Chicago Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery Bariatric Center

When you are pushing 400 pounds, like I was, life sucks. I failed miserably for years at losing weight and dieting. My marriage was falling apart, my parents were embarrassed of me, and I was short-tempered with my children. It was extremely difficult to climb up my stairs or to tie my shoes. I could no longer look in the mirror because I HATED myself. Suicide went through my mind on a daily basis. I had turned down the thought of gastric bypass surgery in the past because I thought gastric bypass, or any bariatric surgery, would give me a life of chronic nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and/or diarrhea. Well, everything changed when I hit my rock bottom. I could barely walk. Every step was agony. That’s when I decided I WANTED GASTRIC BYPASS, EVEN WITH ALL THE VOMITING AND DIARRHEA. I didn’t care. I was either going to get this surgery or I wanted to end my life. I found Dr. Frantzides online and met with him. Our first meeting was almost 3 hours long! He was such a genuine and compassionate man. He took his time with me and explained every aspect of the surgery. Within 4 weeks of our 1st meeting, (and all the appropriate tests, bloodwork, EKG’s and x-rays of course) I had Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery. Recovery was fast, but most importantly… I NEVER HAD ANY NAUSEA, STOMACH CRAMPING, VOMITING or DIARRHEA! NOT ONCE. NOTHING. I’m being completely honest. Other than feeling full faster than I used to, I feel like I never had surgery. Dr. Frantzides always preserves the VAGUS NERVE when he re-sections your stomach, and because of this, NONE of his patients get “Dumping Syndrome”. I couldn’t be happier. I have lost over 100 pounds so far in 8 months post-surgery. I’m eating healthy and actually enjoy exercise. My marriage has turned around and I’m finally learning to love myself again. My only complaint is, I wish I had done this years ago. Dr. Frantzides is the best.

DR. FRANTZIDES IS MY HERO!
I am 17 YEARS post surgery and have kept all 110 pounds off that I lost within year after the above surgery. As I re-read my post....I am taken back to that time and am so grateful to have chosen Dr. Frantzides and have been able to change my life back to who I was thru his ability to help me.
At first after the weight came off...it was relatively easy to maintain it...I just wasn't hungry. But as time went on...I became a work in process. I work with a trainer/pilates 3 times aweek...I walk 2-3 times a week and I work at eating healthy. But it has all been worth it...my life is healthier, happier and more enjoyable since my surgery.
My husband and I have watched all our children get married, we have become grandparents to 7 grandchildren...age 16 1/2 down thru 8...and I have been able to live a full and active life with all of them. How lucky I am and how lucky I was to find Dr. Frantzides!
...and once again, this past year...having Dr. Frantzides in my life has made all the difference to me. I became sick and my doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. Six months ago it was suggested I needed to see a surgeon and so I went to see Dr. Frantzides. Of course...he knew what would be needed to do but worked with my doctors for 6 months as we went thru various check-ups, tests and 2nd opinions. In the end I needed surgery, so Dr. Frantzides was in charge.
In managing this process, I was in constant contact with Dr. Frantzides assistant, Teresa. She was so knowledgable about what was happening, what I needed to do and I knew when she took over any details...it would be done.
My surgery was successful...I am well...and I was taken care of by the best, Dr. Constantine Frantzides. He was there for me no matter time of day, even taking calls when he was overseas in the middle of the night during my recovery. He was always kind, respectful and loving. I truly feel as if I was cared for by "a member of my family".
I adore Dr. Frantzides and trust him to be a consultant for any question and concern I would ever have! I can't imagine life today without him!!!!

I'm currently 6 months post-op gastric mini bypass from Dr. Frantzides. I am down 130 lbs and needless to say my life is changing daily for the better. I'm virtually off all my old meds. I'm more active than I've been in years.
The decision to perform this procedure was one I was reluctant to do. I've been contemplating it for probably a decade. Looking back I was foolish to have waited. I wasted a decade of health and happiness. That's my only regret now is that I didn't do it sooner. It has given me freedom (in my own body). Weight packs on slowly over years and years. You don't realize you've become trapped, basically a prisoner in your own body. It raises incredible health risks and the physiological effects can be more disruptive than the physical health effects. Why we as a society wait so long to solve this problem is beyond me.
Dr. Frantzites and he staff were wonderful throughout the entire process. I've never had a dr personally call me several times at home after any procedure to see how I was doing. They ooze confidence and that is reassuring to a patient.
The point of this review is the help anyone reading this....STOP WAITING. You can have a better/healthier life so incredibly fast.

