Chicago Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery Bariatric Center

I was having problems with another medical institution in having this surgery approved. I was feeling bad at all the obstacles I was encountering. It was then that my friend made me aware of Dr. Constantine Frantzides.I called his office an met wit the Dr. on July 30, 2004. This meeting has changed my life. Dr. Frantzises went over the operation thouroughly and introduced me to his staff all of which are not only 1st class professionals but people friendly beings. At the end of the meeting I was given a surgery date of 9/29/04. Needless to say that day has since come and gone. The surgery has been a complete success, thanks to God & Dr. Frantzides. I have had little to no pain whatsoever. For the first time I have no hunger sensation which is so weird. At present I am on clear liquids. I must also give special credit to Karen Thomas, Coordinator for Dr. Frantzides which has been there through all of this with me wishing me well and making sure that everthing is going well. Also Gerry who handles the finacial end of this process. All of Dr. Frantzides staff is to be commended. Dr. Frantzides is a most charasmatic individual who makes you feel comfortable and full of life. From the moment that Dr. Frantzides said just put yourself in my hands I'll take care of the rest. I'm looking forward to my first visit since my operation! To anyone reading this who may be thinking about this procedure I would most strongly recommend based on my personal experiences that you go see Dr. Frantzides and start your journey to a better quality of life.

I CONTACTED HIS OFFICE ON 11/21/02 AND WAS GIVEN A 12/12/02 CONSULT DATE. WOW! I DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET IN SO SOON.

I HAD MY CONSULT ON 12/12. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH DR. FRANTZIDES AND HIS STAFF. IF I EVERY HAD A DOUBT, I DON'T NOW. I AM VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT HIS ABILITIES.

I HAD MY SURGERY 2/18/03 AND CURRENTLY DOWN 93LBS. I HAVE HAD NO COMPLICATIONS AND CAN PRETTY MUCH EAT WHATEVER I WANT IN MODERATION. 11/21 WAS MY 9 MONTH FOLLOW UP VISIT. DR. FRANTZIDES AND HIS STAFF HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ATTENTIVE TO MY NEEDS. I WOULD RECOMMEND DR. FRANTZIDES TO ANYONE CONTEMPLATING THIS SURGEON.

10/1/04 1 year and 8 months out. -110 and holding. I met with Dr. F today. We are very happy with my progress. To date, I have had absolutely no dumping or vomiting and continue to enjoy all types of food...in moderation of course. I am truly blessed to have found such a capable surgeon!

10/01/04 I would like to tell you about how wonderful Dr. Frantzides is. I had searched for someone to do my surgery for 2 years and found they would only perform the surgery open. My BMI was 63 and the majority of surgeons who perform gastric bypass will only do it open with patients with a BMI that high. I was so lucky to find Dr. Frantzides, he was a Godsend to me. If you are super morbidly obese and you are told that the surgery cannot be performed laproscopically, don't believe it! Dr. Frantzides is a leader in his field. He teaches other doctors to do the surgery and is actually responsible for inventing a few of the tools that are used to perform laproscopic surgery. A vast majority of surgeons will insist that people with very high BMI's and large deposits of fat tissue cannot be operated on successfully laproscopically. This is completely untrue. Dr. Frantzides can do this surgery and his patients have less trauma and heal faster. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking this surgery laproscopically. He is great.

7/31/04 My first impression of Dr. Frantzides was he was on the top of his game. His office staff were very pleasant. He has a really knowledgeable nurse named Karen Thomas who was a patient herself, having lost 240 lbs. There are support groups too. Dr. Frantzides told me about the surgery and said he was going to give me my life back. I like the Dr. very much and even more as I read other patient testimonials.

I trusted him the moment I saw him. I was so happy that he was going to be my doctor, I felt very safe with him.His office staff is excellent. Dr. Frantzides is very honest I trust him with my life. Other surgeons wanted to perform the "open" procedure on me because of a previous scar from a gallbladder surgery he was the only doctor that said that that was not nessary! I was so excited that I was able to have my surgery done in the least invasive way. His bedside manner is GREAT!!! He is very carring and wants all of his patients to excell with their health. His office has support group meeting, and he and Karen encourage patient to attend. Dr. Frantzides was very honest and clear about the risks and complicatiom of this surgery. Dr. Frantzides gets a AAAAAA+++++ from me. I have seen the "Swan Surgeons" on TV,he is my "Swan Surgeon". He has given me a second chance at life. GO SEE HIM!!!

