Kemmeter RNY to DS revision???

Hello everybody!

I just talked a lady in Dr. Kemmeter's office (Grand Rapids, MI), and she said that he does do RNY to DS revisions. She also stated that he done about a dozen of them with great success and no mortalities... So, my question is this: Do you feel that he has performed enough of this type of revision that I can be confident in his surgical skills and entertain the possibility of going forward with an appt in the hopes of moving toward a future revision of this kind??? I know that he is a phenomenal surgeon from what I've read about him on here, as well as what I've heard about him by word of mouth and in the news. What do you all think? Any input would be much appreciated. I am really struggling with this decision....

Sincere thanks!

Leslie

He is on the DS Surgeon Veteran board so I am sure you will hear many good things about him. Most DS veterans will tell you to pick from the DS board on DSFACTS.com

My opinion of Dr. Kemmeter, is that he is an uprising "star" in the DS world, including revisions.  I hear the long term vets on the other board starting to refer him as well.  I have not heard one bad thing about him anywhere.  Your surgery requires a skilled surgeon.  It sounds like he does have some experience, though nothing close to Dr. K in California.  That said, if it was me, and he has done about a dozen of them (and you can get good references from some of those patients), then I would go forth with it.  He may not have the vast experience that I as a patient would hope to see, but he has an incredible reputation.  I also believe that reputation comes from exercising good judgement, and not performing assembly line, bring in the big bucks, weight loss surgeries.

I was Dr. Kemmeter's twelfth DS, just about seven years ago.   Two weeks ago, he performed a full hernia repair/abdominoplasty/panniculectomy on me.   There is no other surgeon on this earth I trust more than Dr. Kemmeter.    I received quite a bit of criticism back in the day about the fact that he was not a vetted DS surgeon, and frankly, I was a bit naive about the crucial role that experience plays in a surgery as refined as the DS.   I remember asking him at the time, "What makes you think you are skilled enough to perform the DS on me?"  His reply:  "Because I would do it on my own sister, and I love my sister very much."   I decided to place my trust in his skills, and I have done so very well.   He is a man of tremendous conscience.   At my two week check up on Tuesday, he told me that he couldn't sleep the night after my (TT)  surgery, because he was worried that he'd tightened me so much that I would be in incredible pain, but hewanted to make sure he did the job right.

I've known for a while that he was beginning to do full RNY to DS conversions.  It's the only way to go, in my opinion.   If I were in the exact same shoes as you, knowing of his skills and reputation, I would place my life in his hands.  Others may vehemently disagree with me, but they have a right to their opinion, as I have mine.     I personally know many of his patients, and we have all done extremely well.   Good luck in your decision-making process.   If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.   

Hi,

I also had Dr Kemmeter for my surgery and agree with the above post he is a very special surgeon and I won't think twice about flying back out there for him to do another surgery on me should I need it. We talked about rny and the ds and he said he has done well over 2500 rny's and now is doing revisions on them he sigh and said that was never my intention when this all started to have to redo so many surgeries. I talked to many people about him, did my research he is top notch. He did tell me he lost one patient that he did a rny on but he said it had nothing to do with the surgery they just could'nt get him to move after surgery. Best of luck with your decision 

Trish

He discussed that patient with me as well, without me bringing it up which i think says a lot for his character as a surgeon. Very sad though.