Latham Flanagan Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

My husband and I drove from Medford to Eugene to meet Dr. Flannigan. We were so impressed after our 3 hour consult. He was so understanding and kind and made me feel like being overweight was not my fault. I could hardly wait to have the surgery. I was committed and determined to be a successs. I had my surgery and the first time Dr. Flannigan came in I had a rude awakening. Where was this understanding, compassionate doctor I had met in his office?
I was so suprised at the amount of pain I had and mentioned it to the nurse. When Dr. Flannigan came in the next time I felt he reamed me out about complaining about the pain. I followed his instructions to the minute detail and lost the first 135 lbs so fast. I felt good and looked good. But everytime I went back to Dr. Flannigan I felt he beratted me for one thing or another. Maybe I am thin skinned, but it got so I was so afraid of him and eventually I just could not get the nerve up to go back for an appointment.
His office staff was always friendly and courteous. I was amazed they always seemed to know me when I called. With all of his patients, they couldn't possibly keep all of us straight.
When I was at 200 lbs, my lowest weight, I was diagnosed with Lupus and put on high doses of prednisone. I was hungry all the time. I never ate very much, but I ate too often and started the upward spirile. There was no way I could go back to Dr. Flannigan now, I couldn't even imagine what he would say to me. Within a year I had both knees replaced and surgeries on both feet. Walking for excercise came to a halt.
Well, I am 6 years post surgery now. I would love to have a revision, as I am on the diet merry go round, Atkins, Dr. Phil, no fat, etc. Of course, we all know if one of these had worked the surgery wouldn't have been necessary in the first place.
Well, that's my story. I was painfully honest. I am so ashamed that I waisted the best opportunity of my life to lose this weight.

I had heard that he was quite curt and didn't quite know what to think.After talking a few minutes with him, he warmed up and so did I. I have a medical background so he was able to explain it in terms that I understood. The visit with him was 3 hrs but it went by very fast. His office staff were wonderfull! Very warm and felt like family right away. He will be retiring in November but he's compassionate enough to continue to see all his patients until they have reached the 18 mo date. He won't be doing any more surgeries after that. His aftercare is very structured and he has encouraged me to attend the support group in my town.
Overall, I would rate him very competant (20 yrs experience)very knowledgeable and under the gruff exterior, very concerned about the growing obesity problem in our state. In my experience with him so far, I feel comfortable in having him do the surgery.

I met with Dr. Flannagan on February 27, 2004, we had a long visit, and many questions were asked and answered. He is a stear man, very knowledgeable, with a lot of information to give to and for you to consider. He for sure knows his area of expertees and is very good at what he does. He is gruff, but caring, and very concerened about the obesity problem in the USA.
He is streight foward and up front about all risks and complication that exist, and also makes you feel comfortable that you are in capable hands.

His staff is kind and helpful, and seems to be right on top of things. I enjoyed talking with all of them from the get go.

I would rate this dcotor high, not only becasue of his knowledge and caring about obesity, but because of his years of experience dealing and helping patients with this problem.

I have heard that his bedside manner is hard, but then again, if you want results you make them happen, don't ask make it happen. I have heard many things about his bedside manner beging hard, but that he is a great surgeon, and that is all that matters to me.

I was quite impressed; a very informative and businesslike man. He is brusque at times and demands absolute obedience to his program, but other than that he is a great surgeon. His office staff is very friendly but his bookkeeper is something else -- unfriendly and unapproachable to say the least; very difficult to contact. Dr. Flanagan is a great proponent of taking care of oneself. He is a very structured person with a very structured aftercare program and lays literally "everything" on the dotted line. He informs one of all the possibilities of the surgery. I would rate him a 9 because his bedside manner is not quite as relaxing as it could be; rather, it is a bit tense.

My first impression of him is that he's very knowledgeable and professional. I was totally impressed with him. He seemed to want to put me at ease and also let me know that he'd do everything he could to help make this process comfortable for me. His office staff is awesome: very friendly and helpful.

We finally got to meet with Dr. Flanagan, it took Kaiser a month to get my records to him, but that's another story.

Ive read that Dr. Flanagan is gruff, and not very warm...and I can see why these things were said, but I disagree. He is just very outspoken, and passionate about good health and stopping obesity. He spent over 4 hours with us, and I feel very confident, and glad that he will be doing the surgery.

Since we are self-paying, Kaiser wont do it, we tried...its just excluded, period, from our service plan. I was saying, that Dr. Flanagan is considerate of finances. He wants to see us get this done. The hosp. there will give a 10% refund if paid up front, and if the doctor also gives a discount. Dr. Flanagan gave us a generous, higher than thought discount, and promises to try and get me out of there as soon as I am able. !! (I know, he's not God)
This is all my opinion, and certainly varies from person to person
Anyway, the whole group of people, staff, was so helpful, and patient, and seemed happy for me!

His practice is the "Oregon Center for Bariatric Surgery" in Eugene, Or.