09.29.04 OK I have let the cat out of the bag now. I am 19 weeks pregnant. I found out just before my one year check up. Needless to say Dr F was not to pleased. He would like us to wait 18 months to 2 years out to become pregnant. Although he would rather that people wait he has been happy with my results. I just saw him on the 17 and he's happy as things are going well. He just wants to follow me along with the OB. ***********
07-09-04 Went today for my one year check up
and am sooo excited. I have lost 170lbs!!!! Dr Frantzides was very happy for me. I can't tell you how great I feel!!!! I look at pictures from a year ago and can't believe it. Karen Thomas is sooo awesome!!! Her and Dr F are a fantastic team!!! I also met Dr Zien(I think), the new fellow, and he seems very nice. Anyone contemplating this surgery should definately see Dr F "Master of the Bariatric Universe!!!" If you are thinking about surgery, go to a support group meeting you can gather a lot of information. You don't need to be post op to go. You can meet other Frantzides groupies and we can tell you face to face, what a wonderful surgeon he is and how besides being the "best" he has a wonderful bedside manner that goes along with his expertise. A rare find!!!
****************************
From the moment I met Dr. Frantzides I felt at ease about the surgery. He is very confident in his abilities which made me breathe a sigh of relief. His killer smile didn't hurt either. I had been to several different seminars on the surgery when a friend told me about Dr. Frantzides. I bless the day she told me his name, because that was the begining of my new life! I am eight weeks post op and feeling great now!! My hospital stay couldn't have been better. Everyone took such good care of me!! Renee is a fabulous nurse!!! Very caring and a great personality!! The entire nursing staff on the ninth floor is wonderful. I met with Karen the nutritionist and like her too! I did have a little trouble at first when starting on foods. They seemed to get stuck. Karen explained that the food might have been too dry. I also think that I have to work on eating slower, because if I eat to fast, food gets stuck too. But things are going much better now that I know these things. I was sorry to see Dr. Moore leave(great smile too!!), but I wish him the best. I have met the new Dr that works with Dr. Frantzides (sorry I don't know how to spell his name), and he seems very nice and knowledgable also. All in all my experience has been a positive one so far. I will be going to Dr.F support group on Aug 14 (they meet every second thursday of the month)and am looking forward to meeting other Dr.Frantzides groupies. See you then.

I would like to tell you all about Dr. Frantzides. I was supposed to use someone else, but by some accident, I fell into an information group that had the Doc speaking. I was immediatly impressed. So I made an appointment with him. I got a very quick appointment, but had to wait a bit in the office to see him. I told Dr. Franzides that I had gone through the process with the insurance already, and that I felt more confident with him. So Cynthia his sec. helped me get this changed very soon. She was very professional. THEN... I met Karen. She is wonderful. I also told her and the doc that I wanted to have the procedure soon. They looked in the calander, and poof there was an appointment in just a few weeks. My luck... an insurance cancellation.
so... the surgery..
I was terrified, but the folks at Evanston made me feel reassured. The operating room was scary and uninviting, but so what. I woke up very soon.... the only bad oops I mean good thing, is that I had to walk right away. It was horrible, but I promissed the doc, so I had to do it. yuck! there was loads of pain for about 48 hours, and then I was sent home, and expected to cough. haha! and breath hahaha!
Within 2 weeks, I felt like a person. Dr. Frantzides, is a kind, knowledgable professional who knows his stuff. He is sensative to your needs, and also has a nice bedside manor with a sense of humor.
It is now 9 weeks, and I am 47lbs down with limited side effects. My stomach talks if I eat to much, and if I eat the wrong foods, I feel it.
There is not much of a structured aftercare program with the doctor. Karen told me what the basic guidelines are, and I just follow them. 60 grams of protein, no more than 16 grams of sugar, loads of water. When eating, first protein, then veg, then fruit, then carbs. Not hard HUH?
To summerize....
No surgery is without risk, but if one does the research, and deceides that this is the only route to go for their health, then use Dr. frantzides, for your guide, and you will get where you wish to go without complications.

Wonderful man who got even nicer. The office staff is the best in the world. There was nothing I did not like about the doctor or the staff. Understand the doc loves to joke. Aftercare was emphasized to the max and he explained I was in great hands and things were going to be wonderful. I rate him as the best doctor I have ever met and talked to. A million stars!!!! And as I said everything was wonderful.

My first impression of him was that he was kind and generous. My impression of him changed over time to include very self-assured. I would describe his office as revolving, ever changing. What I like least about him is his cold hands. I think future patients should know about the fact that they will have their surgery done right the first time and that minimal invasive surgery is the best way to go. Dr. Frantzides does expect you to make your follow up appointments as requested and has a wonderful RN named Karen Thomas who has always calls me back, thoroughly answers my questions, and follows up with me on my blood test results. Karen Thomas, RN also runs The ENH Bariatric Support Group. I would rate him over all on as scale of 0=bad-10=incredible a 9!!! His surgical competence is phenomenal.

Dr. Frantzides is a very caring man who's only interest is the well-being of his patients. My impression of him has only grown stronger. The staff at Dr. Frantzides office is frendly and attentive to each and every patient. (I have called them about a million times already!)

Anyone who is considering Gastric Bypass should think seriously about having it done laparoscopically. I am 1 week post-op and I am almost back to a normal life.

Aftercare is very important and emphasized greatly. For example, I was told today to change my diet and to begin walking at least 2 blocks everyday. There is an excellent aftercare program available for all of Dr. Frantzides' patients.

Dr. Frantzides explained that there are always risks with any kind of surgery. However..... The laparoscopic surgery greatly reduces the risks to almost nothing!

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) I would rate Dr. Frantzides a 12+!!!

I would say that surgical competence and excellent bedside manner go hand in hand. One is no good without the other.

I cannot praise Dr. Frantzides enough. I had the surgery one year and three months ago, in June of 2003. I started at 315 pounds and am now at 207. The laparoscopic surgery was an painless as it is possible to be, with only five little one-inch cuts around my abdomen. I was out of Glenbrook Hospital in only three days, and much of the pain, such as it was, was over by then. The hardest part after that was gradually adjusting to the smaller quantities of food that I could consume. It took several months to find out what I could and could not tolerate, but that was simply a lot of trial and error.
Dr. Frantzides is an excellent surgeon, and now that he has Karen on his staff, his staff work matches up to his surgical excellence. I have been back to see him several times since the surgery, the most recent being just this week (9/19/04), and at each time my impressions of him as a "class act" have been confirmed! I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone; indeed, I have done so to my own daughter. who is contemplating the same operation.