 1 1/2 inch and all combined are only at 1% risk of wound complication where as a longer incision is at between a 20 - 30% chance of wound complications. I can see everything laparoscopically and if I have a question I can actually magnify structures with the camera as big as a 20 inch television screen to see it.
I on the other hand cannot argue about the prices I know that is one of the biggest hurdles everyone faces and I must also add that you must go with your own research and who you are comfortable with. In the long run laparoscopic surgery is better for patients with experienced surgeons who are well qualified with this approach. But however you get it accomplished safely and puts you on your way to good health and your surgeon lets you know that he or she will follow you along with your primary care doctor for the rest of your life, I'm all for it. I am only trying to offer information about laparoscopic surgery (Not surgeons) and dispell myths and hopefully explain why it is preferable to open surgery. If you have not seen the surgery performed laparscopically before let me know and I can refer you to a website to watch the procedure over the internet.
Sincerely,
Dr. Selwyn
[email protected]
I would echo Dr. Selwyn's points, the risk of having hernias, wound infections, etc. is much lower if you have 6 very small incisions that add up to a total of 3 1/2 inches as opposed to one incision equaling 3 1/2 inches.
Many times the surgeons that boast that their open incisions are so small are also the ones that claim you can't see well with laparoscopy. Trust me, I've looked through a few of those 3 1/2 in*****isions and you can't see anything, half the operation is done blindly just by feel. With the laparoscopic approach, everything is magnified on a huge TV screen.
The price of laparoscopic bypass surgery is coming down, in fact at our hospital the cash price for a laparoscopic procedure is lower than it is for open.
Good luck,
Dr. C
The Deaconess Surgical Weight Loss Center
Cincinnati, Ohio (513) 559-2545
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