Phillip Leggett, M.D. Bariatrics Bariatric Center

Dr. Legget is a very introverted person. He compensates by surrounding himself with a large helpful staff and very outgoing and helpful resident physicians. The resident physicians help with all questions and issues. Dr. Leggett always supervises the work. He is prompt, effecient and demanding of his staff. It is like a very well oiled machine. No stress here.

Dr. Legget has a homework packet and a rigorous pe-op procedure of checkups and approvals for surgery. It is up to the patient to prove to him that the surgery is needed, safe and approved. I like this type of interaction because it was and effective learning experience. I had to show him I knew what I was doing for him to believe I was a good candidate.

Dr. Legget's bedside and in office manner are the same. He works quickly, efficiently and is demanding. He looks you straight is the eye and tells you what he expects (e.g he told me that I was to be up and walking at exactly 2 hours after leaving recovery - no excuses).

His residents followed my progress and he check me as needed. Some people may feel uncomfortable with this approach but not me.

I have met with Dr. Leggett once. He is very concise and to the point. He gives a homework assignment to the patient to ensure that you kow what you're getting into and that you have an important responsibility in the process. He also has you see a pulmonologist, dietician, and psychologist prior to setting a surgery date.<p>***UPDATE***<p>July 23, 2003: I met with my surgeon today for my pre-op visit and asked several questions that I wanted to include in this profile. Hopefully they will be helpful to you. <p><ul><li>Q: How many times have you performed the laparoscopic roux-en-y procedure?<li>A: 50.<p><li>Q: How many of those procedures have ended in death?<li>A: 1, and this was not on an original procedure but a re-do of an old procedure.<p><li>Q: What is the most common complication in your patients?<li>A: Urinary retention, in other words, the inability to pee.<p><li>Q: What is the expected length of time I will be in the hospital?<li>A: 3-4 days.<p><li>Q: How long will the nasogastric tube, Foley catheter, and surgical drains be in place?<li>A: The NG tube and Foley will stay in for 24 hours, and he usually does not require surgical drains of any kind.<p><li>Q: How many procedures have started as laparoscopic and ended as open?<li>A: The only ones that he has done open have been conversions from old surgeries.<p><li>Q: What is the average time to complete the procedure?<li>A: 80 minutes.<p><li>Q: When will I be clear to return to full activities?<li>A: He does not want any decrease in activities from the surgery. As soon as the soreness passes, I can resume any normal activities.</ul><p>***UPDATE***<p>August 5, 2003: I wanted to add that Dr. Leggett has two surgical fellows in his office. These gentlemen are already trained surgeons, but they are undergoing further training (a fellowship) in laparscopic surgery. Currently, they are Dr. Seger and Dr. Chastenet. Both are excellent doctors and are likely the ones who will see you in the office and in the hospital. I only saw Dr. Leggett in the hospital once post-op and that was for about two minutes. The fellows are great, though, and extremely competent.

Dr. Leggett and his staff were extremely helpful. I had my initial visit on May 9th and they turned in the preauthorization letter into the insurance by May 15th.

Dr. Leggett assigned homework, where I had to research and list risks of the surgery, risks for non-treatment of morbid obesity, complications of the surgery, post-operative dietary restrictions and possible vitamin deficiencies. In addition, he asked for you to draw the surgical procedure. Dr. Leggett also requires you to get a pulmonary evaluation, psychological evaluation and see a dietician. Each specialist has to mail or fax a letter with the results or professional opinions to Dr. Leggett before you can schedule a surgery date.

Dr. Leggett and staff were very knowledgable and were ready for any questions. I would rate his office and staff as excellent service and care.

I know this sounds unbelievable, but I really have not had any bad experiences with them (yet?). The only thing I think they could improve on, would be to keep me more informed on where the process is. Other surgeon's offices were more interactive with me, letting me know after each step was completed (i.e. NeWeigh).

