Flagler Hospital Bariatric Center

I was thrilled to be able to choose a surgeon with so much experience with bariatric procedures. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dr. Marema as he is the one of 2 surgeons that performs the Spider Sleeve procedure. Future patients need to know that he understands where you are as he openly shares on the website that he has also had a bariatric procedure and he skillfully chooses a team that will respect and support you through your weight loss journey. My experience with Dr. Marema and team provide the most amazing health care experience I have ever had. I have been a patient at very high profile medical centers...Vanderbilt in TN, Mayo in Mn, and Allegheny General in Pittsburgh and I have never received the competent and quality care that I received from the US Bariatric group in Orlando and the surgical team based in St Augustine at Flagler Hospital. The only true negative that I can honestly say is that the nausea I experienced post op is something that is hard to comprehend and prepare for only something that you understand when you experience it. I had no complications a quick recovery and my only regret that I hadn't discovered this sooner.

I met Dr. Marema at the introductory presentation on WLS approximately April of 2009. I was impressed with his knowledge and the number of surgeries that he had performed. I was impressed by the fact that he had trained many Bariatric Surgeons here in FL. In addition, knowing he had had RNY Gastric Bypass himself gave me the security that he knew what the experience was all about! I knew he was the one to do the surgery on me.
Dr. Marema is very approachable. He has a keen sense of humor and approaches his patients with respect and honoring their dignity.
He designed the Bariatric Wing at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine Hospital. It was a luxury being cared for there. I had a wonderful view of the intracostal waterway and the old town/lighthouse. It is my belief that Flagler and Dr. Marema along with his associate Dr. Koppman provides the best care in Florida.
If you are considering WLS....you can't go wrong with Flagler Hospital and Dr. Marema/Dr. Koppman as your Bariatric Team!

Dr. Marema took more time with me than I would have expected regardless of what I was paying. He has over 5500 of these surgeries under his belt and I like the fact that he himself has had the surgery.

His office staff is very knowledgeable in handling patients, but I always see the Dr. Marema on every visit regardless of the reason to be there. I have also I dealt with his office in Orlando and found them very accommodating. His head nurse was great about addressing my email prior to surgery, and the hospital staff is encouraging, compassionate and experienced.

The hospital has spent a lot of money to create the right atmosphere and support for Bariatric surgery, and the nursing staff is very experience with barbaric patients. The hospital overall has a great reputation for quality and service.

Dr. Marema answered all my questions and told me all the facts, good and bad. He was the most direct of the many doctors that I attended seminars.

I went to a number of other surgery seminars and felt Bariatric was not for me until I met Dr. Marema. Other seminars I went to, I felt that I was being sold their solution and not told the facts, both good and bad. I am very happy that I found Dr. Marema.

St. Augustine and Flagler Hospital are very fortunate to have a doctor of this skill move his practice from a large city like Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale and come to St. Augustine now has been more than 2 years since my surgery and I have lost over 200 lbs. I could not be happier with the results. I am a new person with the ability to do things I never been able to do before because of my heaviness. I love shopping for close in a normal store and it is even more enjoyable when I fit in the smallest men’s shirt rather than looking for a Big and Tall men’s shop to find the largest, as I did in the past.

I absolutely love the knowledge and professionalism of Dr. Marema. He is very thorough and gives the "real talk" regarding the WLS.
I will remain silent on some portions of the staff.
With that being said, I will highly recommend DR MAREMA.

I met Dr. Marema in 2007. Upfront, he was very nice. Before I booked my LAP BAND surgery, the office was responsive to my questions and concerns and seemed to care. Dr. Marema performed the surgery at Celebration Hosp. I was discharged and NEVER heard from the office again. Dr. Marema nor any of his staff called to check in on me. I never even saw Dr. Marema in the hospital for post-op visit (rounds). A few days later I called with some concerns and told the office I wish they would have given me a courtesy call to see how I was doing. My husband is a doctor and ALWAYS calls his patients post surgery. Fast forward three years, I had a complication with the band (slippage) and it needed to come out. Dr. Marema's office hours are terrible and no longer has hospital priveledges in Orlando. When I had my complication I had to either drive to St. Augustine to see him (I was in no condition to do so) or wait 2 weeks. The nurse was less than helpful and even rude. She told me I was "overreacting, and that I should just stop panicing". 24 hours later I was in the hospital with dehydration. Since the band has come out (30 days ago) I have tried to call Dr. Marema to ask some questions. I was informed yesterday HE DOES NOT TAKE PATIENT CALLS UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN APPT TO ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION. Furthermore, since I dont have the band placed they dont consider me a patient in the practice!! Even though I had a lap band 30 days ago and I was considering a revision surgery. I am very frusterated with the lack of patient care and concern. I have given this office so many chances and every time I am disappointed. By the way, I NEVER have left a negative review of any professional. Being that my husband is a doctor- I am very sensitive to patients being difficult. I assure you that I was a very reasonable patient. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU NOT USE THIS OFFICE.

