Charles A. Svendsen Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

Simply marvelous

Fantastic, kind, understanding and Handsome! Dr Svendsen and his staff SAVED my life!

I had Gastric Bypass in January of 2004 with Dr Svendsen and his team at Park Nicollet, it changed my life! I was impressed with the entire department from the moment I attended the informational metting to leaving the hospital and everything in between. Top notch surgical department!!

Now maintaining a 150lb weight loss after all these years I consider my procedure a success! I am healthy, incredibly active and a marathon finisher. I am also a Certified Personal Trainer specializing in Bariatric Patients, and clients that are above average size.

If you are looking for a great surgeon, look no further. But know once his work is done, yours is just beginning...it is all up to you!

Dr. Svendsen saved my life!

When I came in to him I was 25, 5'3" and weighed well over 250lbs. I had struggled with weight all my life, and even weighed nearly 170lbs when I was just 12 years old. I had tried at least 8 supervised diet programs, nutritionists, personal trainers, and every diet I could get my hands on. Nothing worked and I became miserable.

I had just gotten divorced 3 months prior to meeting Dr. Svendsen. I was ready and needed a full change in my life. My RNY WLS, although a drastic step in that process of change, did just that! It changed me and my life for the better!

In less than a year I lost 100lbs. I went from a size 24-26 to a size 8. I got remarried to my original high school sweetheart in October 2010 and wore my dream princess dress. At the wedding, friends and family I had not seen in years actually told me they thought they had entered the wrong wedding at the event center because the change was so exceptionally amazing. They did not even recognize me!

I wore a bikini on my honeymoon as well as revealing, "Hollywood Hot" dresses to dancing and dinner on our honeymoon.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever loose so much weight!

I do have a couple normal/expected side effects like lactose intolerance, I "dump" when I eat sugary things, I will need good, extra strong multi-vitamins for the rest of my life and I have a trouble with proteins like red meats. All of these were disclosed to me in my first information session for the WLS, so I knew what to expect.

Regardless of these side effects, I'd go back and re-do it all again in a heartbeat....as long as Dr. Svendsen did the surgery that is.

His impact on my life turned me into an independent volunteer educator and representative/speaker on WLS which encouraged me to finish my pre-med degree this year and to go onto med school. I may not necessarily end up in Bariatrics as an MD, but the impact a good surgeon had on my life encouraged me to pursue my dreams to have the same (positive, life-saving) impact on my future patients lives. It has also brought me into a place where I get to work in connection with a private clinical obesity clinic and help patients with education and coaching whether they are WLS patients, or just patients that need help to get healthy. I feel good to help others who were just like me, and none of this would have been possible without Dr. Svendsen!!

I had my surgery 11-30-10 with Dr. Chuck. He has a great bedside manner, gets all my sarcasm, and is very gentle (and cute as well). As of today Im down 67lbs and 4 jeans sizes from the day of surgery and 85lbs from my high weight.

Thanks Dr. Chuck. You played a major part in changing my health and my life for the better!

Great personality... intelligent... easy to talk to... such a nice guy (and not too sore on the eyes either!).

My surgeon was very personable. He does many WLS each year and is competent. I would recommend him to others

I really have nothing bad to say. He was very pleasant and so was his clinic staff. He explained everything I needed to know and made sure my questions were answered. The first thing he told me were the risks - from worst to not as bad, then told me the benefits. The surgery went great, I had NO pain from the surgery. When I called in to the hospital with a question after my surgery, everyone was very helpful. I would definitely recommend him and Park Nicollet to everyone.

11/17/2009: I am currently one year post-op (my surgery was on 11/11/2008), and I have lost 174 pounds since I went in for my first bariatric consultation at Park Nicollet in February of 2008. I feel great and I have had no side effects! Dr. Svendsen is an AWESOME bariatric surgeon, and the Park Nicollet bariatric program rocks! I was totally treated like a Rock Star during my two days in the hospital BEFORE, DURING and AFTER my surgery!

10/01/2008: After seven months of dietician appointments and other related examinations required for insurance approval, I was approved by BCBS of Minnesota in just three days after I was submitted! I went in today to attend the pre-surgery class that one of the bariatric nurses at Park Nicollet (Barb Johnson) holds. I also got to meet my surgeon for the first time - Dr. Charles (Chuck) Svendsen. My wife was also with me for this visit. Here are my first impressions. Dr. Svendsen is very detail oriented and very, very honest. He gave me very candid, honest up front responses to all of my questions. And he was able to back up his information with hard statistics that he seems to have very strong command of. To be honest, my first meeting with Dr. Svendsen put me at ease for my upcoming surgery, if not a little more anxious to have the surgery day come sooner. After this appoinment, I got my official "before" picture taken for the Park Nicollet Bariatric Program archives. I also got my surgery date! Tuesday, November 11th. I can't wait!

I met Dr. Svendsen on 11-4-09 and was completly impressed. He was easy going, made time for my questions and got my jokes. I feel very comofortable with having him as my surgeon!