Central Valley Bariatrics Bariatric Center

I liked him immeditely. I had heard good things about him prior to my consult. He had a caring manner and a great bedside manner. He was informative and very clear about all the risks of surgery. He wanted to know that you had done your homework and were not jumping into this decision blindly. His nurse Dee was great and spent 2 hours going over the program. She explained in detail what to expect before and after. Everyone in the office made you feel cared for.They really put an emphasis on the importance of aftercare. I am pleased with my selection of a surgeon to go through this journey with.
Dr. K is the best.

My first impression of Dr. K was that he seemed very kind and friendly. He really came across as taking a personal interest. He was very patient at explaining the procedure and the side effects. He also explained the effects of my diabetes and how my body would change with the surgery.

His office staff was very helpful and his nurse/teacher Dee was very knowledgable especially since she has had the surgery herself. Really made it easier to heed the advice since it was from experience.
The after care is considered absolutly important and required.

I would recommend him...I will be able to know more when I have the surgery. Will post again to confirm this....
7/26/01 My opinion of Dr K has only gotten better, if that is possible. He makes you seem like you are his only patient. He truly seems to care for each and every one of us. He stresses aftercare and he doesnt let us take ourselves too seriously. I really like that. I really liked the 24 hour contact I had, especially just coming home from the hospital. No question seemed to small to him or Dee. I know I chose the best surgeon and Dr for this procedure. I cant say enough good about him. I see him and feel a lump in my throat, I feel like this is the second person who gave me life! I will never forget him as long as I live! Of course it goes without saying I feel the same about Dee and Dawn.

I have my consult appt. with Dr. Keshishian July 27 so I haven't met him yet, but if his staff is a reflection of him, then he must be an awesome doctor. They are the most wonderful, caring, and accomodating people. They have responded to every email or call promptly and have been most informative and helpful. I am looking forward to meeting them all.

I've only had contact with office so far. Talked to Dawn who is RN and is Dr.K's wife. She was fantastic and informative. Set up pre-op date for 7/18. they sent patient packet in mail and it is fairly complete.

I have heard only good things about dr and hospital. will let you know more after I see him on wed.

I am having DS (not sure if lap or open yet). He is just starting to do laps.

My initial impression of Dr. K was that he was intense, brilliant, sensitive and so young! I was expecting someone older. I loved the fact that his wife is his RN and that some of his staff had the operation from his expereinced hands as well. I have never felt more confidence in any doctor, male or female that I have come across.

I initially met him in August of 2000 and my impression hasn't changed!

His office staff is great. They are compassionate, capable and fun!

I haven't found anything about him that I do not like...

Future patients should understand that he will expect you to know that you are doing...he likes it when his patients are self educated about what this surgery is, what the aftercare entails, etc.

He emphasized aftercare ALOT...he and his wife, and staff are very vigilent about making you understand what your responsibility is after the surgery.

Their aftercare is structured...you must have appointments at monthly intervals and attend meetings..

Dr. K and his staff really emphasize the risks of surgery...I think they tend to really emphasize then to make you aware and see if you still want this type of surgery, despite the possible complications.

In my opinion, he is top-notch. He is extremely passionate about surgery in general and his loves the fact that he is able to do this surgery...he's funny too!

I'll let you know more after my big day! 4/23/01








May 21, 2001

My initial impression was true...Dr. K and his staff are awesome. Noe that I am post-op, my opinion of him is even better. He is so intelligent, funny, quirky, sweet and his bedside manner is awesome. He is very discreet when he comes and checks on you, he is concerned about your emotional state and well as your physical state and continues to be well after surgery. His whole staff is great, and the aftercare is met with compasiion and concern. I would recommend him to anyone!

Dr. K is warm, caring, respectful. He takes his time answering all your questions. He is very open to discussing alternatives - both pre- and post-op. Dee Tinkle is great - really takes you through the whole process. She has had the surgery and really knows it from the inside. They both make sure you understand all the risks involved. I only wish they had a staff nutritionist to answer more specific questions. I am from out of the area, so I can't speak to structured aftercare.

Update 2/05/01
I was reading more research on this website and I came across a website from Heidi she had the duodenal switch and her links and personal stories were awesome. I was sold! She has a link to duodenal switch.com which gave me even more assurance that this surgery was for me. I talked it over with my husband and he felt it was a better surgery than the RNY also.
After once again using this great AMOS website I clicked on to peer testimonials and researched the doctors in my area and how their patients rated them and I chose Dr. Keshishian. He is young but his staff and patients love him. Dee Tinkle the rn/lvn there is so sweet. He performed her surgery so her wisdom comes from experience. She right away gives a breakdown once she contacts the insurance to let you know from the start about how much your going to have to come up with. FYI there is a $2000 program/after care fee above what insurance pays that I really didn't like at first. Dr. K is just really a stickler for aftercare and wants every patient to stick with it. However Dr. Rabkin, another Dr. who performs the same surgery charges $3000 so I guess it is commonplace. I've wasted more than that with all the diets I've tried anyway. So I patiently wait for my consult on Feb 20, 00.
In my opinion Dr. Keshishian is the newest to the business but is bringing weight loss surgery to a whole new level. Compassion, caring and an overall eagerness to help the obese. We'll see if my opinions are justified on the 20th. Good luck to everyone elso on the journey!

