Questions about Dr. Appel

I know that just this past week Jen Layman went to Dr. Appel for her hernia repair and Panni. I also have a hernia that I need repaired, and if he is used to working on post ops, I would love to get some info on him. I saw a surgeon this week that scared the you know what out of me. He seemed to have no idea how to deal with someone that has had Gastric Bypass, and previous hernia repairs. He was trying to tell me that I would need two surgeries, one to locate the hernia, and then another to fix it. He seemed totally overwhelmed by me, and that made me feel like one of those patients that doctors totally dread. I don't know any of the surgeons out here, so any help anyone can give me would be much appreciated!!! Cathy

Before I give you my opinion, let me tell you that Dr. Appel did my RNY and I absolutely LOVE the man - with that said, I suggest you find a plastic surgeon who has experience with hernia/TT from gastric bypass patients. It is just one opinion of course, but I believe in finding the right specialist for the job. Whatever you choose, best of luck to you!

Thank you so much for you response... At this point, I am looking more just for the hernia repair, as it is getting to the point where it is causing some discomfort. Thanks for the wishes, I think that I am gonna need it! Cathy

Dr. Appel did my RNY (open) in July and I think he is a wonderful surgeon and person. He is a little gruff on the outside and appears to be without a sense of humor, but he just wants you to understand the seriousness of the surgery. He has been performing bariatric surgeries for about 18 years. I would highly recommend him for bariatric or general surgery, but I think I would like to have my panni and other work done by a Plastic Surgeon. Patti

Patti, I really don't think that I am looking for the Panni, just the hernia repair. Not to say that I don't need all the skin removed, I really do, but my Ins is going to fight it all the way, and I am not able to go self pay at this point. To have a surgeon, that is a general surgeon, who has handled bariatric patients I think makes me feel more comfortable. I tell you, when that surgeon I saw this week, kept going back over what I had done, he actually started to sweat. I don't know if he was afraid of all of my scar tissue, or maybe the Gastric Bypass itself, but I couldn't get out of there fast enough! Cathy

I'm with Appel's group-I had RNY with Steinberg, but IMHO, I would see a plastic surgeon for the hernia and skin removal. He only does the Panni, not the tummy tuck-if that's what you are looking towards.

At this point I am only looking for the hernia repair.....My Ins is going to fight any type of surgery that has anything to do with skin removal, and I would just like to get the hernia repaired this summer before school starts. It seems that Dr Appel does general surgery as well....Can you tell me where his office is located, do they have a web site? I think if I can get any info, maybe I will give them a call... Cathy

He does general surgery too. Their phone number is 404-501-7081. He is located in Decatur, at Dekalb Medical Center. There is a yahoo support group for Dr. Appel. Go to yahoo groups and type in appel and you will get the link to join from there. Don't count Steinberg out. One of my friends just got a hernia repair from him and he did it lap. Appel generally deals with open, but I don't know the extent of your hernia Good luck! Sherry

Sherry, Thank you, thank you, thank you....I will definitely check out Dr. Steinberg as well, I would prefer to do it lap, but the surgeon that I went to this week told me that since I have mesh in there already from a previous hernia repair, that he would have to do it open. If there is only one hernia now, that would be #6.I had two repaired with my RNY, and then I had 3 repaired in 7/03 with mesh...I just want them to not be a factor with me anymore. I really want to start working out again, but was told I couldn't do anything more than walking until it is fixed. Thanks again for your help!!! Cathy

Hi CAthy, I am post op nearly four years and the ONLY surgeon that I would use would be Dr. Albert Losken. He is at Emory and is absolutely wonderful. I had an enormous amount of hernia's and he did my panniculectomy at the same time and he had a pain management team called in just for me! Let me know if I can help with anything else. He fixed all the hernia's himself because he is a doctor with creditials on wls patients as well as the experience that follows it and he is also a plastic and reconstructive surgeon as well. In doing wls surgery patients you must be very careful cause we tend to have a lot of "Sagging" skin just hanging around and a reconstructive docs job is to fix this as well as knowledge is crucial in this case, thats why I chose him and trust me, BEFORE I let anybody else touched me I checked, checked and recheck him out cause I nearly died post op wls. If I can help you just let me know. Crece