Eric J. DeMaria Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

Our first patient has come and gone- a dear friend 11 years out from when I performed her gastric bypass in Virginia and doing GREAT! Congratulations to all who have done well after bariatric surgery. But if you are struggling and need a new plan- call me and come in for an evaluation at New Hope Wellness Center (919) 861-6366. We provide TOTAL bariatric care.

I just had my first appointment with Dr. DeMaria. I also met with the nutritionist, Patrick, and the psychologist, Kelli Friedman. I was very impressed with each one of them. Dr. DeMaria was so patient and thoughtful. He took his time and talked with me and allowed me to ask all the questions I needed to ask. Patrick was really helpful in walking me through what I would be eating after the surgery and how my eating habits would need to change, and Dr. Friedman was easy and comfortable to take to!!! I highly recommend Dr. DeMaria and this Weight Loss Clinic. I am now waiting for my surgery date and my next appointment with D4. DeMaria.

Waiting for the nurse to call me to schedule my appointment to meet him.

Dr. DeMaria,

He is a great doctor. The office staff was great too. The wait time is what I have to say I liked least. After surgery he said I will see less of you next time. He also saw him 4 months out and he said I was doing wonderful and told my mother which is another patient that she should follow my lead. We do have aftercare and follow ups with nutrition and pysch at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Then yearly visits to follow up. He did discuss the risk of surgery, but said at my weight I was ideal for surgery. I rate my overall experience as excellent. I think the surgical competence and bedside manner were both great. I really had a great experience and would do it all over again. I want to live life and not sit on the side line watching.

Dr. DeMaria, was the lead in the bariatric clinic when I had my surgery. He was the best as far as I was concerned and he was who I requested to be my surgeon. I did my homework and researched him and he was well qualified to take me into his care. Going through the weight loss clinic at Duke, we go every 3-4 months for a checkup and for group therapy and group nutrition. I love these meetings, you get to meet others in different phases of the WLS and get to hear what they have gone through. If I had it all to do over with again, I would choose the same hospital, same Weight Loss Clinic and same surgeon. Everyone at the Duke weight loss clinich are very professional and all seem to really care about you and your privacy. When they weigh you, they ask do you want whomever is with you to stay there. If you say no, they are outta there. They are looking our for you and your feelings. I love that place. You do not get to spend alot of time with Dr. DeMaria, his assistant comes in first and he talks to you and examines you. The Dr. DeMaris comes in and finishes up. He will stay as long as you need him too. But I know he is a very busy man and we only kept him long enough to answer and ask a few question. I recommend this clinic, doctor and hospital to everyone.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. DeMaria. He is very soft spoken and kind but he has tremendous skill. rnrnI had anticipated enduring a period of great pain and discomfort but it did not happen. rnI have not had a lot of pain and the soreness went away after just a few days. rnrnMy recovery to this point has far surpassed my personal expectations.

My First meeting with him was on 10/10 he seemed very approachable. He listened and explained everything very well, sure of himself but not cocky, very confident and cautious.

Dr. DeMaria has excellent credentials. I was impressed. My first impression was that he looked younger that I thought he would be. LOL! I've only met him once, last month. I've dealt with the rest of the staff more. The office staff has gone through changes during the past six months that delayed getting my tests and things up to date. I had to fax some of my test results 3 and 4 times but they finally got them out of the fax machine and into my file. I have a feeling the office is just now starting to get back to the efficiency they were accustomed to. Overall the girls in the office now are great to deal with.

I have my meeting with Dr. DeMaria on June 13.

Dr. DeMaria has a significant amount of experience with Bariatric Surgery and in his position as Director of the Duke University Medical Center Weight Loss Surgery Program he trains other surgeons during their fellowship at Duke. The program that Dr. DeMaria directs at Duke is comprehensive and has a significant emphasis on aftercare which is comprised of medical, psychological and nutritional support at 3 wks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year postop. I have found all of the staff, from the office, nurses, to the dietician to be helpful and available. I had my Lap-RNY 06-05-07. While Dr. DeMaria is without question very competent, he perforated my colon during the surgery. Normally this would require a conversion to an open procedure, but Dr. DeMaria was able to re-sect the colon laparoscopically. I have done well since my surgery and have lost all of my excess weight. I have talked with Dr. DeMaria at length about my concerns that while it is important for bariatric programs to provide a significant amount of support through the weight loss process, but that it is at least as important, if not more to provide significant support as you enter the maintenance phase of this life-changing journey. I'm delighted to say that he is a strong proponent of long-term bariatric aftercare and has opened a practice that focuses on the 'whole' bariatric patient in the long term; medical follow-up/management, nutritional support, psychiatric/behavioral support, and physiological/exercise. I hope this becomes a model to support the bariatric patient population.