Swedish Covenant Hospital Bariatric Center
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Knowledgable, supportive, confident and interested in my success was my initial impression of Dr. Agos.rnrnHis nurse had a band placed by him and she is a beautiful lady, inside and out.rnrnFuture patients should know that you are expected to be an active participant in before and aftercare. They place great emphasis on aftercare and support.rnrnBoth were direct and honest about the risks of surgery.rnrnOverall I'd rate him and his team excellent. He has great surgical competence and a terrific beside manner.rnrnEven post-op: I still love my surgeon and his clinical team!
I first met with Dr. Raspanti in the winter of 2003. He was not only charming, warm and obviously intelligent, but he was also passionate about helping his patients have a safe experience with bariatric surgery.
While the roller coaster ride with the insurance company took me a few days, it really wasn't all that terrible. Make them follow their own rules and keep a positive outlook.
My lap band surgery was in May, 2003...so I'm now two years post-op. Not once did I have a complication. Not once did I regret the surgery. I may miss the occasional steak and homebaked bread, but I'm all the healthier for it.
Maybe I'm still about 30 pounds heavier than my goal, but I'm also far healthier than I was 90 pounds ago. I have an active life, can now actually pick things up from the floor without winding myself, and exercise regularly. The entire procedure is about the doctors giving us enough help to keep us from eating ourselves into the grave, but also us taking our health into our own hands and changing the behaviors that made us obese in the first place.
To anyone out there debating whether to have this procedure or not...do it. I literally walked around the block the day after surgery. There wasn't massive pain and suffering, I was working within the week, and lost over 40 pounds in the first three months. In the past, I was going up one clothing size a year...gaining roughly 20 pounds every year. Instead, I went down 5 sizes in the first year, and 2 in the second year.
Taking all of the risks of the other procedures into account, I'm glad that I took the safer route and lost the weight slowly and with my own restraint, rather than losing it quickly and dealing with all the side effects. While my friends who had the RNY done over the last 5 years are starting to regain their weight and worrying about what's next, I'm eating in moderation, exercising normally, and not facing any anxiety at all. That is exactly what the doctors promised, and they absolutely delivered!
The very first time I met DR Raspanti I was scared, nervous and a bit overwhelmed. I was afraid I was too big for the lap band procedure. DR Raspanti is one of the most caring DR's I have ever met. Supportive as well.
When choosing a DR for this procedure it is most important to find one that will stick with you after the procedure is done. Every time I have gone in for a visit or a fill it has always been with DR Raspanti. Whenever I had a question or concern he was quick to get back to me and discuss my issues. I am extremely greatful for DR Raspanti.
When first banded in October of 2003 I weighed 377 pounds. Today I am at 213 and working towards getting to my goal. I no longer take any medications whatsoever and I have a new lease on life. I am more active than I have been in 20 years.
What did I get out of the band? I finally know what it's like to have a normal size meal and feel satisfied. I am learning what it means to eat to live instead of living to eat. I can walk without pain in my back. I can walk for a long time & still be here to talk about it. I got my life back and so much more. I can even do the dishes standing! Last summer was the first summer in a long time where my feet were not always swollen. The band has helped me not feel like such a failure after so many years of failed dieting.
The office staff has been great to work with and supportive as well. There is a support group meeting once a month and Ada runs the program. She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders as well and is a Lap Band patient too. Therefore, she is able to relate to our struggles and successes.
My only regret is there was not a Lap Band 25 years ago.
From the bottom of my heart I can honestly say DR Raspanti has saved my life.
<p><b>Dr.Boffa was wonderful! I really liked him. Very informative about the procedure, risks and post-op issues.
<p><b> Not only is he a Bariatric surgeon but he is also a Trauma surgeon, so I feel I am going to be in very good care!<p><b>He made my Husband and I feel alot more at ease about everything. Would definetly recommend him and Liv-Lite!!!
<p><b> His office staff are GREAT!! Deb and Aida were a tremendous help getting everything together and sent to insurance. They are really excited for you and really care!! They even came down to see how I was doing after a test :0) Very Impressed!!!
I have met with Dr. Raspanti to discuss the surgery, and I thought he was wonderful. He explained the procedure to both my mother and I and then let us ask questions. And believe me my mother always has a lot of questions. The Doc was very patient with her and answered all of her questions and what ever questions I had. I thought his staff was very polite, but perhaps a little to buisness oriented. I can't really think about any things I didn't like about Dr. Raspanti. I do think it would be very helpful if his staff were better informed. When I called to ask them a few questions about filing with the insurance they were pretty clueless. The one to go to is Ada. She is the BOMB! Yes I just wrote that. She is EXTREMELY helpful. She is a bandster and heads the Liv-Lite program at Swedish Covenant. She is an oracle of knowledge. She heads the support group that meets once a month. I think that will be very helpful. One thing that I really liked about Dr. Raspanti is that he really emphasized that the band will not fix everything. The band is a tool, and your success depends on how well you use it. Ultimately, If I fail with the band it will be my fault. That is something I can handle. Overall I thought he was great and I am confident in his ability...if only I could get the insurance to approve this.
I thought Dr. Agos was smart, charming, and very thorough in answering my questions. The office staff was very accomodating, even thought they had just moved in to a larger office. Nice wide seats in the waiting room.
There wasn't anything I didn't like about him. I did miss a window of opportunity to talk to him because when he popped in too see me, the dietician wasn't finished. So when she was done, I did wait a bit for the doctor, but not too long.
More later, but I'd give up on great bedside manner for a skilled surgeon - but luckily I think I've found both.