L. Albert Wetter Bariatric Surgeon M.D.
20 yr Experience
17 yr in Bariatrics
19 yr in Laparoscopic Surgery
13 yr in Laparoscopic Bariatrics
80% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is 18
Max Age of Patient is 65
20 yr Experience
17 yr in Bariatrics
19 yr in Laparoscopic Surgery
13 yr in Laparoscopic Bariatrics
80% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is 18
Max Age of Patient is 65
Just had my consult with Dr. Baggs and he was very informative. He answered all of my questions quickly and made feel at ease. I feel very comfortable with him. Unfortunately he is leaving the area in April of this year. I hope to have everything in order before then. Switched to Dr. Wetter as Dr. Baggs is leaving the area soon. I haven't met him yet but hear great things from his references.
I really like Dr. Wetter. I have met with him only once but I found him very understanding of my situation. His staff was very friendly and they have been very helpful in getting everything in line as far as insurance is concerned (making sure I am part of the right medical group). I didnt' really find anything about him that I disliked, but I have had only one consultation. Dr. Wetter is very knowledgeable of RNY and is very detailed in putting things into "laymans" terms so that I understand it much better. Dr. Wetter went over all the possible complications of having WLS but also reaffirmed that they are minor compared to my health if I continued to stay at the weight I am now or worse, gain additional weight. I have not had the surgery yet but will update on Dr. Wetter's bedside manner when I am "on the other side"!
January 9, 2002 - Well I am now on the other side and I am so happy that I did this! It has given me back a life I thought I had lost forever to morbid obesity. Dr. Wetter has an excellent bedside manner and I felt comletely confident going into the surgery. I have my first post op today so we shall see how I do!
Just one meeting with Doctor Wetter. Young but not to young around 40 (I remeber a time when 40 was old). Staff was great. My only concern is that I meet him for a total of 30 min that was it. It all seemed to easy. He was very open to answer any questions I had. And told me to cantact him if I had any more questions, Or sechedule a second apointment. And after the support meeting I attended I felt very confortable with him. Seems like everyone in the meeting only had very postive things to say
My first impression of Doc Wetter is that he is a very busy man and is going to make me wait. Something I hated, but that could easily be more me than him. Once I actually met him I was impressed by his skill and knowledge. He was able to get the approval on the first letter, so that impressed me alot. I have not seen him since that first meeting, but he is quite busy with post-op patients most likely.
His office staff was professional and made me feel well cared for and as for Terry, there is not alot I can say about her. How do you discribe someone that is so supportive, so helpful and so uplifting and effiecient that you feel a friend is helping you? She has been so patient with me, and I could not describe myself as easy to deal with. I have called her many times and she was always up and helpful and supportive. She is great, wonderful, and you would be lucky to have her as a surgery coordinator as I do. I for one could not be happier with her assistance ad supportive attitude. She was never irratated to hear from me, no matter how many times I called and no matter what the problem, she was there with the solution!
You could not do better than the team of Doctor Wetter and Terry. Everyone should have such a team on thier side through this.
They have a structured aftercare program, and many handouts to make sure that we are not lost in the shuiffle. Doc Wetter has taken the time to put up web pages and write reports to help us to understand the risks we are taking and the benefits. Considering we are 5 times more likely to die without the surgery than with it, I will take those odds! I am also doing everything I can to make sure that I am not one of the ones that gets killed by this, it is NOT going to happen. Sure it happens to someone, but since Doctor Wetter has never lost a patient EVER, I will take THOSE odds thank you!
Well I have little to judge Doctor Wetter against, but he was so helpful, listens and tells you what you need to know, I can't imagine anyone doing it better. They can only hope to match his fine example!
Surgical Competence is of the UTMOST neccesity. I dont care it the man is a troll, if he can do the surgery perfectly, what does it matter? Sure I would like a good bedside manner, but if you cant do teh surgery with excellent competency, he should not be doing it. I don't really know what he will be like at the bedside, I imagine he will be great, if the meeting earlier is any indication. The fact that he has never lost a patient speaks volumes about his compentency I would say.
The only negative it the waiting. I am inpatient, of cource I am, but who isn't after 20 years of being overweight. Now that I have decided that this step is needed, I want it done now. That is not a negative on Doc Wetter. He has patients that have been waiting longer than I have, and they have to come first. I understand that. And he is so good he has a dmand so great he is scheduling nearly 3 months ahead. That says he must be good or he could have taken me next week!:)
He was very pleasant and understanding.
His office staff has been extremely friendly and helpful
He thoroughly addressed the risks though i had been to a seminar for another surgeon and had heard all the statistics. Will know better about his abilities after the surgery but he has a good reputation. I wasn't looking for a friend just an experienced talented surgeon. as near as i can tell he is one.
First consultation scheduled on 4/11/01. Getting the appt. was very easy. I just called and they gave it to me. Anne Timberlake then emailed me with a questionnaire and I filled it out. She also sent me a packet of information that was very useful and informative. I recieved the packet the day after I called. You must attend a group meeting before you have the surgery. I will go to the April meeting because I'm busy on the date they are having it in March. 4/11- Met Dr. Wetter, nice and informative. See profile for more info. My opinion of Dr. Wetter just gets better and better, he is highly respected by his patients and I haven't heard one word against him from all the people I've met in his support groups. He even attended the support group meeting on his own time one month to answer questions for us. That is dedication. 10/17-- Dr. Wetter is perfect. He's a master surgeon and follow up program is great. You can pick him with confidence. Dr. Wetter will be my choice for my own daughter when she is ready for this surgery--and I am a way-over-protective mother!
I haven't actually met the man yet, but I have heard and read great things. Today I emailed Anne Timberlake his Surgical Coordinator, and she does the initial screening at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center. So I get to wait about 5 days for her to call or e-mail me back about being a candidate for surgery. Keep your fingers crossed.
9-20-01--Well I met Dr.Wetter in August at my intial consult and all I can say is I think he is great. My first impression was that he definately knows his stuff. He came in the room all smiles asked how long we had been married (my hubbie was with me) and make some joke about the "seven year itch". He asked about my diet and medical history, my eating habits, sleep issues, and basically my life in general. He explained the whole proceedure to me, what to expect, complications that may arise, how much weight I could expect to lose. He stessed that it is basically up to the patient to make this work and that you must follow all of his instructions and not try to "doctor" yourself. His office staff was great I like everyone I came in contact with. I can't say that there is really anything I don't like about him. He stressed that after care is a must and that joining a support group is extrememly helpful and infact there is one at the hospital he does his surgery at and it is one of his requirements that you attend at least one of these meetings prior to your surgery. As for rating him I give a big 10 in my book. I think he is extremely knowledgable and has a great bedside manner, and both are extremely important to me. The only thing negative I can say is that I was kept waiting for a long time in the waiting room and sometimes he talks to you like you have no clue, but I think that is because he want to make sure you understand everything.