Coastal Center for Obesity Bariatric Center

My first impression of Dr Owens was that the whole process seemed very much like a "business". I assmued with my POS, I would be able to walk in to his office and have an appointment with him. However it was not until all of my Pre Op had been done and they were ready to schedule the surgery that I actually met him.
At first that felt wierd to me, however looking back on it, I am not so bothered. He and his staff seem very busy, but very helpful and knowledgable.

Dr. Owens is a very professional man. Sort of look like a movie star. You know a chizled handsome face. He is very educated and an expert in his field. Very straightforward. Which some people could take as standoffish but he was very nice.

He has the most wonderful office staff. I feel very comfortable and welcomed by all the girls in the office. The are all experts in their field.

The only thing I can say is I wish he was more responsive in a more outgoing way. Which is weird I know but I'm sort of outgoing and so was his staff so his seriousness sort of made me focus. Which is okay too.

He emphasizes regular check-ups and support groups alot.

Yes they have a structured aftercare program. They even have their own website.

He went over the basics of the risk, which I think you should know every little detail of the risk even if it seems petty. But researching on your own is a must.

I would rate him an 9 on a scale from 1-10.

I think his surgical competence is great!

JUST ALLOW ME TO SAY I LIVE IN LAS VEGAS AND MY OWN FAMILY DOCTOR HERE IN NV RECOMMEND DR OWENS.A YEAR AGO WHEN I JUST WANTED TO GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WLS I CALLED A DOCTOR HERE IN LAS VEGAS THE PERSON IN THE OFFICE JUST SAID OVER AND OVER GO TO THE WEB SITE HE IS NOT HERE ANYMORE.WHEN I WAS IN A WLS MEETING I SAID SOMETING OF THIS AND TWO WOMEN SAID IT IS A BLESSING. HE HAD DONE THEIR SURGERY.I SAID FORGET IT,BUT THE NEXT MEETING WITH MY OWN DOCTOR I ASK HIM ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID I KNOW ONE OF THE BEST.DR.MILTON OWENS WAS GREAT HE CALLED TO AT HOME ON A SUNDAY I FELT BAD I WAS NOT THERE,BUT WE MET HE WAS FUNNY,CONCRENED LET ME ALSO SAY THAT THE FIRST DAY IT WAS MY OTHER ANGEL DR.DAVID OLIAK THAT MET WITH ME BECAUSE DR.OWENS WAS IN SURGERY HE IS SO SWEET A KIND YOUNG MAN SO CARING AND UNDERSTANDING VERY CAREFUL OF YOUR FEELING.HE ASK ME QUESTIONS I ASK HIM QUESTIONS :) THIS WENT ON AND ON AND HE WAS VERY PATIENT HE TO HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR :) HE PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE ALL OF THE RISK FROM FRIST TO LAST.HE MADE IT ALL ABOUT ME. AND THE KNOWLEG OF DR OLIAK AND DR OWENS MADE ME FEEL REALLY CONFORTABLE.WHEN THE DOCTER ALLOWED ME AND MY FAMILY TO PRAY WITH THEM BEFORE I WENT INTO SURGERY THIS WAS THE ICING ON THE CARE THAT WAS IT FOR ME. AFTER MY SUGERY THEY WERE THERE TALKING TO MY DAUGHTER HELPING HER UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS NEXT AND MAKING HER FEEL CONFORTABLE. THEY DR. OWENS OR DR. OLIAK CAME TO SEE ME DAILY TALK TO ME MAKING SURE MY PAIN WAS UNDER CONTROL AND I WAS CONFORTABLE.BEDSIDE MANNER WAS GREAT SUGICAL COMPETENCE WAS WONDERFUL.HOW DO I RATE MY DOCTORS? I BELIVE THEY WERE GOD SENT MY SISTERS AND I FASTED FOR TWO DAYS ASKING FOR AN OK AND GOD SENT ME DR. OWENS AND DR. OLIAK . AND I AM ALIVE AND DOING GREAT AND BACK WITH MY FAMILY. I WILL NOT FORGET THE TWO MEN WHO HELP CHANGE MY LIFE.THE TWO ARE ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS. I SAY TO YOU WHO ARE REAADING THIS NOW I FEEL THEY ARE THE BEST TO HAVE WHEN YOU ARE HAVING A RISK SURGERY LIKE THIS YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING SOMEONE WHO WILL CARE FOR YOU AS IT THEY ARE CARING FOR THEIR VERY OWN LOVED ONES,AND THEY ARE DR.OLIAK AND DR.OWENS.

