Alberto Salinas Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

Undergoing major surgery is a decision you can only take when feel you are putting yourself in \"good hands\". For your confidence and trust, the medical-healthcare team of Dr. Salinas Karpel consists of highly skilled surgeons with wide experience in bariatric surgery, having performed to this date over 2000 successful interventions of this nature. The team is complemented by a psychologist and a nutritionist, whose work during the pre and postoperative phases are of vital importance for the patient. rnrnDr. Alberto Salinas Karpelrnrn rnrnEducation:rnSurgeon Doctor, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1975rnMaster in General Surgery, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1980rnECFMG Certificate, 1976rnSurgical Fellowship, 1982-1983, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine , NYrnrnSpecialty:rnBariatric Surgery: Open surgery and Via Laparoscopy rnrnMember of the following Medical Associations:rnAmerican Society for Bariatric SurgeryrnDoctor's Association of the Federal District, Caracas , VenezuelarnVenezuelan Surgical SocietyrnGastroenterologists Association of VenezuelarnThe International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity ( www.obesity-online.com/ifso/ ) rnrnDr. Salinas Karpel has been performing bariatric surgery since 1985 and gastric bypasses since 1990. Upon completion of his medical education Dr. Salinas worked as an Intern and Resident at the Hospital General del Oeste, in Caracas , Venezuela . rnrnIn 1982 he became an Associate Fellow of The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York, United States of America. He has been Coordinator of Post Graduate studies in Surgery as well as Assistant Doctor in the Surgery Department of the Hospital General del Oeste. Dr. Salinas began his private practice at the Hospital de Clínicas Caracas in the year 1984, where he has leaded the field of bariatric surgery. In August 2001 he was designated as representative member for Latin America of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity -IFSO- Standards Committee for the practice of Bariatric Surgery worldwide.rnrn

Dr. Salinas was the surgeon for my first surgery (RGB with stapled pouch) performed in July 1992 and the only one I considered for revision surgery. This is despite the fact I moved back to the U.S. later that same year and seldom traveled to Venezuela after that.rnrnI would rate Dr. Salinas and his team very highly not only based on their competence and experience, but also based on their genuine empathy with patients. Any health professional that promptly answers their cell phone whenever a patient calls deserves an A+!!

Dr. Salinas was very thourough in his explanation of the different options. He seems to really care for each and everyone of his patients. I will be operated on January 13th.
Decided on Dr. Salinas due to his experience and excellent results. As I have to self pay, the cost differential was also a determining factor.

I have had two meetings with him, and my pre-op final meeting will be soon. So far, he has been nice and caring, answering all my questions and all my phone calls.
The first impression was that he was a caring person and very carefully individual, meaning that he gives you the impression that he will really take care and make sure that the surgery will be done with care and detail. He might seem quite cold at first but then he softens a bit and gets nicer and friendlier. Anyway, as many surgeons, he would make you wait a lot in the waiting room and then, he would wake calls while talking to you. It was quite annoying, but he was very recommended and people says he is a very, very, very skilled surgeon.
From the staff, I have just met the secretaries, one is a walking candy (she is very nice) but the other is quite bitter, a big contrast. Next week I will meet the nutritionist (not sure how to spell this)and the psycologist. But as the ambiance in the place is quite good, I hope that they will be nice, too.
His aftercare program is based on dates with the nutritionist and the psycologist, to learn more about my new eating habits and for emotional support.
He has performed more than 2,000 bariatric surgeries and has a complication rate of less than 1% and a motality rate of 0%, no one has died in his hands and the most common complications have been leaks and internal hernias.
Two friends of my family already have surgery with him and are very happy with the results, and they have not have any problems related to the surgery. So, it encouraged me to select this surgeon.
It is very important to state that this is my personal opinion about the doctor and his staff and that other patients may feel different.