Phillip Leggett Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.
Saw Dr. Scarborough on January 7, 2003.
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Due to insurance conflict, I will not be useing Dr. Scarborough. I will update everyone on my new surgeon After my first visit on 7-22-03
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I went to see Dr. Leggett today for my first consult. My first impression was, wow! His office is beautiful and plush. I know that so does not matter in the whole sceam of things, but it was part of the first impression. His office staff was friendly and willing to answer all of my questions. His nurse that interviewed me, Becky,was very profesional, and I really like that. She said she has been working with Dr. Legget for 12 years. I actually only saw Dr. Leggett for about 5 minutes. They explained that on the first visit he does not talk with the patients much. The fist visit is more for gathering your information and getting you going on your homework assignment. Becky explained that he really holds alot of weight in the homework assignments. He is very selective on who he is willing to operate on. He is not like the first surgeon I saw. Dr. Scarborough did not require any piliminary testing other that an upper GI and an ultrasound of the gallbladder. That is nothing compaired to this doctor. He requires a consult with a Psycholigst, a Pulmonary Specialist, and a Dietician. After asking me just a couple questions, he also wants me to repeat a HIDA scan and ultrasound of the gallbladder. It has been since 1995 since the last one showed that I had a diseased gallbladder. I also have alot of family members with a history of gallbladder disease so most likely, he will be taking out my gallbladder during the procedure. I wish I could give more info about him personally but I can not. His staff was great and I look forward to the next appointment where hopefully I can get to know him more. I left with my instructions for what all I have to do over the next few weeks, which is alot. Hopefully within the next couple of months I will return for my next consult, turn in my homework and schedule surgery. Of course we have our fingers and toes crossed that every thing goes through with the insurance.
My impression of Dr. Leggett, was wonderful. I think he really makes you understand what is involved in the procedures, and he makes you part of the whole decision process. He makes sure you understand the procedure by providing homework that has to be done before procedure is even scheduled. Also, he makes sure you are seen by a dietician, have a pulmonary evaluation done and of course the psychology evaluation. All of these things have to be completed before you can see Dr. Leggett again, to see if you are able to have the surgery. I feel this is great, because I feel better knowing all the information before signing any informed consents for surgery. This is not something to take lightly. This is a major surgery and you need to know the short term care as well as the long term care and I feel Dr. Leggett makes sure of this. He insist on the aftercare program and he provides you with a support group, which I understand is another part of the whole process. I am looking forward to going through the process and getting healthy. Will add more as my process is continued.
MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF DR.LEGGETT WAS HE REALLY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING.HE ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTION.HE EXPLAINED THE PROCEDURE AND GAVE ME HOMEWORK TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD. MY IMPRESSION DIDNT CHANGE OVER TIME.WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE WAS JUST HOW EDUCATED AND EXPERIENCED HE IS. THE OFFICE IS VERY, VERY NICE AND THE STAFF IS WONDERFUL. STACEY WITH INSURANCE HELPED ME WITH EVERYTHING. THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT I DISLIKE ABOUT DR. LEGGETT. HE IS JUST GREAT. HIS ASSOCIATES WERE GREAT ESPECIALLY DR. SEGER. HE IS VERY UNDERSTANDING AND HELPFUL. FUTURE PATIENT'S COULDN'T ASK FOR BETTER DOCTORS. THEY STRONGLY EMPHASIZE AFTERCARE.THERE IS A SUPPORT GROUP AT THE HOSPITAL WITH SHARLA. SHE WAS JUST GREAT AND WAS MORE THAN HELPFUL TO GET ME SOMETHING THAT I WAS ABLE TO EAT. DR. LEGGETT ADDRESSED THE RISK OF SURGERY AND THAT IS WHERE THE HOMEWORK CAME IN TO ASSURE THAT I KNEW WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO. ON A SCALE OF 1-10 WITH 10 BEING THE BEST, I WOULD RATE DR. LEGGETT AND STAFF A 10+++. THEIR SURGICAL COMPETENCE AND BEDSIDE MANNER WERE ALSO 10++++. YOU COULDN'T ASK A KINDER OR SINCERE GROUP OF DOCTORS. THEY REALLY MADE ME FEEL SPECIAL AND MY LIFE CHANGING ORDEAL A LITTLE EASIER TO GO THROUGH.
Dr. Leggett was brief but to the point. I also know that he expects you to do your homework and I admire him for taking the extra effort to make sure you understand the surgery and possible complications. You gotta admire his tenacity for making sure you know what you are getting into with this surgery. When my husband went in for testing and biopsies he was very informative and seemed to care about my concerns.
My impression of Dr. Leggett was a positive one and I look forward to surgery day. I probably would have liked to have talked to him longer but I can see he has a very busy practice. The staff is wonderful and Stacy worked very hard for keeping the insurance company on notice for getting the approval. We thank her for that.