We are schedualed to meet Dr. Flanagan dec.21 wish us luck.
well we met him not the greatest first impression.
basically after waiting for him ,for about 3mos, to file the papers with the insurance we decided he just didn't have time enough for me so we went to another surgeon

he seems like a verry smart and capable man i am impressed with him

not so impressed with the ofice staff yet
but all places have bad times hopfully it will get better



hi ofice stafe has improved gratly they are verry nice and helpfull

as for doctor flanagan he is a briliant surgan but he has absultly no bed side maner he is gruff and can also be down right rude yes he has to get you to understand serton theing but he dosent have to do it in the way he dose
he also give me the imprestion that he dosent think that our time is as important as his so be prepared to wait around for him

over all i went in knowing he has no bedside maner but i wonted the best sergon
but there were a few times when i regreted chouseing some one that just dosent understand how to handle thing sensitivly when necisiary


but this is just my openion of him from what i have experiance with him other may feal verry diferent

I really liked this Dr...it was wonderful to have a physician that spent the great amount of time with me. I took over 18 months to make final decision to have the procedure. He was very thorough and really did not pressure me to make the decision tha I did. His office staff is awesome and very helpful. Anytime I had questions, they were promptly answered. We have a local support group that has been a real asset and is very important to success. I went several months before ever meeting Dr Flanagan and then for several times after. This was the best decision I could have ever made. The quality of my life has improved even at this early date at least 10 fold.....

9/11/02 Now I am post-op tummy tuck and my opinion has not changed in any way...I have a great deal of respect for this surgeon. He is very serious about his business and his expectation of patient compliance is not unreasonable...After all he has given the tool and the patient has the responsibility of using it properly. He cannot do this for you...He has chewed my butt a couple of times, but I really had it coming and I certainly sat up and took notice of what he had to say.

2/17/03...lAST 5 MONTHS HAVE BROUGHT SEVERAL EPISODES OF PARTIAL BOWEL OBSTRUCTIONS....I WENT TO A LOCAL SURGEON, BRET HANSEN...WHO IS RELATIVELY NEW TO THIS COMMUNITY. HE HAS BEEN PROVIDING BARIATRIC SURGICAL SERVICES IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE SEPTEMBER,2002 HE HAS BEEN VERY PERSISTENT IN GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SITUATION...IT APPEARS THAT ANOTHER SURGERY WILL MOST LIKELY BE NEEDED TO REMOVE SCAR TISSUES FROM PREVIOUS SURGERIES AT THE POINT THAT I JUST CANNOT TOLERATE THE MONTHLY HOSPITAL VISITS ANYMORE. I HAD MY TWO YR POST OP CHECK WITH DR FLANAGAN THIS PAST WEEK AND HE ALSO CONCURS. DR HANSEN IS A VERY PATIENT CENTERED PHYSICIAN AND HAS GREAT CONCERN AND CARING FOR HIS PATIENTS. I HAVE BEEN MOST IMPRESSED WITH HIS BEDSIDE MANNER AND PERSISTENCE IN GETTING TO THE SOURCE OF MY PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO SEEN HIS DEALINGS WITH HIS BARIATRIC PATIENTS AND HE IS VERY THOROUGH IN HIS EXPLANATIONS AND GIVE GREAT REASSURANCE. THE ONLY THING I HAVE OBSERVED IN TERMS OF HIS AFTERCARE IS THE LACK OF A STRUCTURED AFTERCARE PROGRAM. BUT THIS MAY BE SOMETHING HE IS DEVELOPING AS WELL SINCE HE IS FAIRLY NEW TO THIS AREA.

My first Impression of Dr. Flanagan was great. I was extremely impressed by his experience and his knowledge in just the area of the surgery itself. He was very informative, and made me feel somewhat relaxed even though I was a high risk.

I can't say my impression changed. The only thing over the experience that bothered me was the rates changed, and I found out that I had to come up with the extra $2000.00, which was not expected at all! That was such a blow, He just raised his rates in the month I went in for my consultation before the surgery. I had no idea how I was going to come up with the $. But, thank GOD, I did.

Dr. Flanagan's office staff was very friendly,caring,and knowledgeable in the area of the surgery as well. Sue, Denise, and the Secretary was so sweet. Anytime, I needed anything, or had a question(s)they were more than happy to help me.

What I least liked about DR. Flanagan was his straightforwardness. It was so hard to take. HE is very stern on what he means. He don't have any problem telling you what he thinks about your situation. BUT, he means well.

I want future patients to be prepared of what he asks you to do prior to surgery. His requirements may seem hard to achieve, or finish. He has you make certain that your papers are filled out correctly, and that nothing is missing. Because, he knows how bad these insurance companies don't want to pay for this. He has no time to WASTE! This is an extensive surgery. The disipline of getting all of your history done, meaning: You for sure have to get all of the prior DR's reports for the last 5 years. If you don't have this, they will deny you. This is a proven fact! So whatever you do make sure that you have all things covered. You will be devistated if he turns you down! And folks, HE WILL! He almost turned me away because I didn't loose all of the weight he required me too. The only reason he did it was because of the insurance issue's, and because of my prior efforts. IF your insurance is willing to pay for this, make damn sure you have all things covered! He will reschedule you in a heartbeat. It is no skin off of his back at all. He does this because he cares plain and simple. He will not take the chance with someone's life, or his career. He has worked to hard throughout years. His knowledge is Phenominal! You will see!

DR. Flanagan is very stricked. He wants 110%. His success rate with weight loss for his patients to me, and all of the others I have spoken with, have said that it is higher than the average if they stick to his plan. He expects his patients to make the committment, and stick to it. This is only going to benefit you. If I can do this you can too.

He has a structured aftercare program. He wants you to go to the meetings, and he has what you can and cant have throughout the different phases up to a year. He lets you know of your required follow-up exams, and the required vitamins and other things needed for great success.

Dr Flanagan let me know of the high risk that I was at before the surgery, and what I might want to do to help lower the risk such as weight loss prior to surgery and a special diet the last week before the actual surgery.

I would rate DR Flanagan a 10! He gave me a 2nd chance at life.

I would say his surgical competence is more important, but his bedside manner could be beneficial at putting you at ease. I felt so comfortable going into surgery knowing that I was in the best possible hands next to the LORDS!