Hadar Spivak Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

dr spivak is great and his staff is terrific. Anika is so wonderful and has helped get all my test scheduled. I finished the last of my test today 8/30/02 and im having the surgery on 9/5/02. Dr spivak gives you the answer to all questions and his seminar is wonderful and all that are even considering wls should attend. I like the type lap band surgery because recover time is much quicker and less risky.

I have attended Dr. Spivaks seminar this past week and I am very impressed with him. I have been doing a lot of research lately and he confirmed a lot of the information and explained things I didn't yet know. He gave lots of time for everyone to ask questions and was very patient with the answers. I have an appointment with him on July 2nd for my consultation. I hope to have surgery in August. From what I have heard about United Health Care I don't think I will have a problem with approval. God willing.

UPDATE April 2001:

Dr. Hadar Spivak performed the new adjustable lap band surgery on me on Wednesday morning and I was home from the hospital on late Thursday night. Dr. Spivak did a great job it seems so far, and his staff worked with me every step of the way.
I am quite grateful for his work. The new Adjustable Lap Band was definitely the best choice for me to facilitate WLS.

This has been the weirdest and longest journey for me. It started in December when I decided that I would not spend another full calendar year in the shape that I am in.
I hit the ground running to find a surgeon.

I went to Dr. Spivak seminar recently and found it very informative. I definately want the Adj Gastric Band. I understand my primary insurance co Aetna will not pay because they still consider it experimental. However, we are looking into my husband getting me signed up on his insurance and trying that route.

I decided to work with Dr. Spivak because of his experience with the Lap-Band and recommendation of prior patients. Dr. Spivak has done 250 banding, which is about 200 more than most other American doctors performing this procedure. In person, I found Dr. Spivak to be personable, knowledgable and kind. He made sure I understood the procedure as well as his philosophy on the tool for weight loss and he gave me the time to ask any questions.

I went to Dr Spivaks seminar at the end of
July. I went in feeling that RNY was the surgery
for me. When I left I knew I wanted the lap
band. I like Dr Spivak from the minute he started
talking. He answered every single question
that was asked of him and made sure that every-
one understand his answers. We saw a film of the
surgery and it was explained in detail to us.
His office staff-Michelle, Brenda and Shirley
are super. Couldnt ask for nicer people. I have
the most dealings with Brenda but they are all
really nice. Dr. Spivak explained all the risks
of the surgeries. He also had a patient who was
5 months post-op and had lost 80 pounds there.
She was able to answer questions also and that
was a big help-to actually see someone who had
it done and it was working! He is very gentle,
very kind and doesnt rush you in his office. I
find a lot of doctors want to do that but he
takes his time with you. He was wonderful in
the hospital also-he has a great bedside manner.
He saw me after surgery and a couple of times the
next day when I left. He is surgically very competent
and I would highly recommend him to anyone. I will
also answer any private emails with questions
from anyone interested.

Dr. Spivak was great and so was the staff. His nurses were wonderful. His bed side manner is great. I was very scared of being "put under", but it was fine. I can't think of any thing I do not like about Dr. Spivak.

I can't say much about aftercare yet. I'm still on liquids. I will update after my four week visit.

Dr. Spivak has monthly seminars to introduce people and inform them about the lap-band procedure. He was very informative and considerate. Throughout my entire experience, I felt Dr. Spivak was concerned, very bright, skilled and wanted to hear what I had to say. His office is very attentive and supportive. I had to make many phone calls during my pre op preparation. Dr. Spivak has a lot of pre op work and I felt at times like I was jumping through "hoops". After completing all of the workup, I realized that it was necessary so as to have a successful surgery. Aftercare consists of written material, email addresses of other patients, and you can call anytime to the office. He does not have a structured aftercare program, but I was informed about support groups and websites. The risks of surgery were spelled out in the seminar and his nurse went over the disclosure with me before I signed. I rate Dr. Spivak very highly. Both surgical competence and bedside manner were great!

I first met him at a seminar he had. He seemed nice and very knowledgeable.
I then went and read up on him more at his web site which is very informative. www.lap-surgery.net
At the 1st office visit, he was frank and to the point, very knowlegable and sincere. He was honest with me about
surgery and complications. He was the doctor who did the clinical trial for the adjustable lap band and we discussed
this surgery but he helped me to decide that with my insurance and the lap band not being FDA approved the lap VBG
would be best for me.

On the day of surgery he came in to see how I was before hand, and then I saw him several times afterwards.
he also checked on my 2 times the day after surgery. I am very glad that I chose him, becuase the recovery
from Lap surgery has not been bad at all. I definatly suggested going Lap if you can.

I finally went to Dr. Spivak's seminar about 2 weeks ago. It was very informative, but it left me baffled. I was originally wanting the RNY, but when I left the seminar I was tossed between the RNY and the Banding. I'm hoping that Dr. Spivak can lead me in the right direction during the consultation. The seminar boosted my morale into researching my insurance plan. Everything is now in place and I finally have an appointment on May 14,2001 for my consultation. I can not wait!!! Dr. Spivak covered every incidental for each type of bariatric surgery and was very knowledgable. They showed us films of the actual surgery(s) and described the risks involved with each. He even had a couple of clients come to the seminar so that anyone could ask them questions. Dr. Spivak loves to talk! I asked a few questions, all of which required a speech from him, but he always ended up answering my questions to the fullest. He had an answer to every question, even if it was something you did'nt want to hear. I feel that he is an honest, well educated doctor that is in this for the long run for all his patients. I strongly believe that he feels if his patients dont succeed, then neither does he....and he will succeed!
Updated 06/15/01:
Dr. Spivak has suggested the band surgery would be best for me, but I will need to have a scope look at my esophogus before surgery to insure there are no hernias. A person electing to have the band can not have hernias because of the location of most hernias is where the band is placed, unlike fixing hernias during a bypass surgery. So, I am still in the waiting mode for my PCP to order the scope. I have also been waiting for the approval of the band from the FDA...and surprise, it was approved...YEAH!