Chicago Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery Bariatric Center

I first met Dr Frantzides and Dr John in Aug 2003. I liked Dr John right off the bat, he was funny, nice, very up front and didn't mix words or sugar coat anything which I think is very important. I got to meet Dr Frantzides soon after, he took lots of time with me to make me feel secure in my decision. He was very confident and borderline cocky, but if I was as good a surgeon as he, I would be cocky too. He has alot to be cocky about, I truly believe he is one of the absolute best if not THE best surgeon in the U.S. for this surgery.
Kathleen helped me alot with how to get information for my insurance co, she and Dr F gave me invaluable info on how my PCP needed to word her letter. During my hospital stay Dr John and Dr Frantzides came to visit me twice a day. Dr Frantzides kept his promise to sing to me if I was walking like I was supposed to. He not only sang in English but also sang in Greek when I asked him to, he has a wonderful voice. I would rate both Dr F and Dr John a 10+ in both their surgical competence and bedside manner. I have to say the main negative is that he is so far away and I can't make it to the support meetings, but I knew this when I chose him. He told me up front that he would be available to me 24/7 if I need him I can have him paged. I would have gone alot farther away to have Dr Frantzides as my surgeon. This operation has the possibility of creating major and minor complications. I knew that a great surgeon(Dr F) would greatly reduce the chances of that and to be down right honest, my life is worth going as far as I need to. I would recommend him to anyone seeking this surgery.

I met Dr. Frantzides in June when I went with my sister for her consultation. I immediately liked Dr. Frantzides and found him to be very personable, knowledgeable, caring, and compassionate. He has a superb mannerism about him that made me feel at ease. I had my consultation in July and Dr. Frantzides answered all my questions and assured me that he would be able to do my surgery laprascopically. I had my surgery in August and had no complications. (I did not expect any.) I had previously met with another surgeon and was scheduled for open surgery. Dr. Frantzides convinced me that lap was the way to go. His office staff is very helpful and and now that they are in Evanston (Evanston Northwestern Healthcare - ENH), they seem to run a much smoother office. Karen Thomas is Dr. Frantzides' nurse and she is absolutely wonderful! Kathleen has been nothing but pleasant and helpful. Mardee is very pleasant and professional. Dr. Zografakis (Dr. John) is an absolute sweetheart. Both Dr. John and Dr. Frantzides have wonderful bedside manners, are sincere and very knowledgeable. They have been totally upfront and honest with me since the start and took the time to tell me exactly what to expect with this procedure. They did not make me feel uncomfortable or stupid with my many questions. Dr. Frantzides stresses the importance of follow up care and following instructions exactly. Dr. John is also great with aftercare procedures. Dr. Frantzides addressed the risks of surgery and did so without making me nervous about having the procedure. He is not pushy or pursuavsive. He just gives you the information and lets you digest it. What I liked best about Dr. Frantzides is that he loves what he does and you can tell that just by talking to him. He is so proud of his patients and genuinely enjoys following up with them and their progress. I would rate him the best surgeon overall. I met with 2 other surgeons for the same surgery and am glad that I was referred to Dr. Frantzides by a good friend and her husband who both had the procedure done by him. I know quite a few people who had this procedure done by Dr. Frantzides and some were happy and some were not. It's all about how well prepared you are mentally. After waiting 4 years since my first consultation with another surgeon (my insurance approved the surgery, I was not comfortable with the surgeon), I feel very fortunate to have met Dr. Frantzides. It is very rare to meet a surgeon that has great surgical competence and a great bedside manner; Dr. Frantzides has both plus he has Dr. John! Keep up the fantastic work.

Dr. Frantzides is now located in Evanston. His office is very comfortable and not cramped and crowded. He gets an A+ rating from me!

When I first met with Dr. Frantzides, and John, I thought that they were very warm and carring individuals. My first opinion proved to be absolutely accurate! Three years ago I has a surgery which removed 1/3, or 3 feet, of my colon and left me with a scare from just below my breast bone to just above my pubic area. From the get go Dr. Frantzides was not 100% sure if he would be able to perform my gastric bypass laprascopically due to scare tissue and adhessions that he might encounter. Because of Dr. Frantzides', and John's, wonderful expertise my surgery was performed via the lap method. I just think that Dr. Frantzides and John are the greatest!