UPDATE 2/26 Read my profile about how my exam went. Let me just say Dr. Keshishian is the man!! He is worth the drive and just plain awesome!!!

UPDATE 4/18/01 About a week out of surgery and down 17 pounds! Dr. K was great and checked on me atleast twice a day. He reassured my family all the way up to the operating room! It's nice to finally find a surgeon whith skills and perfect bedside manner!

Dr. Keshishian was terrific. He never made me feel like I had to do this; in fact, he gave me the option to back out if I changed my mind. I didn't. I had been researching surgeries for months and was sure that the gastric reduction duodenal switch was the procedure for me. I didn't want a "pouch" or the inability to eat more than 1 - 2 ounces at a time (which doesn't seem healthy to me). Instead, I now have a fully functioning stomach, albeit 75% smaller than before, and can eat up to 6 ounces once my stomach has fully healed. There are few surgeons performing this procedure, however, I believe it was the safest and best for me long-term and feel like I made the right choice. Dee Tinkle, Dr. Keshishian's nurse, spent a long time going over the pluses and minuses of the surgery, and even required me to take a test showing that I understood what changes were about to take place to my body. Although Delano, CA is a very small town in the middle of nowhere, it's hospital was pretty good. I had my own private room with a bed as well as a recliner, which I fell in love with, that allowed me to almost stand completely up with the push of a button. It is my understanding that a family member can stay with their loved one in the same room. They also have a nursing assistant stay with you for the first 48 hours after your surgery. Since I was alone in this endeavor, I was blessed to find Priscilla - an angel or mercy. I was able to stay at her home after the surgery, rather than a hotel. Her daughters were terrific company. And their two dogs helped ease the pain of separation from my own two who were back home in a kennel awaiting my return.

I was warned that this surgery was not a cake-walk and that there would be pain regardless of any medication. This was very true. The first couple of days I was asking myself what I had done; the pain was horrible. However, now that it has been two weeks and the worst is over, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I'm excited about getting there!

After getting approval for my surgery from my insurance, I set up my initial consultation for next week! After speaking with Barbara Metcalf, RN, I am convinced Dr. K is the surgeon for me! Her knowledge and devotion to her patients is clear from the onset. She has answered many questions for me, making me feel confident for my long journey. I am traveling a great distance to see Dr. K, as I feel he is worth the distance. I will re-post after my consultation with my opinions thus far.

I cannot even come close to telling you of the superior way I was treated during and after my surgery. The hospital staff was incredibly caring, sensitive to my needs and ALWAYS there when I needed them. Dr. K was there many times throughout the day, making certain my pain needs were met and I was progressing as usual. The DS surgery was WAY better than I expected...the pain completely tolerable. Without the caring of this remarkable caring doctor, his competent staff and hospital staff, this surgery would not have been so easy. I chose the right surgeon for sure and would recommend him to any and every one! Thank you Dr. K, Dawn, Dee, Barbara, Suzanne the nurse and all the remarkable other hospital staff! My life is wonderful because of all of you! 6 mo postop

This week I met Dr. K. for the first time -- my records had been forwarded and all testing done, so I didn't have to come out here until 2 weeks before surgery. Very kind, since I had to travel from Memphis Tn. to Delano Ca.

The best thing I can say about Dr. K. is that he reminds me of a dear friend I haven't seen in a long while -- same curious-but-kind demeanor, same passion for his field, same attention to detail and knack for surrounding himself with bright, good-hearted people like himself.

Negatives? None really. I know that sounds as if my impression isn't balanced and I do disapprove of people who treat their surgeons more like rock stars than care givers, but honestly I have been astonished at the level of professionalism and care both in his office staff and at the adjacent hospital, esp. because I had considered Delano to be in the middle of nowhere.

Dee Tinkle, his clinical coordinator, had her own surgery here a year ago and so besides being good at her job (scratch that -- mark "exceptional"), she truly understands my fears and concerns. Because of her I have had no communication/access problems, and feel uncharacteristically calm and optimistic (g).

Both Dr. K. and Dee have been very clear on risks, preparation, aftercare, and all other aspects of this process, to the point of handing over a binder of detailed information, going over it bit-by-bit, and then making me take a quiz on the material after I signed that I understood! Amazing.

Right now I'm tired .. will write more later. Bottom line: this medical team is worth the travel. I've been through negative experiences with other WLS docs, and this time I truly am happy.