The best doctor ever! He explained everything in advance before scheduling surgery to make sure I felt comfortable. After surgery, he called in the first few days to check-in on how I was doing as well as gave me the ability to contact him directly any time day or night. Any question I had was answered immediately. After the surgery, pain was minimal and for only about 5 days. After that, I felt great! If I had to, I would do it again but only with Dr. Frantzides. He really cares and literally wrote the book on laparoscopic surgeries. There's no one else you should trust more.

Dr. Frantzides has completely changed my life, for the positive, three times! He performed laparoscopic gastric bypass on me, which helped me lose over 100 pounds. Minimal pain, maximum results and guided me through every step of the process. He even told me the questions I SHOULD have asked because it was important to know the answers. After I lost weight he performed a hernia repair with excess skin removal, where he removed 18 pounds of excess skin. While I didn’t think he could possibly be telling the truth when he said it would be almost pain free, it was! I had an incision from hip-to-hip and very little pain. In fact, only used pain killers for less than a week, from the pain of a drain, not pain from the incision. Dr. Frantzides tells you the truth, and if you need immediate care, he tells you what you need to do and how to do it, and will call you at home to see how you are managing. The third time he drastically impacted my life for the positive was when my mom was having some problems with her lap-band, that another doctor had placed in her. Dr. Frantzides suspected serious problems and immediately sent her for some tests only to discover her band slipped up around her esophagus. When we walked in to this is not an “if” we will operate, this is a “when” will we operate. He made it clear that this was urgent, and would not be easy. Her surgery was longer than expected and she had some minimal complications but she was so at ease, because of his successes with our family. He also saw her at least once a day in the hospital and called her if he wanted to check in if he felt she was uneasy about anything. Compassionate, , exemplarary and honorable are just three words to describe him. He will never rush your appointment, he will listen to your questions & concerns and he truly becomes a partner in your healthcare. He is extremely skilled at what he does in the operating room and then has the remarkable ability to make his patients feel like we are all part of his family. I know this was a very long review and I could write more and more because he stands out so far above the rest!

Dr. Frantzides is extremely knowledgeable in the field of Laproscopic Surgery and has written medical journals and is a published successful author in the field of Minimally Invasive Surgery. His skill, professional demeanor, and authentic bedside manner make him an excellent choice for your consideration for a Bariactric Surgeon. I found Dr. Frantzides not only warm, genuine, skilled and authentic in his desire to not only help me to achieve my health goals, but his desire to educate me and keep me informed of the procedures before my surgery, after surgery and during my recovery process were exceptional. He made himself available to me, encouraging me to call him anytime day or night if I had questions or needed medical assistance once I was discharged home for the recovery process. Dr. Frantzides called me personally on multiple occasions to answer any questions after my surgery and to see how I was progressing, Dr. Frantzides along with his office manager Teresa went out of there way to make me feel comfortable with the process of medically taking charge of my health. My surgery was successful with him and he was able to work with me even though I was considered a high risk. The level of professionalism, surgical skill, medical aptitude and genuiness is the reason I solicited his services for another surgery that was also a success as a result of Dr. Frantzides. I cannot express my sincere gratitude enough for him and his ability to really hear my concerns as a woman. I was extremely concerned about the amount of visible scarring that would remain after the surgery. Dr. Frantzides heard me and addressed my concerns as woman of African American descent his surgical incisions are seamless and I had no keloids afterwards. The fact that he HEARD me and took the time to not only reassure me but to show me exactly the technique that would be using made my confidence in him secure. I appreciate that he didn’t dismiss my desire to have flawless skin as a mediocre request.

Dr. Frantzides is as good as they get. He’s incredibly experienced and knowledgeable. A pioneer in laparoscopic surgery, he literally “wrote the book” on gastric bypass procedures. I also appreciate his compassion. When I was contemplating surgery, he took almost 2 hours to answer all my questions. Not only did he make me comfortable, but he also addressed my wife’s concerns. We knew before going in that we were in good hands. The surgery went off without a hitch. The experienced surgical team was like a well-oiled machine. After the surgery, Dr. F provided me with his personal cell phone and made himself available 24 hours. That’s right…no answering service, just a direct call to the doctor! And many thanks to Teresa, the kind and caring assistant who kept everything on track from paperwork, insurance, scheduling, questions…you name it! My surgery was a perfect success, and I'm feeling great!

For most of my life I had abdominal pain. When I was in middle school it was so bad that I went for barium tests and they found a bleeding esophagus. At that time they thought it was from dry swallowing pills, which is reasonable. However, this continued in high school and in college I went for upper EGDs. I started being in pain all the time, constant heartburn, constant discomfort. I started to eat and eat to suppress the pain. I gained a lot of weight and it hurt my body even more. I went to multiple specialists, all telling me to lose weight as it would fix my esophageal bleeding ulcers and weak LES but since I had them when I was a skinny kid, I knew it wouldn’t totally heal the ulcers. I took a variety of PPIs but they didn’t really help completely. I lost a bunch of weight on my own, but I was still in pain. I went back to eating to suppress the pain. I felt I had no control over my pain. Finally after graduation I went to Mayo and they also indicated the PPIs were still the best they could do and then a Nissan Fundiplication at some point. Again the doctor told me the only reason I was sick was because I was overweight. I was sick of hearing this as I knew that the only reason i was overweight was because I was hurting 24/7. I was truly miserable. I went to yet another specialist and he thought I needed surgery but was going out of town for 6 months, and at that point someone referred me to Dr. Frantzides.

