Center for Obesity Surgery in Gainsville Bariatric Center

Dr.Butler will NOT be doing my surgery He is retiring .2004



I will be seeing Dr.Robert Thomas from Bond Clinic in Winter Haven FL


8/9/04 I saw Dr.Thoams today again after the fight for 2 1/2 yrs to get WLS.I was glade to see him,When he first came in th eroom I said well Doc,I finely made it after 2 1/2 yrs and he said yes you did.So lets get this puppy on the road.YAAAAAAAAAA
I really like Dr.Thomas and his staff.They all where really nice and helpfuly.

Dr.Thomas even explained to me in deatail why it was safer for me to have open surgery instead of Lap,Because I have had so many surgies in the tummy area.
Dr.Thomas just makes me feel very comfotable with him.
Dr.Thomas is a 100% in my book.


geshhhhhhhhhhh another update
Less then 24 hrs before surgery WInter Haven Hospital called and cancled my surgery.,Said they werent getting enough money for my surgery.

I spent 2 days on the phone looking for another Dr and Hospital,I found a Hospital and a Dr,
The Dr.is Dr.Eric Thoburn in Gainesville FL a 3 hr drive from my home.I have found only good reports on Dr.Thoburn.and now my surgery is schuled for Nov 15,2004 at 3:30 pm at North Fl Reginal Medical Center in Gainsville FL.


Dr.Thoburn is the best and he really cares about you and how you are feeling,I would pick him again in a heartbeat if I had to redo this surgery.

dr. thoburn is very professional and to the point. he lets you know up front that this is not the miracle fix by itself - you have to do your part also - but this operation makes it a lot easier to do. his staff is very well trained in dealing with questions and they were very friendly.the follow-up treatment with him goes on for 18 months.

My first impression of Dr. Thoburn was very good. He took the time to answer all of my questions and was very informative. The office staff were friendly and helpful. I really like the aftercare they provide and am confident with my decision to go to Dr. Thoburn for my surgery.

Dr Thoburn is very direct and doesn't cut you any slack when it comes to telling you like it is. He also doesn't have the best bedside manner but you'll get past that,it's just his personality. However, he is the very best and surgically competent in his field that I found after 3 long years of research. He was trained by one of the leaders in the field of bariatric surgery. I was very successful under his and his staff's care. I have since learned that I am not the only one who feels this way about him and would recommend him to anyone who is serious about changing their life and health. He and his office staff have a very very intense follow-up process after surgery and you will be happy in the long run that they do offer this service. You will find that it is necessary to have this attention as this is truly the most amazing thing you will ever do for yourself in your lifetime. Make it the best decision you ever make for YOU!!

He is a nice guy,still a nice guy.great office staff,there was nothing I didn't like about him,not real excited about his nutritionist...but she'll do...in a pinch....I would rate him as an excellent surgeon..would use him again for sure.His surgical competence is better than his bedside manner, but I really didn't care.as long as he did the job and did it well..which he did

Like everyone has said, he looks very young but he is very professional. His office staff is great and they WORK hard to get you approved and ready for the surgery. Yes, I'm quite nervous but I'm confident in his abilities as a surgeon. I guess time will tell in the next month or two!

Post op...the guy is great. I ran a fever the 3rd night and stayed an extra night. I was released on Saturday morning and HE called to check on me Sunday. Pain was minimal and no complications. The incision and tube site are barely visible! INCREDIBLE!

Nov 25, second appt with Dr. Thoburn after UGI to evaluate 1987 bypass. I have some problems with a very my old bypass (not performed by Dr. Thoburn). Most doctors dont want to see a previous bypass patient, but Dr. T has been good enough to evaluate me for repair of old bypass problem. He is a young physician, however immediately I knew he was very no nonsense in his dealings with patients and I have no doubt he is very experienced in what he does. Seemed a very busy physician which is not a bad thing, the busiest are usually the best doctors! Office staff cordial and helpful. 15 DEC 03 The office staff has been cordial and helpful as I am somewhat antsy and have called several times trying to see if my letter to Blue Cross has been submitted. 19 JAN 04 Office staff extremely helpful and nice when I called in very upset regarding an insurance matter.

Dr. Thoburn did an excellent job with my revision surgery. I develped several complications after surgery he worked diligently to correct and probably saved my health by his quick actions on my behalf. I would highly recommend him.

I thought doctor thoburn was very handsome, I found talking to him to be very easy and even though you could see he was a very busy person he listened to everything I had to say , answering all my questions, I even had him in stitches before i left! the office staff moved almost like robots knowing what to do and when to do it,they were a lil' sloppy getting some of my papers in order, havig sent my paperwork in Sep. 9th 2003 and finally getting a date Feb 22nd 2004 about 6 months in total! but I am sure they are very busy, i would rather have a busy doc, than a doc sitting around just doing paperwork or playing Golf!Over all I feel very good with my decision to have my open r n y with doc Thoburn.I think Surgical competence is better than having a scocial director! He was thourough with his powerpoint slide presentation , most of the info I already knew from my reaserch here on obesityhelp.com over the past 2 yrs, Now it is time to do something for me!!!!!!

I met Dr.T in November of 2003, to go over the possibility of having a gastric bypass repair. He was young looking and very abrupt. I know now why he was that way and appreciate him even more. I would have no other surgeon perform this surgery other than him. He makes me comfortable in the tests he performs, and the testimonials of patients in his office. He is extremely thorough and pulls no punches as to what to expect. He will tell you like it is and inform you of all risk factors. I have had the gastric-bypass before about 12 years ago. I had no aftercare program with the first surgery, Dr. Thoburn has a complete aftercare program which you must be a part of. I think Dr.T is great and I am more at ease knowing he will be performing my surgery on 3/23.

Dr. Thoburn is a bright, talented surgeon. I like him. But, having worked for Florida's Secretary of Health (a doctor) for years, I can also tell you that Dr. Thoburn is a CLASSIC surgeon. He is very direct and "no nonsense." He is polite but really has very little bedside manner at first. He spent very little time talking to me each day in the hospital. Sometimes, it left me with a pretty uncertain feeling. And there was one thing I thought was very insensitive concerning my husband. We were told that Dr. Thoburn would come out to the waiting room after my surgery, while I was in Recovery, and inform my husband and family of my progress/status. Well, he didn't. He just called my husband's cell phone and told him I was fine and he'd be able to see me in a while. It really gave my husband a bit of a scare.

Dr. Thoburn warms up more and more at each visit. Almost seems like he invests more as he sees a patient sticking with it and investing in his/herself.

The office staff is nice, but not always 100% on time with follow-up calls and return calls at first. They've gotten much better over the past year of getting to know them. AND, they really helped me schedule my surgery quickly when I explained the limitations of my work schedule.