The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana Bariatric Center
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July 28,2006 Met with Dr. Moore personally just after my pre-op tests. She was just what I'd hoped she was; professional, detailed, reassuring about the quality of her work. I got that impression after the seminar that I'd went to the week prior. Some people are not as ready to move forward with a female surgeon, but being a successful professional myself, there are certain qualities that are undeniable. She has them. rnrnLooking ahead to \"losing\" beginning August 2, 2006, the day of my surgery!rnrnK. Gibson
I was very impressed with his work. I had no problems with my surgery and he and his staff have been extremely helpful through all steps of my journey.
First impression..knowledgable,informative,young but experienced @ seminar re: WLS..(I went w/my sister for her)..2nd & 3rd time for myself..I found Dr. Thomas to be very eager to inform the audience about the unhealthy disease that plagues us..'obesity'..I noticed a genuine compassion for his craft..I have not had my surgery just yet..(March 21,2006 is my date)..I chose Dr. Thomas because of the above mentioned reasons and because I believe the Surgical Specialist of Louisiana have an excellent reputation of caring for their patients during and post-op..UPDATE!!!
On 3/20, my husband and I met with Dr. Thomas for the pre-op visit..we left his office feeling 'lifted' and excited about the choice of surgeons we had made..We floated out to our car, to ready ourselves for our trip home..One thing stuck in both our minds..He made the comment.."I have a lot of talent but this talent's not mine, it's God's".....Ok, we were for sure going to make it thru this..
3/22 Surgery was 'textbook'..I was released at 3:30 on 3/23..and doing great today!!!!!!!
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SURGEON #1- Dr. Danny Scott. I worked with Dr.Scott at Tulane in the O.R. He is an excellent surgeon. That was the reason I chose him as my bariatric surgeon. His office manner was very friendly and easily made me feel comfortable. I have no complaints about him. On the other hand, his staff needs some help. His usual program coordinator is out on maternity leave, and the interim nurse is not very organized. My appeal has been sitting on her desk for the past 2 months because she forgot to call me and tell me she needed more information. I thought it was the insurance company that was taking their time. She even lied to me and told me at one point that my appeal had been sent. This in inexcusable. I have since had my records sent to another WLS program in the New Orleans area. How many other patients has he lost due to staff incompetence?
SURGEON #2- Dr. Raury O'Connell. He seems very nice and was easy to talk to. He did rush our initial visit, and I wasn't able to ask any of my questions.
After Hurricane Katrina the hospital that Dr.O'Connell worked out of was destroyed and he relocated to FLA. It took 4 months to track down his program director and find this information out. I feel sorry for his post-op patients that were just forgotten about.
Again, his program director did not send my packet to my insurance for approval when she said she had. I am so tired of the lies!
SURGEON #3- Dr. Matthew French. He was very nice and spent, what I thought, was an unusually long time with me for my pre-op visit. I felt bad, and thought he was missing his other appointments. He answered all of my questions and was very thorough. I am very impressed with his office staff and nurses. They are professional and return your calls in a timely fashion. They explain everything to you and what is expeced of you, and never leave you wondering, "what do I do next?" I have decided to forgo insurance approval and pay out-of-pocket for my surgery. I am tired of having to deal with incompetent staff and insurance companies with MBA's making my health care decisions for me.
Dr. Lavin is a really cool guy. He did my wife's bypass as well in 03. I liked him the first time I met him. He is a guy's guy. He is upfront with everything and tell's you how the cow eats the cabbage. I was very impressed with him on our first meeting and I attended several of the seminars that they put on in Alexandria. I actually wanted to have the surgery first, but I went ahead and let my wife go first. I wanted her to reap the benefit first. His office staff is great. Especially Rachal , the insurance advocate. She goes to bat for you and really works her tail off to try to get it approved for you. I can't say that their was anything that I didn't like about Dr. Lavin, He explained everything to you, and he was like I said , upfront about every option or situation that could unfold. He got really upset on the first seceduled date, because I was on the preop table with my IV in ready to go in and I had a blodclot time of 9 1/2 min. The office had neglected to tell me in time to not take any of my medications for 2 weeks before and I had only quit taking my Naproxen for only 3 days prior. He wouldn't take me in there, because he didn't want to endanger me, I was trying to get him to go ahead and had even told him that my wife had taken off work to be with me and we didn't know if she could get off. He told me flat out, " That he wasn't going to put my life in danger just to not inconvience her".. And so we had to reschedule for that follwing Monday and this was on that Weds. The only thing I really hated about it, was that I would have to go another day on just liquids. I hated that part of it. But it was for my sake and like I said, he will not put anyone at risk. He is very upfront and will tell you what you have to hear, not what you want to hear. If it hurts your feelings, then that is your choice. We all have a choice to decide how to take things and he will give you the straight facts. He really stress's for you to follow-up and go back every 3 mths for your check-ups. He addressed everything that was a risk factor. You know upfront everything you need to know. Between 1 and 10 , 10 being the best, I give him a 15 ! ! ! ! He has a great bedside manner and has excellent surgical competence as well. I think Dr. Lavin is the best choice for a surgeon in this field. He has performed over 1500 of these procedures and has never had a fatality or a major complication. And that in my book is the best saftey record you can have.. I have nothing negative to say. He is super. These are just my personal feelings and I know each one has their own opinion, but I have been for check-ups, and I have never heard a negative word out of any of his patients. I disagree with that statement that says completley 100% positive are gennerally less informative or even suspect. If you have to find something "wrong" or bad, Then maybe you might catch one of his girls in the office in not such a good mood. But other than that, then I couldn't reccomend anyone else higher than him.
