looking for info on Dr.Balder

I'm looking for anyone that has had surgery done by Dr. Balder i have to change Drs. because of him not being able to do surgerys at Trident anymore...I called his office they said i had to go to some type of meeting on tue's at 6:00pm, just wanted to find out as much as i can.... thanks for any information you can provide!!!

if you are a patient of dr. sabbacks and have completed all of your paperwork and pre op testing including psych eval and nutritional consult, then dr. anderson and dr. balder can take you as a patient and get you into the office rather quickly. you will have to ask to speak to sue and identify yourself as a sabback patient. otherwise, everyone is told to go to the tuesday night seminar. they are waiving the seminar and mailing packets to sabback patients for completion. their number at advanced surgical associates is: 843.347.3900

Debby, I am a patient of Dr. Balder....Had bypass done in Nov 2002 in Florence. I think Dr. Balder is awsome!!!! From the first appointment which was about a week after the class in Oct 2002, Dr. Balder was so informative and my husband and I felt comfortable with him immediately. He gave us the impression then of someone who was really happy doing gastric bypass and that when he said yes he was almost sure he wouldnt have any problem laprosopically, we were sold!!!! He couldnt have been nicer in the hospital either. But, everyone seems to think surgeons are supposed to sit with you and kind of hold your hand for a while, when they just see how you are doing and hopefully take care of the problem and move on to the next patient. I have learned this with my Dad who has had open heart surgury and knee replacements....surgeons are usually short and sweet. Yes, the class is a must and once you go to it, you will understand why. I have met, through support group, more people who had this surgery without having any idea what the rest of their life would entail. Dr. Balder's staff, particularly, Sue Rudnicki, is so well informed and they will answer any and all questions/fears you have. Sue and the staff in the office are the people who will "hold your hand". I am post op almost 2 and 1/2 years and Sue still "holds my hand" when I need it. You need to research as much as you can on this. It is a wonderful tool to reaching and staying at your goal weight. You just have to make a total committment to the "PROGRAM" they give you to follow. I said, I wasnt going to have life-threating surgery to not follow the doctors orders. To this day, I feel the same way. Whatever they told me to do or not to do, I follow. I guess I do like Dr. Balder alot since he has done a cyst on my head and tomarrow I am having a hernia repaired by him.....So to me....he is a hero. I am healthy and couldnt be happier. So, good luck to you....I hope you find Dr. Balder as wonderful as I do. Bonnie

Hey Bonnie, thanks for your post....I called his office today sue is sending me a packet and i went by Dr. Sabbacks office and signed a release form today and they are mailing all my test results and stuff to him....I'm sooo excited i was really sad when i called and they told me that trident didnt want bastric surgery done there anymore ...but then again i look at it as a blessing because i wasnt thrilled about going to trident anyway...i cant wait till i'm on the loosing side