Joseph Afram Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

My first impression of Dr. Afram was good. He seemed a little cool intially. But he was very sweet on the morning of my surgery. He even held my hand until they put me to sleep. I believe he really cares about his patients. I feel very comfortable with him now.
Dr. Afram also holds monthly seminars and goes over the risks and benefits of the RNY surgery.
Dr. Afram emphazes the importance of after care. I think we see him monthly for the first six months and then every three months for the next year. We are strongly encouraged to go to weekly group meetings for the first six months. In addition there is an e-group on-line. The on-line group is very supportive. The group meetings are good. A psycholgist and dietian are they to help with any problems. We do have pre-op patients attending the group and are asked to answer their questions.
In my area of No. Virginia, I think that Dr. Afram has the most comprehensive program availabe. He even has a service which helps with insurance approval. Overall I would give him a 98%. I recommend him highly.

My first impression of Dr. Afram was that
he was mainly business. Not a social butterfly type of surgeon. He is willing to
answer all the questions that you may have.
His office staff so far have been extremely
friendly and supportive.
The thing that I liked least about him was
that he was somewhat impersonal.
Patients should know that he has done alot of these procedures and that he is very knowledgeable.
He emphasizes aftercare heavily, the surgery
is part of a total program that includes
therapy and regular visits to the nutritionist. The risk of surgery was addressed by telling people that this surgery
carries with it the risk that any type of surgery would carry. And that because he is generally operating on a group of very overweight people the risks of complication
would be increased. He also spoke of rupture
to the staple line and what it meant etc.
On a scale of 1 to 10 I would rate him a 7.
He loses points because of his impersonal style. I think surgical competence is more important than bedside manner,the total package is the ideal though.

Great Support team. Team includes a Psychologist
and nutritionist as well as weekly or bi-weekly
support group meetings. Exercise program encouraged.

seems very personable and knowledgeable.

hasn't changed yet.

very helpful, understanding and helpful.





very firm on a strict regimen of life long post-op follow-up and support
YES

YES

from what i know so far,i think he is OK, will know more after surgery.

I immediately liked him. He explained every thing I wanted to know. He calmed my fear of surgery after I informed him of how I was told I was a surgical risk. I was impressed how he stressed the importance of the group aftercare. I would reccomend him in an instant to anyone who would ask.

My impression has not changed about him over these 5 years. I have not been to see him in the last three years. But I spent over two years in the program and now go to a private psycologist for council. I quite the support group, because I was not getting any current information. I was just there to give advice to new patients. I did not leave the group because of that. I just had progressed to a point where I had other needs and Issues.

At the time I left the group, I liked his office staff and support team. I do not have any inter-action with his staff now. I do know, there were several complaint about the nursing staff on the hospital ward where his patients stayed. They treated patients with a attitude of this was a frivalous surgery. When he was told of this, I heard he had a meeting with the staff and conditions improved.

Dr. Afram has a very calming affect with future patients. He will give you the complete facts on the surgery and will stress the importance of the after care, nutritionaly and mentally.

I found the Weight for Life aftercare of extream importance. My feeling is if you have this surgery you need to commit to the group session completely...100%> I wnt to the group meeting every month for over two years. I can't stress this enough to any new patient

Dr Afram addresse the risks of this surgery. He told me I would be fine. On my one year anniversary of my surgery, He told me he knew how scared I was when I had it done. To be honest...I was afraid I would wake up from the surgery dead! It seems funny now when I think of it.

I really have the greatest respect for Dr. Afram. What do you say to a man who has given you a second chance at life. I was born 55 years ago at Columbia hospital for Women. (1944) I was reborn on March 22, 1995. I am living a wounderful new life.

Surgical competence is absolute. A bedside manner is a plus. But when you find both in a Doctor, it is a wonderful experience. Which I had with Dr. Afram.

I have not been back to see Dr. Afram in the past three years, not because I was dissatified with him. I just got to the point where I did not see the reason to pay for an office visit to just be weighed and told I was doing fine. I knew I was fine. And how much I weighed was not that vital to my everyday well being. I still do not live by what the scales say. I will be concerned if I was to suddenly gain weight. I only get weighed when I have my regular doctors appointments.

