Dr. Wade Barker in Dallas Texas

So many people have written me and even sent me private message about their concern about Dr. Barkers knowledge of weightloss and his knowledge of aftercare for patients.  Is there anyone that has any knowledge about this or facts? He seems to be an amazing doctor to me who runs a huge business ... The largest in Texas, so I would think he's doing something right but I want feedback from those who are saying these things because I am going in on the 12th for my surgery.  I had a sleeve with him in 2008 and have nothing but great things to say about him.  I gained back 50 bounds but only because I have had three babies since then and did not follow the guidelines from my first pregnancy on.... now going to the DS.  

Just curious to if there are any facts or research behind these 'dislikes' of Dr. Barker.  Thank you in advance!

I don't know anything about Dr. Barker, but I did a search on these boards. It looks like he's relatively new to DS and is not on the list of experienced surgeons on www.dsfacts.com. It also seems that many people who had surgery with him never even met him (not pre-op, nor post-op). That doesn't seem right to me. I need to look my surgeon in the eye, talk to him about my concerns, and make sure both he and I are making the right decision together.

Here's a link to an interesting post about Dr. Barker: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4610749/RNY-To-DS-on-3- 20-13-by-Dr-Barker-in-Dallas/

There are only two surgeons listed on dsfacts in Texas:

Erik Wilson, MD
Daryl A. Stewart, MD

Unfortunately, Dr. Stewart died unexpectedly earlier this week. :'(

Perhaps you can get a consultation with Dr. Wilson. I don't know anything about him other than the fact that he is on the dsfacts list of experienced surgeons. For me, that would be my first criteria. This is a serious, complicated surgery and you want to make sure you are in the best hands!

You may want to post something on the boards asking about Dr. Wilson and do a search for his name on the forums as well. Here's a link to his reviews: http://www.obesityhelp.com/profiles/bariatric-surgeon/dr-eri k-wilson/reviews

Good luck!

That is shocking about Dr. Stewart.  I hadn't been on this board in months and now see this.  Life is strange.

There's some bad history but no facts or research, it doesn't really work that way, it's more by members' experience and postings over time. I did see an encouraging post about Dr Stewart's associate. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4639685/Dr-Ayoola/ 

I'm not crazy about the way Dr B apparently pushes 90 days of Bariatric Advantage on all his patients and doesn't seem to adjust for the higher rate of malabsorption DS patients have. I have heard here and a couple of other places that he really loves the money more than patients, and ethics be damned, but that is hearsay.

--gina

First, I want to offer up that I was my surgeon's twelfth DS, almost seven years ago.   This forum was pretty new at that time, and I'm sure I raised a lot of eyebrows with my choice of surgeons.   I was pretty naive in regard to what I knew about the DS, and some would say stupidly so, but I placed my trust in this man, who is now considered one of the top DS surgeons in the country.  I kind of feel like in my own, small way, I got him to where he is right now.   I've done fabulously well.     I was one of the lucky ones, thankfully.   I've seen quite a few horribly botched DS's here, and I've seen more deaths from inexperienced or incompetent DS surgeon's than I am comfortable with.  

I can't offer you much data on why or why not Barker should be doing your revision, as I have performed no personal research on Dr. Barker or his practice.   I've only heard anecdotal information, and especially about his aftercare.   Your earlier post about the BA Vitamins confirms that concern.   Hopefully, someone can step up with some further bona fide information that can help you make the correct choice for you.  

Here are my two BIG concerns about your upcoming surgery.      1)  Even if he does have a huge business, it doesn't mean he's an experienced and vetted DS surgeon.    It's a very specific surgery, with a much higher learning curve than the RNY.   There's a greater potential for physician error, in my understanding.   Even if Dr. Barker has performed a million RNY's, a great DS surgeon he does not make.  That's one thing you need to take into consideration.   2)  This concern is far greater.  A DS revision is a big thing.  If you were just a straight VSG to DS, that's not such a big deal, but a resleeve is a different matter entirely.   There is a much higher risk of complication, especially with leaks.    I lost a good friend to a resleeve.    Good luck in your decision process.

I hate when people push the "VETTED" DS surgeons list on others. I understand its a very complex surgery and you have to go with someone with experience... But how does one get experience without the trust of others? With out confidence in new and up and coming surgeons the "vetted" list will dwindle and who will perform the DS then??

My surgeon was trained buy one of the most knowledgeable (IMO) but CONTROVERSIAL surgeons in the WLS community. Dr. John Husted. My Surgeon had done about 80 DS before he did mine. The reason I was very comfortable with my surgeon is because he has been in the same practice for over 25 years, he has performed 3000+ bariatric surgeries in the last 11 years. I had my band removed in emergency surgery with a Dr Fang in the same practice and his bedside manner was great. When I met Dr Juarez after Dr. Husted pulled a Houdini on me, I immediately knew he was going to be my surgeon. I was actually glad Dr. Husted left. My coworker and her husband are now working with Dr. Juarez to have the DS. One is scheduled for late august and one in October.

I say do your research about the surgeon in question. If you feel confident in your findings then put your life in his/her hands and allow them to save it.

God bless you and your journey.

You raise a valid point.   I guess, the best analogy I can think of is this.   Let's say you want to install a new tile floor in your bathroom.   You call around for a few contractors for estimates.  One man comes out and says, "I've been laying carpet for 25 years.   I've never laid a tile floor, but I feel that since I can lay carpet, I can probably set tile.  How about if you give me a try?"  Would you hire him?   I would laugh in his face.   This is our survival we're talking about.   HOWEVER - as I stated earlier, I did choose a non-vetted DS surgeon to be my surgeon, because I knew that he had extensive gastro-specific lap trauma experience prior to his bariatric experience, and knew his way around the gut very, very well.   Knowing what I know now, and seeing some of the horrific things that have occurred to DS'ers here (including patients of your surgeon's, to be honest) maybe I should not have.   As I mentioned earlier, however, I ended up doing well.   It's a real crap shoot that as an older and wiser DS'er, I'd probably not now take, even though I absolutely adore my surgeon.   

Dr Husted had a great repuation as a surgeon until he messed up his personal life which played into his professional life.  There were a lot of pissed off people after he screwed around with so many lives and was nearly impossible to reach.  

There was a woman on this board that was scheduled with Husted, who did the Houdini move on her shortly before surgery.  One of his assistants performed the DS.  The woman died. DIED!  I dont remember the name, but it was early in my process which started in Oct 2011.  That left a lasting impression on me.  

I am not sure how often the vetted list gets updated on dsfacts.  I do believe that the most current information about any surgeon can be found by talking to the physician's "satisfied customers."

Caligurl, check out the proboards site/DS forum/physician reviews/Stewart.  There are some general discussion items there about DS surgeons in TX.  Take note that SlimShady is a physician in TX and his wife is Ragamuffin.  Excellent sources for TX.  You could try and private message them, though for professional reasons, they arent as active on the boards as they used to be.

Dr. Husted has/had numerous lawsuits also. Mentioned in 2 of them was the fact that the patient ended up with a 20 cm common channel. You can get most of the info from google.

Husted started out as a brilliant surgeon but BOTH his personal and professional life went into the crapper. Sad.

20cc???????   I actually gasped aloud when I read that....how sad!