Dr. lavin is great. Seems he is one of the most experienced. My procedure was not easy. (previous abdomen surgeries, adhesions, 2 hernias). He seems kind of quiet, but as long as he is an expert, I'm wasn't to concerned of conversation. I know he was one of the best, I did alot of research, and worked with many people that had it done through him , post ops' 1year, 2 years. would recommend him to anyone.
I actually worked with Dr. French at Memorial Medical Center - Baptist Campus in New orleans, LA in 2003. I knew his proceedures and I felt that his technique for the laparascopic gastric bypass ( roux-en-Y ) was the safest and most reliable for security of the stitches and not having leakages in the abdomen after surgery.
October 7th I had my surgery and I never had any leaks at my incisions and never had difficulties after the surgery due to any of the surgery at all. I have not had any probelms at all. I am 2 weeks post op and I am now 21 pounds less than what I was when I went in to surgery.
If it hadn't been for the doctor and me knowing the inside workings of the surgeon in the operating room, I would never have had the surgery.
If anyone is thinking of having this surgery and needs lots of reasurance of the doctor doing the surgery, THIS doctor is the best..Bar None!
The doctors that work with Dr. French ( Dr.'s Moore, Lavin, Thomas and umm.. one other.. I am brain farting on this one.. sorry doc!! ) are ALL excellent and have the same technique and they all really care about the patient.
If you know about doc's, they ususally are fast and get in and out of the room because of trying to get their patens in and out.. THIS is NOT what these doc's do. They will sit there and actually talk to you and treat you like a person. Its almost like feeling like family. I know when I go there, it feels like family there. That is what makes it worth the trip from Alabama to Louisianna when they tell me to come.
MICHAEL THOMAS WAS MY SURGEON. HIS INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT PRESENTATION WAS IMPRESSIVE. HE MET WITH ME ON TIME AND TREATED ME WITH RESPECT AND AS AN INDIVIDUAL. DR. THOMAS WAS VERY DETAILED AND HONEST AS HE GAVE ME THE INFORMATION ON THE PROCEDURES AVAILABLE. WHAT WAS BEST FOR ME, WHY IT WAS BEST AND THE RISKS INVOLVED.
THE STAFF WITH WHOM I INTERACTED BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE SURGERY WERE INFORMED AND RETURNED PHONE CALLS IN A TIMELY FASHION. THESE THINGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I NEVER FELT THAY I WAS ON A CONVEYOR BELT ON ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE.
DR. THOMAS IS LIKABLE AND SHARES LITTLE PERSONAL THINGS THAT LET A PATIENT KNOW THAT THERE IS A MAN UNDER THE SCRUBS. HE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO LAUGH! HIS DESCRIPTION OF JUST HOW HE DOES HIS WORK PROMPTED TO STATE"YOU REALLY LIKE DOING THIS, DON'T YOU?' TO WHICH HE ANSWERED--'YES!'
THE DOCTOR STRESSED THAT THE SURGERY IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. HE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THERE ARE NO MIRACLES HERE, ONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE STORY IN THE LONG RUN. AFTERCARE IS THE KEY.
I WAS PROVIDED WITH DETAILED WRITTEN INFORMATION AND A CALENDER ADDRESSING THE DAY BY DAY GOALS POST-OP. THE 3-HOUR PRE-OP CLASS WAS EXTRODINARY AS WELL AS A LOT OF FUN.
AFTER RESEARCHING BOTH THE SURGERY AND THE QUALIFICATIONS OF DOCTORS IN SEVERAL STATES FOR TWO YEARS, I AM SATISFIED THAT THE TEAM I SETTLED ON WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE. DR. THOMAS RATES AN A-PLUS WITH ME!