Now these were my experiences when I had the surgery and for two years after. I have not seen him in over three years, and do not have a current evaluvation of his bedside manner of office decorum. these are my views of how I was treated.

My first impression of Dr. Afram was this is a kind doctor who can and wants to help me. His staff is wonderful. They answered every question, they have been very helpful. I haven't had the surgery yet, but I would reccomend Dr Afram to anyone concidering the surgery. My surgery date is January 11, 2000, which happens to be my birthdate...I couldn't ask for a better gift.

Future patients should know that Dr. Afram is the best.
He emphasizes with my every whim, when I call his office he's always availble to talk.
I go to support group meetings once a week.
I rate him an A++++++

I love Dr. Afram. He was kind oand considerate. He didn't make me feel as though I was stupid for gaining the weight. The office staff was also kind and carring. I live over 2 hours away so I went to my regular doctor for my after care. HE let me know everything that could happen and what to do if it did. He is very approachable and will take your calls and concerns and answer them in a timely manner. HE is a great doctor I would highly recommend him to anyone. His surgical competence and bedside manner are both wonderful. The only thing negitive I have to say about him is that it has been 9 months since my surgury and I haven't heard from him in about 7 months. I called him last wiht questions that he did answer but I have only gotten monthly bills from him since. I would like for him to make an effort to contact me and see how I am doing now. I feel that is his responsibilty. Even if he put a note in his billing that would be fine too. I think he needs to be more concerned in that area.

Dr. Afram is a surgeon. However he is very competent and has performed hundreds of these surgeries. I did not pick him for his personality. My impression of Dr. Afram has not changed. His office staff is very polite and cordial but transitory and entry level people. Dr. Afram works thru the 'Weight for Life' association in California and they are the ones who handle the insurance approvals. I believe the aftercare program is also organized or dictated from 'Weight for Life'. At the time I had my surgery they were having problems finding a qualifiedn therapist to run their group sessions so I was disappointed. The best person I had contact with was the nutritionist at the hospital. She left the hospital to work for Dr. Afram's group but I do not know in what capacity because I stopped attending the group after about 7 months. There was a structured aftercare book that I had to buy which was supposed to be used in the support group but never was used while I was attending. Dr. Afram addressed the risks of surgery. But I will reiterate my earlier statement, I chose Dr. Afram because of his experience and success rate in performing this surgery. Everyone has to make their own evaluation and decision and base those decisions on their own criteria.

My first impression of Dr. Afram was that he was very confident that he could help me. He was also the first Dr. I've seen in years treated me with respect and not like some idiot couch potato who has been sitting around watching soaps and stuffing themselves.
One month fater surgery and six months after making Dr. Afram's aquaintance, He is still impresses me as confident, concerned and understanding. Now that the surgery is over I also know him to be a terrific surgeon. choI would ose him again.
Dr. Afram has a great program. I received a physical and ofcourse all the pre-op preliminary work. He also has an in house nutritionist and psychologist. I was well informed of the risks and of aftercare practices. Someone has been available for me whenever I've had a question. Calls are returned promptly when the Dr. of other professionals are not immediately available.
There sre also 2 support groups. One meets weekly, the other bi-weekly. I get to talk and share with my peers in person. We also have on on line support network.
I can not say enough abaout how positive my experience has been with Dr. Afram and his staff.
The only thing that I have been disappointed with is that Dr. Afram was very up and positive about his faith that I would be "wonderful" in three weeks. It's been four weeks and I am not even close to wonderful. I've applied for an extended leave for the month of January because I simply am too tired and am having too much trouble with solid food to go back to working with handicapped kids. I'm gald he's so up-beat but now I'm very disappointed because I really wanted to be ready to get on with life just as he predicted.

Very Good.







He's very concerned with your condition through your hospital stay, calling or checking several times daily.







Both great. Nursing staff at hospital could
have been better.