Well my first impression of him was that he was very serious. Ihave never seen him again so my impression has not changed. His office staff is helpful to a certain extent. How impersonal he is. I have been hospitalized a lot over my life and I have seen/had a lot of doctors/sugerons and I just didn't recieve the same amount of cocern and care from him and his staff that I have recieved from othrs and I think that is very important. He I'm pretty sure is very comepent to preform the sugery but his patient skills are minimal, I'm not 100% sure that I would want him to preform the sugery but due to thetype of coverage that I have I don't have a large selection

I was surprised by the positive attitude of Dr. Leggett. Most other doctors had passed me over as past help. He had a can do attitude but let me know that we were going to do it together. He wasn't gonna do anything without me knowing the risks though. I had to read all the brochures and he quizzed me to be sure that I understood all the complications that could arise and that no surgery came without risks. It was several weeks before he was confident that I was ready for the surgery. I had to see a psychiatrist, a cardiaologist and a respiratory specialist before my surgery date was set. He continues to amaze. The man I first saw as sort of brazen, country, outspoken is really quite gentle, very caring and smarter than I ever gave him credit for. His staff is always ready to talk anytime I call. They know me by my first name. No question is unimportant. I can't find fault with him so far. He insists that you get up and walk the day after surgery even if you don't want to. Everybody listens to Dr. Leggett. He was at our first support group meeting even though he does all sorts of laprioscopic surgery. I would rate him A #1 overall. You could do no better.

He was a very nice person. I didn't meet him until later after I talked to one of his surgeons asst.They were very informitive and asked alot of questions. He actually gave me Homework to do and told me that I had to schedule my other test that had to be done. It was very easy. I would recommend him to any one. His office staff was very nice and helpful.

I go see Dr. Leggett for the first time tomorrow 2-24-03. I am taking lost of my medical history with me so he will know just about everything. I hear that he is a great Dr......

2-25-03 I saw Dr.Leggett yesterday and seen right away-and I was very early. I talked for some time with one of his medical assistants and he came in to talk to me for a few minutes also. The main concern seems to be that I am unable to get my old medical records from my original surgery from 1978. I do have MRI, Cat Scans, GI, Scope and more for him to review. Even tho I just had a scope done last week he wants to be able to do it himself so he can see for himself the condition my stomach is in before he decides about the surgery. I am also having a huge problem with ahesions from a gall bladder surgery from yrs ago and that may be in the way. He went ahead and gave me my homework and told me to go see the Phys, Pulmonary, and Dietian. I made appoints for all of those today and will be able to see them all next week infact. This Friday Dr. Leggett will do the second scope. Next week I will be have my yearly stress test and ultersound of my heart with my cardiologist. He is going to know just everything about me so hear is hoping. His office staff was just great and very warm. Dr Leggett seems to me to be a big teddy bear who wants nothing more than do everything in his power to help you as long as you help yourself. I think I am going to like this Dr. a lot....

My first impression of Dr. Leggett was mixed. I was surprised at his short, stubby appearance. But then again, I should be concerned with his competence as a surgeon not his appearance. I didn't meet with him but for a minute. My first consult was with one of his residents. This threw me off, but I guess I can understand. I think he wants you to go to all of your pre-op visits and do your homework that he gives before he becomes involved. Probably to make sure you're really serious about this and not wasting his time. I'll report later when I meet with him for a second consult.

Very professional and very thourough. Make you do research on wls for your homework and then checks every answer and explains every aspect. very informative and very confident. We have heard very great things of this surgeon. I look foward to having him do this surgery for me.

I did not deal very much with his staff, my wife took care of all the paperwork for both of us because we are having the surgery done together.

we discussed aftercare briefly. I will start with a post op consult seven day after discharge from hospital. We will find out more then.

Originally, I went to see Dr Carlos Ferrari(Houston, TX), but unfortunately he was not part of my network of doctors, so I would've had to pay him an additional 3,500.00 to make up the difference for what he would be paid by bcbs-federal. Anyway, he was a very nice doctor. His consultation was very thorough and informative. His staff was very helpful, especially Blanca. She submits and files everything with the insurance.

Getting back on track, I was recommended to Dr. Phillip Leggett by my PCP who is Dr. Jose Sagbini. I found Dr. Leggett in our network list, so I have chosen to go with him.

My first impression was very solid. He is a very nice Doctor, extremely knowledgable and patient. He is however a lot stricter about this procedure than Dr. Ferrari was. He requires complete pre-op tests and gives you homework. By that I mean that he also requires you to be in complete understanding of the wls procedure. He asked me to make drawing of what the surgery will do to my stomach and intestine. You also must make a list of all possible complications before, during and after the surgery; as well as a list of complications of untreated morbid obesity. Straight and to the point. No better way than to physically and mentally understand what you are undertaking and what decision you need to make.

His nurse Becky is a lovely person, she gives you all the info on your preop tests and when she gets the results, the other ladies put it together for insurance approval. Thats where my husband and I are at now.

We are waitng for approval in order to have our next visit with Dr. leggett, where we will dicuss our "homework", aftercare and surgery date.