I had heard a lot of great things about Dr. Owens and Coastal Center for obesity. I knew two RNY patients that had been very successful at losing their weight - one was my closest friend, Cheryl. She told me that Dr. Owens was a wonderful surgeon, and the office staff at Coastal did everything in their power to get her insurance approved in breakneck speed.
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I first met Dr. Owens at a Saturday seminar - in a very packed room where people were coming to hear about the surgery. His presentation gave an overview of the surgery and he discussed the procedure, answered many questions and the staff gathered the insurance information from those who wanted to move forward. That was the middle of May. I was approved in three weeks and schedule for surgery on July 16th 2002. The office was very efficient at handling the insurance approvals. They also scheduled the slew of pre-op testing - psychological evaluation, EKG, pelvic ultrasound, blood work, etc. They have ONE day to come in and get it all done. The great thing is that the Coastal office shares the parking lot with Chapman Medical Center - the hospital where I was to have the surgery. It was very efficient - but a LONG day (make sure to bring a snack to eat after the blood work!)
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The day of surgery, I had asked Dr. Owens to see me prior to surgery (just for my own peace of mind!) He peaked his head into the pre-op area and I asked him a few questions. He answered them all and then left to get ready to operate on me.
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I have to say, I have not had a long conversation with Dr. Owens. He is typically a man of few words - especially when he does his rounds. Sometimes between him and Dr. Oliak, they have 5-10 patients in the hospital at the same time! However, he is an excellent surgeon, and I have a small scar (no drain) to prove it!
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As for aftercare, from what I've heard from other doctors patients, Coastal Center's aftercare (and before care too!) support group is the BEST IN SOCAL area! We sometimes have patients join us that had surgery elsewhere, and we welcome them with open arms. The support group is run by one of the staff psychologists. They have a planned agenda and cover all types of topics. However, as a pre-op attendee, the most AMAZING part of the meeting is when we all go around the room, introduce ourselves, and say when we had surgery and how much weight we've lost. Typically there are 50+ people in the room, and the total weight loss is OVER 3000 pounds! That is NOT a typo! It's really amazing for newcommers to hear and SEE that kind of success! The support group has some of the BEST people attending - we are ALL surgery patients (some soon to be), or family and friends of WLS patients... we share what we're going through - the fears of surgery, the surgery itself, and the post-surgery care, weight loss, keeping the weight off, exercising regularly, etc.
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I would be LOST without the love and support I get from this group! I'm very greatful to Coastal for sponsoring the aftercare group (they even supply a fresh fruit tray at every meeting - weekly!)
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For those of you who want to check it out - the Coast Center's support group meets every Monday, at 6pm, at Western Medical Center, in the Basement, conference rooms 2/3. 801 N. Tustin Avenue, Santa Ana.</strong>

I am going to one of his seminars on Feb. 9, 2003! I have read a lot of good things about him and Costal Bariatrics. I look forward to meeting him and the staff.
I am stillwaiting until Feb 11, 2003 to get my referral but I think I might just get it!
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I met Dr. Owens and Dr. Oliack (sp?) today at the seminar. (2-9-03) They were wonderful. Very caring, made me feel very comfprtable. Very very imformative! Nice, funny, helpful, experienced, and I could not complain about any of them. I think I have made a really good choice.

I recommend Dr. Owens because he is a highly experience surgeon. Some patients write about his lack of bedside manner which I find partially true. However,I was paying cash and I didn't need some Dr. to hold my hand I need a skilled doctor who would perform an Open RYN with no mistakes. That is exactly what I got. Yes, the Doctor is busy but my logic tells me thats a good thing. Dr. Owens team more than makes up for any weaknesses he may display.

If I could change anyting I would say that I would like it if Dr. Owens knew my name if he saw me on the street. But then again, my own family doesn't recoginize me some days and they see me everyday. Life is hard!

I love the after care program. Nutrition meeting, support groups, physical therapy, follow- up visits with the Dr. All this was inclusive of my $17,808.00 payment. Which, if you are intersted is a very good price. Some places quoted me as high as $30,000.00 It was well worth every penny. Now if only I had money for some plastic surgery!

On a scale of 1 to 10. I give Dr. Owens a 9!

Since i am in the beggining phases of this, I would rather not comment yet as I don't know enough about mu doctor to elaborate.
Office staff was great, but now I see that they aren't 100%. The staff has different answers depending on who you speak to. I am excited for the surgery and now they tell me I have to see an Endocronologist first. The gal didn't know one at first, but now I have an appt. with one in their office building!
Shouldn't she have known this?
I will see the doctor for an appt. next week, both the endocronolgist and Dr. Owens.

12/31/02-The coastal center for obesity is FANTASTIC!!! Dr Owens and staff are wonderful. We have the best support group around, all the people in the group are warm and friendly. If anyone is interested in coming to a meeting, we meet every Monday night at 6pm at Anaheim Western Medical Center, conference rooms 2&3.


04/26/02-I met Dr Owens at a seminar for WLS with Carnie Wilson, After the seminar I was able to meet and talk to Dr Owens. He was very nice and informative. Everyone on his staff has been wonderful. I am waiting for my approval from insurance. He has a very structures aftercare program that I really think will help. He believes in protein shakes only for 4 weeks after surgey. I think this is great, because it will seperate my new life from the way I used to live and eat.

My first impression of him wasn't very good as he was my friends surgeon. Kind of odd, (typical of surgeons)didn't even acknowledge that I was sitting right there. I'm going to him because that is the referral I got from my insurance company. The interesting thing is that I've barely met him until a few days ago in his office. Another doctor handled my exam and when he introduced me to the surgeon and he looked at me with a blank stare and sort of nodded. This was at a distance of about 8 feet and behind a counter. Not even a handshake. Since my surgery is tommorrow it is unlikely I'll meet him until afterwards as surgoens don't usually like to talk to you before surgery. I think this is weird, maybe it's their way of distancing themselves from your humaness. Additionally he has this shrink that works with his office that's a real piece of work. I'm sure he thinks the same of me. Anyway, I go in tommorrow and it should be an event. There are big time fan club members in the support group who are just thrilled with the surgeon. I hope I will be able to say the same thing when it's all said and done.

Will answer these after have WLS !