From the beginning, Dr Frantzides was extremely thorough and caring. I was happy that someone didn’t just tell me to lose weight and get out. He sat down listened to all the details that have bothered me for years. He told me I was normal and that many others have similar pain. It made me fell comfortable to hear this, as if I did not have to struggle anymore. He ordered testing and then called me back into the office, I had several abnormalities from birth. He explained his qualifications for performing laparoscopic surgery for all that was wrong with me and gave me a few options. The surgery went just as he explained, the recovery was just as he explained, and he or Teresa checked on me every day for over a week when I was released. I called him about minor things that scared me and he explained how they were normal and gave me ideas of how to treat any ailments during recovery. He was always available day or night, and when I had to call him he was very precise.

Dr. Frantzides did keep incisions to a minimum, he did the surgery just as he had explained. Post surgery he further explained after the surgery (with pictures from the surgery). I know exactly what happened to me; I am also able to explain my surgery to others, which is very beneficial. I will say that I was in more pain than others have expressed, for a week I just hurt so bad. It was hard to move, but I did everything Dr. Frantzides said and once I healed, I was pain free for the first time in several years. I’d go through that week of pain again and again to be pain free as I am now.

Unfortunately, I developed some rare post surgery complications. I traveled across country to see Dr. Frantzides and he again sent me for tests; I needed a follow up surgery. Once again, he did exactly what he thought he would need to do and I recovered more quickly this time. Again, I am now pain free and am healthier than I had been for several years. I have developed two hernias that will also need repair, but it is very minor compared to where I started. And through the recovery Dr. Frantzides and Teresa called to check on me and they again were available for any issues that came up.

I can’t really compare Dr. Frantzides to other surgeons. I do know his CV is incredibly impressive and the volume of all types of very complicated abdominal surgeries like mine he has performed is cause for a feeling of security. Add to that his kindness, thoroughness, and availability and I believe I was very fortunate to have been referred to Dr Frantzides.

I have never felt so good in my entire life. I look back and think about how miserable and truly uncomfortable I was. I not only feel good but I look good as well. I am very happy and I believe Dr. Frantzides was the only expert who was able to help.

Hello!

I was the most skeptical person when it came to weight loss surgery. I felt if I had surgery & did not do it myself - I was not a success.. However, anything you can do to get healthy is success!

Take a look at my B4 and After photos - they do not lie!
So, somehow you wound up here reading this review. Maybe it is a sign?

Let me tell you about Dr. Constantine T. Frantzides....
He cares.. He really does.

Sometimes in life you meet a person who is doing exactly what they are meant to be doing. This is true with this doctor. Somehow he wound up in Chicago from the Greek Isles?! Our blessing as patients. Look up the reviews.. Books. Minimally Invasive genius. Top 50 surgeons in Chicago. You found the Right Doctor. I am being honest.

If I am going to allow someone to operate on my valuable body -- he is my choice. Additionally, as crazy as insurance has become - if you have issues with finances with payment or insurance - He and his team figure it out or provide options for you. Make the call 847-676-2200.

As impressive is Teresa Wojtusiak/Lead Office Manager at CIMIS Office/Nurse/Friend - What an Angel.

After being heavy for a while you loose humility. Meaning, so many people are so openly rude to you about your weight. I had over #100 flights when heavy. Trust me - I know the feeling.
When you walk into this office Teresa sees you as a person, not a body. So the first time you walk in - you feel welcome :)

Her family has had the surgery, she is very empathetic and just a really nice person :) She's the Pretty Blond of the story!

Additionally, if you ever have insurance issues (I DID)
She will do what it takes to make sure they pay what they are supposed to. Between Teresa & Dr. Frantzides you will find success.

FYI
I used to be on CPAP machine. No longer. Three blood pressure medications. No longer. Anxiety medication. No Longer. Vicodin. No longer. Cholesterol medicine. No Longer. No medicine, 50 years old, 15 years added to my life.

Social life and romantic life better too :)

Call them - they are located in the Old Orchard Mall/Chicago
I think this is the phone 847-676-2200
CIMIS Office
http://www.laparoscopicexperts.com/

OR - email me @ [email protected] if I can help talk to you or share my experience. Good luck on "your journey." Thanks for allowing me to share my story.