Any time I have had to contact the office Kathleen always gets back to me in a timely fashion and is always pleasant. Thank you Kathleen.

Now that Dr. Frantzides has moved to the ENH group, Karen Thomas is also a part of Dr. Frantzides team. Karen runs the support groups and is accessible 24 hours a day if you have any dietary questions or just need someone to talk to. It's wonderful knowing that Karen is there for me. The best part is that Karen konws what I am going through as she also had a gastric bypass three years ago.

Dr. Frantzides saved my life and I'll always be grateful. Dr. Frantzides is not only the best in the Midwest in laprascopic surgery, he is an amazingly caring, compassionate physician. He has been personally involved in my care and has a "hands on" approach which I really appreciate. He is also available by telephone, unlike many other physicians I have worked with. I was quite worried about the procedure since I have many other health problems including pulmonary difficulties, but I had supreme confidence in him and felt that if anyone could ensure the best outcome for me, it was Dr. Frantzides.

During the surgery, he encountered one of the largest livers he'd ever seen (mine!) and despite the challenges, was still able to complete the laprascopic procedure! I doubt any other surgeon could have done so.

If you are looking for one of the obesity surgery "mill" programs, you won't find it here. You will need to be an equal partner in your health care and follow through on those things that need to get done prior to surgery, and in follow up afterwards. There is a patient support group and a dietician available. Dr. Frantzides does stress the importance of lifelong follow up.

The office in the Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's professional building is a bit small with many surgeons practicing out of it, and other staff are average, but the valet parking (not free) at the front door is great.

If masterful laprascopic skill along with personalized attention and patient focus are important to you -- and of course they are -- you cannot find anyone better than Dr. Frantzides in the Chicago area.

When I first started looking into the surgery I went to a doctor through Central Dupage Hospital. Dr. Woodard. He was kind of a jerk, and had a little attitude. He was trying to talk me out of the surgery. So I put off the tests and stuff for about 3 months. Then I talked to me cousins friend who had it done just 2 days before. She gave me the name of her and her mothers doctor, Dr Frantzides, and I called and scheduled and appointment. I went July 3rd and met a doctor that is following him.. learning his way of the surgery. He was really nice, and explained everything to me. I was really nervous so when he asked if I had questions, I said no. Then me and my mom were alone for about 20 minutes, then Dr F came in. HE was a cute little foreign dude! He was very funyny, ,and very supportive. He kept my spirits up, and maded me open up and tell him stuff. Thats when I knew I was dedfinately going to go through with this. He gave me my date of Sep. 30th then. I was so excited.. got all my stuff done in july/august. then 2 weeks before... Spe 17th, he called and said there was scheduling conflicts.. my date will be postponed. Well It took a week to get the new one. I thought Kathleen was really nice, but she actually gives you the run around, andis kind of rude. But SHE isnt the one operating, so its okay. Other than that little mix up.. I havent had any complaints. I think hes a great doctor, and I am now 19 days away!

I changed DRs early on from a local bariatric surgeon to Dr. Frantzides. The main reason for switching Doctors was that Dr. Frantzides is not just a bariatric surgeon. He is the Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Rush. He is truly the best at what he does. If you're looking for Lap RNY Drs Frantzides and Moore are your best bet!
The office ALWAYS returns phone calls/email. It might not be in the next 5 minutes...but it will be returned, and all your questions/concerns will be addressed. No one in this office ever made me feel like I was an inconvenience. I knew from the very first meeting that this office, and everyone in it, is on my side, and they all want me to succeed.
From ins. approval to questions about admission to the hosp. they've been with me every step of the way. I feel we have formed a partnership:)
AND of course, Dr's KILLER smile doesn't hurt!!!