Dr. Marema is not only a lifesaver, an educator but he walks the walk and is walking proof of wls. He truly cares and takes the time to be sure that each and every interaction, the patient understands, is onboard with their own weight loss and health and devoted.
He is direct, honest, to the point and just the most caring and upfront bariatric Doctor that I have encountered as he would not take my case (I am a reivision) until he knew all the facts, that I was totally healthy and fully educated and until he made certain that there was medical evidence to support that I needed a revision!
He is my hero and angel and I am truly grateful to him. His staff is also wonderful and each office visit is education as you get to visit with the nutritionist and sometimes the excersice specialist. The nurses and staff are so supportive and wonderful as well! This was a totally different experiance from my initial procedure and while I agree we as patients responsible for our own progress- Dr. Marema goes above and beyond and truly has his heart and soul into each patient's health and success!

My first impression of my surgeon was that they were very knowledgeable and experienced and it immediately boosted my confidence knowing I made the right choice to do self pay and the surgery I wanted not that my insurance wanted. The office staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable as well. I have had to wait quite some time for at least an hour for every appt. which is a bit when I am traveling about an hours distance anyway for each visit. It ends up being a 4 or 5 hour event for every appointment when in reality I spend at most 10-15 mins. actually being seen. The aftercare program is quite extensive and the support program quite popular given the amount of participation I have witnessed with other patients. The risk of surgery and complications were actually minimal and addressed immediately. I truly believe I had the absolute best care with this surgical team. I researched many surgeons and surgeries for the past year and half and am so happy with the choice I made. They really are best. My family was even impressed with the support and information they received following my surgery. The hospital staff and surgeon were just the best! I know it sounds suspicious that I am so positive but that is really the truth of my experience even though I had a very minor complication. I was treated so well and so thoroughly, I honestly have not a single negative feeling about the experience.

Dr Marema is a very compasionate person..My first consult with him was back in Feb 09, 12 hrs later he did a emergeceny removal of my lapband.
Now he will be doing my rny.
He believes in a complete program for his patient so that they will have their success.

When I first met Dr. Marema, I found him to be very funny. I was very impressed by his 6000 WLS surgeries and most of all; he was a WLS patient himself, so he is able to understand what we go through on a day to day basis. He has a wonderful, caring, supportive bedside manner. I also appreciate that he will surely correct you if you are doing something wrong. His partner, Dr. Koppman is wonderful as well – actually I think his bedside manner is a little better than Dr. Marema. If I had to say anything negative, I would say at times he appears to be *hurried*. rnrnHis office is equally as wonderful. From the front desk, nursing staff, nutritionist, to insurance staff – they are always helpful and courteous. I have never had an unanswered question – this amazes and impresses me! There are times this office is alittle too busy and phones are not answered timely. rnrnI would without hesitation recommend Dr. Marema to anyone needing WLS. rn

My first impression of Dr. Marema was that I had just met an intelligent and caring human being that had a passion for what he was doing to help people change their lives for the better. I read his bio and he was rated the #1 bariatric surgeon in Florida. He himself had taught most of these doctors that I had been reading about. I went to an information session in Lake Mary and I had the opportunity to listen/speak to Dr. Marema as well as some of his staff. I knew I had found the best of the best! rnMy impression is still the same. Dr. Marema has a goofy sense of humor too! (which is a nice change when referring to a doctor)rnI had my surgery at Flagler Hosptial. I was treated with the utmost respect from the minute I entered to the minute I left. The medical staff/nurses/nutritionists were everything and more than you would expect. rnThe accomodations at Flagler hospital were tremendous too! My room was nicer than the hotel that I stayed at.rnI couldn't say enough about Dr. Marema and his staff. Oh, and don't let me forget that wonderful man we refer to as \"Our Anesthesiologist\"! Hats off to you! I took a nice nap and it was all over. rnThe pre-op and aftercare is beyond great. During my education program, I was given a book/bible that gives me everything I'd ever need to know. It walks me through everything for the first year after my surgery. The vitamins/supplements that I was educated about are stressed during every conversation with Dr. Marema and his staff. It's been 6 weeks and I feel awesome. I'm down almost 30lbs. I feel GREAT! rnThe support that Dr. Marema and his staff give me and the genuine smiles they offer everytime I see them, just reinforces my first gut instinct....Dr. Marema's Practice is #1!rn