Dr. Michel Gagner...

Hello Everyone,

I'm interested to get some feedback from patients of Dr. Gagner.  How was your experience with him?  Did he preform the DS for you?  How was your surgery and after care.  I'm very interested in the aftercare and nutritional information and follow up post surgery that his patients are receiving.  Did you wait a long time to get into see him?  How long was the wait for surgery?  Did you pay out of pocket or did the health care system help you?

Any information anyone can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone so much!! 

I heard that Dr Gagner was in Florida and New york before and he has just come back to Montreal this summer. Don't know if anyone here had him for surgeon. I think he only does private surgeries, not under RAMQ, and for his US or other canadian patients... Maybe you'll have more answers on the main , VSG or DS boards... Good luck!

Diane

Thanks Diane,

I will try those boards as well :)

Hello,

I am having surgery with Dr. Gagner in Montreal on Monday.  He is only doing self pay and is operating out of 2 or 3 centres depending on the surgery / patient.  I am having mine at Dr. Christou's 17 bed private surgical centre.  The cost for the VSG is 15,000.  The DS is more I think, maybe 22,000.

He has an e-mail address and responds himself to enquiries fairly quickly. 

[email protected]

There is a woman that sent me some info. about what time to arrive at the surgery center, etc.  but as far as I can tell he is working by himself.

I booked my surgery 5 weeks ago, I think I could have selected an earlier date but I was trying to balance work responsibilities too.  I think if you have the money, he has the time!

He told me he was happy to  be returning home and that while Florida winters were nice, it was not great in the summer.

To pay him you pay a deposit 4 weeks in advance (in my case 2,500) .  Then you pay the balance 2 weeks prior.  He gives you his bank account number and that is how he pays.

He called me and talked to me on the phone, and he sent me the Cornell VSG post surgery diet.

I know of a couple of other people who had surgey with him and the only support is when he answers your questions by e-mail or maybe phone.  There is no dietician, psychologist, etc.  He tells you what pre-op tests he wants you to have and requests a clearance letter from your Dr.

Anyway, I hope I answered some of your questions.

Nancy

Thank you Nancy.  This is a big help.  Best of luck on Monday, you will do great!!!! 

I just want to make a couple corrections. Dr. Gagner does not just do private pay surgeries. If you give him contact info for your provincial insurance plan he will do his best to get you covered. The DS is $20 000. He is a wonderful surgeon (one of the best DS surgeons in the world) and I highly recommend him.

Thank you all so much!  Yes, Dr. Gagner is currently trying to get approval through my provincial health care to have the DS covered.  I think there might be a lot of variables involved, but it sure is worth a try.

I really appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments!!