Myfirst impession was everything I thought it would be. I have been searching for surgeons and hospitals for months now. I went to the WISH centers free seminar but I wasn't really impressed by the doctor that conducted the meeting. He seemed kinda indifferent to it. Then I found out that the doctors from the WISH cente weren't in my network so that made the decision easier to go elsewhere. But I definately did like their program. I think it is one of the better ones out there.

I then was directed to Dr. Alverdy from a friend that works at UofC, and after reading about him I thought he seemed o.k. But when I called for an appointment just for a consultation I couldn't get in till December. Thats 6 months from now and then what if I start to run into insurance problems then.

So I continued to search this site until I came to Dr. Frantzides. Everything I read I loved. I sent him an e-mail and the next morning his office got back to me and stated they had a cancellation on Thursday, June 12th. Boy was I jumping up and down. Well kinda. Anyway my husband and I went to see him and I liked him right away. But the more we talked the more he seemed like fun easy going person. He definately is very confident in his abilities but not to the point of arragance. More like, its just a fact. I feel very safe in his hands. As far as Kathleen goes, I think she deserves a raise. I find her to be the doctors right and left arms. A great medical assistant can make a doctors office run good or bad and Kathleen and Dr. F really compliment each other.

At this time with only one meeting I have to give them a rating of 9. After I have my surgery and the process of getting approved is done then I may rate them a 10.

I met with Dr. Frantzides in early January 2003. I was his last patient for the evening and I was welcomed with a firm hand shake, warm personality and gleaming smile. Ultimately I was impressed at how patient and attentive he was as was Dr. Moore with responding to several of my questions and concerns about the procedure. I knew after meeting with both Doctors that evening that I would be in the very best of hands. Kathleen, their nurse is one tough cookie. She may be busy, but there isn't a moment that will get by her that she wouldn't hesitate to return your call or answer a question.The office is very calm, yet the phones are quite busy, and the minute you step foot in it, you're already feeling a sense of accomplishment.I haven't attended a suppport group meeting, but I am looking forward to my very first one coming up in April. I feel quite comfortable with my post op visits to both Dr. Frantzides & Dr. Moore. I had my first visit this month and the Dr. couldn't have been more thorough, understanding, sensitive and patient with me. The visits with Amanda, the nutritionist are great. She is completely thorough and supportive. I am greatful at just how patient and easily accessible she is for questions, you can reach her ANY TIME:DAY/NIGHT. This staff is truly here for YOU! All my concerns going into surgery were answered. The fact that I am losing weight now is the way in which the outline was presented to me by both Dr.'s and Amanda. Dr.Frantzides came highly reccomended to me and I am fortuneate to have had a skillful and expert Doctor perform my laproscopic gastric bypass surgery (LGBS). I would highly reccomend him to others. He is professionally competent and is most concerned with You as humanily as can be.

Dr. Constantine Frantzides is wonderful. From the minute you meet him, you feel he real wants to please you. He answered many of my questions, even though he had a lobby full of people waiting to see him. His staff is wonderful. He is the best doctor, if not the only doctor, in the Chicago land area that can do this surgery laparoscopicly. Why be cut when you can have 4 little holes. I can't wait to get approval.

I was able to talk to him for as long as I wanted to and asked tons of questions. He answered them all and was frank with his answers but not rude. He does not believe in having his pateints pass an exam to see if they are emotionally prepared for surgery. He explains that people are going to have the surgery with or without him and even if he did have testing people would say whatever was necessary to pass. He will provide you with couselors if asked and he does expect his patients to have dealt with their emotional issues prior to surgery so that it is a permanent success. I got to meet one of his fellows who would be assisting with my surgery as well. He uses an entire team of doctors and nurses in the operating room. I also met his right-hand assistant who was informative and helpful. I have called the office and she called back within a matter of hours. Aftercare was only addressed for a short period of time because my surgery is not until May 12, 2003 and I met him in January. I asked about his complication rate and patient success rate and was pleased with his answers. He does a lot of research and writing in addition to surgery, so I feel comfortable knowing that I am getting the most advanced techniques in a surgeon.