I've always thought the phrase "a second chance at life" to be nothing more than an overused cliche. That was until I met Dr. Constantine Frantzides; I will never forget that day. To give you a little background about myself, I am a 30 year old male who has been overweight/obese for the better part of 20 years. Sadly, I come from a heavy family, so my genetics have been working against me my whole life. I have tried a multitude of weight loss attempts: Weight Watchers a handful of times, the South Beach Diet, psychotherapy. But nothing ever stuck. Sure I'd lost 75 pounds during one of my Weight Watchers attempts...but I put on 100 after that. Throughout all that, I had always been "opposed" to bariatric surgery. I wasn't against it from a fundamental standpoint, but I just never thought it was for me. The idea of permanently affecting my body in that way was too much for me to consider. Flash-forward to me in 2016 at my heaviest weight ever, 425 pounds. I have had multiple knee surgeries and was dealing with chronic knee pain. My back hurt. My motivation to do anything but work and relax at home was non-existent. And my weight was spiraling out of control. If I'm being honest, I don't know where I'd be right now; I could be looking at 500+ on the scale. But thankfully, my mother came across ObesityHelp. And she came across Dr. Frantzides's page. And she read the reviews...the hundreds and hundreds of overwhelmingly positive reviews. When she approached me with what she found, I was reluctant at first. I kept telling myself that I could lose the weight on my own. Sure, I said that a hundred pounds prior, but this time it was going to stick. But then a funny thing happened. I opened the webpage she sent me and I started reading. And reading. And reading. An hour or so passed and I had read at least a hundred reviews.

Thank goodness I did.

The amount of love and endorsement Dr. Frantzides received was incredible. Clearly, this man was special and for the first time in my life I seriously thought about bariatric surgery. The next day I called his office and was greeted by his receptionist, the incredible Teresa. Where I work, our customer service team is told to "answer the phone with a smile". They have nothing on Teresa. She guided me through setting up my initial consultation with such a friendly and caring attitude. I remember thinking, if this was how the receptionist was...how was the doctor going to be? Jump to the day when I finally came in. I had high expectations from everything I had read. My expectations were not only met, but exceeded further than I thought possible. What I figured would be a half hour to an hour consultation ended up being a two and a half hour appointment. Not once did I feel rushed. Not once did I feel uneasy. Not once did I feel ignorant. Dr. Frantzides explained every detail of the procedure, what to expect before, during and after. The complications. The pros and cons. The different approaches to bariatric surgery and how his technique differs. No question went unanswered. I have never left a doctor's office so educated and so confident in what my future may hold. After mulling over my options and discussing it with my parents, I decided to go through with the surgery.

I will skip over the boring "pre-surgery blood work and testing" portion. All you need to know is that Dr. Frantzides wants to be absolutely sure you will receive the greatest care throughout this journey. He maintains a close relationship with all of his patients. He cares deeply for everyone who walks through his front door looking to him for a renewal on life. On the day of surgery, I was introduced to his remarkable staff that he works with exclusively. Every member of his team was friendly and put me at ease on what is, admittedly, a stressful day. After only one night in the hospital, I was discharged and released to a new world. A world where I could finally start living the life I deserved to live. To look how I wanted to look. To be as healthy as I deserved to be. The first few weeks are rough. Nobody who has had the surgery will tell you otherwise. But there is one thing you really need the most in a time like that: support. And goodness gracious, did Dr. Frantzides and Teresa ever provide the best support. I have never had a doctor or their staff follow up with me after a procedure the way Dr. Frantzides and his staff did. Dr. Frantzides is never more than a phone call away and always willing to talk with his patients, no matter the time of day. This journey is long and tough and it is very comforting knowing you have that kind of support system.

It has now been 6 months and 2 weeks from the day of my surgery and I am down a little over 100 pounds. My back pain is gone. My knee pain is gone. My energy levels are up and I actually feel like getting out and doing things again. I don't obsess about food anymore. I eat to be happy and satiated, not to feel bloated and stuffed. I am becoming more physically active and feel wonderful.

If you've come to this page because you are considering going this route, let me impress upon you that you should seek out Dr. Frantzides. From the moment you meet him, you know your life will be changed forever.

I don't know where I would be without Dr. Frantzides. But I do know that I am headed toward a healthy life full of happiness BECAUSE of Dr. Frantzides.

Dr. Frantzides, if you're reading this. You...youuuu...you have a gift, my friend...you're good you. You...you're good. Thank you for everything you have done for me. There aren't enough words in every language on Earth to express how thankful I am that I've been able to interact with you. No one will ever be able to thank you as much as you deserve to be thanked. You are giving people the gift of life and that's something special.