Dr. Hans Schmidt / Dr. Garth Ballantyne

I am just beginning my weight loss journey, and have seen my PCP who is 100% supportive and commited to helping me get my approvals. I have been researching surgeons that are in my insurance network, and I have found Dr. Hans Schmidt and Dr. Garth Ballantyne, both of whom work out of Hackensack Hospital. Has anyone had experience with these surgeons?

My only experience with Dr. Schmidt was that I was put on a waiting list for a seminar. After 1 year I went to a different doctor. After being on the list for 15 months, I received an invitation for the information seminar - but he had stopped accepting my insurance 3 months earlier.

Have you thought of Dr. Ibriham/Vaimakis? They are wonderful! Their staff is especially attentive as well! They work out of Englewood and Holy Name Hospital. They are having their support group meeting this week. If you want more information, please email me.

Ask a LOT of questions and do a lot of research. People have had great experiences and some have had awful ones with Dr. S, I have heard a lot more of the positive about Dr. B..... make sure Dr. S gives you HIS mortality and complication rates, not the national average which can be quite different than his. Check out any surgeon on the questionable doctor web sites, and also look into previous suspensions and or lawsuits with anyone you use.

Nancy, My roommate's friend used Dr S, I believe, and I've not heard/seen 100% great things. She didn't have any complications as far as I know, but she was here for New Year's eating chinese food two weeks out (every Dr and nutritionist is different) because she was told she could. I'm not saying that's a bad thing to be TOLD, but I felt better going to a place/dr that had a comprehensive program including nutritional support. I don't believe her follow-up experience was very good. My first meeting was with Dr Goodman, who was out of Holy Name Hosp in North NJ...seemed very well qualified, but I ended up going to BTC in Langhorne PA. Sandi

There waiting lists are very long. The hospital is excellent. I used Dr. V. Mehta in Somerset. He operates out of St. Peter's Hospital. His mortality is zero and he is an EXCELLENT surgeon and caring man. His wait is usually around 4-5 weeks because he is chief of bariatric surgery at St. Peter's and he gets good OR time. Good luck

I have no opinion about Dr. Schmidt because anything and everything that I have heard about is not what you want to hear. What insurance do you have. I have a great surgeon in SaddlBrook NJ. His name is Dr. Christopher Kollar. If you have any questions feel free to Email me At [email protected]. Patti NJ 8 weeks -87

I LOVED Dr. Ballantyne . . . LOVED HIM! His staff doesn't always come across as the friendliest, but that's because they are so overwhelmed. Dr B's skills are absolutely top notch. He's on the list of best doctors in the NY area. Good luck with whomever you decide on. Linda 5/29/03 238/135 . . . ??

I have to say, anyone who has done thier research, knows that Dr. Schmidt is the top doctor in this field in NJ, that is not to say there arent other great , highly qualified doctors. I did n0t have Schmidt, i had his associate Dr. Trevedi, but my friend had schmidt. ( 0 complications) there is only a waiting list to get to the next seminar date, if they tell you it will be month or more, then the office girls are just being lazy, and demand to speak to someone with authority, (that is Dr. trevedi's rule). Dr. Schmidt has a long waiting list for surgery....B/C he is the best.... and people will wait for him rather than go to a butcher. As far as someones friend eating chinese food 2 weeks out w/ dr. schmidt(it must have been her own choice), i met w/ a nutritionist in the hospital, and was given a complete list of what to eat and on what weeks, only ofter week 4 was i able to start eating "normal" food. honestly i have met Dr. Schmidt i think he is wonderful, smart, and a very skilled surgeon, he will give it to you straight, but like i said i had his associate, Dr. trevedi, who i love, who is also a great surgeon, he is a bit more conservative than Dr. S, but i prefer that when it comes to my health. good luck, and if you have any questions about them e-mail me [email protected]

You Wrote: there is only a waiting list to get to the next seminar date, if they tell you it will be month or more, then the office girls are just being lazy, and demand to speak to someone with authority, (that is Dr. trevedi's rule) I'm not saying that he's not a good surgeon. But I called the office at least 3-4 times, and each time I was told that my name was on the list and hadn't come up yet. I don't think a practice is being run properly if people have to know before they call that the "office girls are just being lazy". As far as I'm concerned, the doctor should be aware of what's going on with the people he's paying. JMO