I took the initial and preverbial first steps to successful weightloss this week.
I met with Dr. Leggett's office this past Thursday (Feb 11 '04) I left with the feeling of "ok, that was easy" The staff was so pleasant! I felt no 'judgement' or anything negative. I am so ready to be told NO, or be met with adversary that I was so happy when I left feeling decent about myself and my decision in meeting with his office.
I got my homework packet, and scehdualed three of my appts already! Dietician, Pulmonary Eval, and Sharla with the support group at NW hospital. I will attend next Thursday's meeting at 7pm.
I am also meeting Dr. Leggett that morning for a scope (EGD) - he will be repairing an insicinial hernia I get from my gall bladder removal surgery last year - hopefully at the same time of my RNY surgery.
My worries lay within the world of Ins approval.
I have done a good bit of reading on Dr. Leggett, and have spoken to his office staff on the phone a good bit over the past 5 mths with multiple questions.
Now that I have met with them, I am still so very impressed with their ability to maintian their pateince with all of my questions and giving me time to get my question out!
I am 5'4 to 5'5 - 244.5 lbs - BMI 40 to 41
I am so tired of the Yo Yo dieting and know I can not continue to 'maintian my weight' with the Adipex diet pills. I have been on and off them for over 4 years. It is a STUPID and DANGEROUS path for my weight control issues.
I love the homework. I have been looking into this surgery for at least 7 months now - and still find new information!
Dr. Leggett is serious, and I appreciate his decision in being the doctor that he is. He cares about competence. I have never felt like just another patient his office is processing - and that includes when I was just calling his office with questions, and had not even seen them yet!
The journey will be an emotional one, an exciting and scary one. In the end, I will be healthier, happier, and living life to my full potential.
And greatful to Dr. Leggett for his gift of intelligence, medical skills, and his confidence in my successful weightloss endeavor.
I will succeed, and be a looser soon!
My first impression of Dr. Leggett was he was short and to the point.
My impression changed upon the next visit.
His staff is so friendly and sensative.
Dr. L is a real tough one. No sliding here. "No bedside manner".
Dr. L has your best interest always.
Aftercare is extremely important to all of the staff.
There is a somewhat program in effect.
The risks of surgery were printed in writing before the surgery, and in the materials that I was forced to study prior to the surgery. In other words, I was well aware.
Surgical competence is best, who cares about his bedside manner.
12/9/03 Well it's been a couple of weeks since i updated so here it goes, i am on week 3 and i went from 472 to 435 and i want to thank some GREAT People:
1st, Sharla Stroup,RN Bariatric Program Coordinator of Houston Northwest Medical Center with out her i would have never had my surgery as she made me feel and understand just how things were going to be ok( Sharla THANK YOU from the bottom of my soon to be healther heart)
2nd DR.Phillip Leggett,for excepting me as his patient and making me do ALL my homework and making me understand more about the surgery and being such a great Doctor and making it all happen.
3rd & 4th. To Dr.Mikey Seger and Dr.Robert Chastanet, which I am sure if it was not for Dr. Leggett's teaching would not be as good as they are today my hats of to you guys you are the best there is, they are start forward with all the care before and after this guys are ( In my opinion the best there is!!!) and they have a good sense of humor just keep the TV off in your hospital room when they come in to see you.(LOL)any way i am VERY thankful to all of them for helping me with the melting side.
And Last but not least to Dr. Leggetts office staff they by far the back bone of his office Thank you for every thing you had to deal with when it comes to the insurance people you ladys are by far the best in the field (My hat's off to you)
I first met with his associate Dr. Segar and the first thought was wow he looks really young. During the consult Dr. Leggett came in for brief second and looked at me funny and said how old are you? I said 25 he said ok I wnot do surgery on teenagers. That made me feel good!! They gave me homework to do and a list of doctors to see. His staff is wonderful they are always willing to answermy questions no matter how many time I call.
my first impression of dr. leggett was that he is very direct and straight forward but also very confident in what hes doing, which is great by me. on my first visit i only saw him briefly and most everything was explained and my questions answered by his assistant, who also seemed to be quite competant. i was given a list of doctors to see for pre surgery clearance and what he calls homework to be completed by me prior to surgery.he wants to make sure you know exactly what you are doing. his office staff is just the best. very helpful,polite and knowledgable. they know how to take care of business.always pleasant and helpful on the phone. everyone in this doctors office makes for a very competant staff.one thing i dont understant is why they dont have their own scale to weight you. i was sent to another office and was crudely greeted by someone else nurse who acted like i was a bother to them. doing the kind of surgeries he does you would think his office would have their own scale.