Richard Lazzaro Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

Dr. Macura and Dr. Lazzaro are the best surgeons any one can ask for. Their office is great as well as their staff. They are dedicated, proffesional and highly reliable.

My first impression of Dr. Lazzaro was very helpful, he was so patient and answered all the questions posed to him, sometimes even when they were not even related to the bariatric surgery. That first impression stayed with me and he is an excellent doctor.
He listens, never puts on any airs and always gives you straight information in a kind and compassionate way.

The office staff at the Brooklyn Barriatric Clinic are top rate. The program manager,
Gertrude, is an absolute angel. She helps everyone stay positive and she understands the serious decisions and explains many many details in a professional and courteous fashion. I felt very comfortable with the other team members as well. All very professional and helpful. What I like least about any good doctor is you have to be clear with your questions as they are very busy and yet if you forget to ask something, they or the support staff call you back immediately. I could not believe how prompt all my questions were answered.

Aftercare is strongly advocated and discussed at length before during and of course after surgery. They run support group meetings catering to the concerns of Pre-Op and Post-Op patients. The aftercare program is growing and I have every faith that the more people who participate the more services will be offered. The counseling on the vitamins and nutrition takes place in the office of the Doctors and with your personal coordinator and at the support group meetings.

The risks of surgery were clearl outlined and discussed during the pre-op presentation/orientation sessions.

Overall, I would rate both surgeons, Doctor Jerzy Macura, and Doctor Richard Lazzaro as excellent. Also their program Manager Gertrude Karras. The great part is that this team of doctors/surgeons have it all.
Great bedside manner, excelent surgical skill, and excellent competence.
I would strongly and highly recommend people to check out the Brooklyn Barriatric Clinic of Dr. Macura and Lazzaro.

As far as any negatives, the negatives I experienced were not the result of the Doctors or their team. The negatives had to do with the hospital staff and their competence levels. Some staff nurses are excellent and really care and others just treat you like a number. This you will find in most hospitals but I was relatively lucky overall.

1. DR. MACURA, WHO IS DR. LAZZARO'S ASSOCIATE, PERFORMED THE SURGERY. ON OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER, I LET HIM KNOW THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A GOOD REP ON THE INTERNET. THIS INFORMATION MAY HAVE BEEN THE REASON WHY HE TREATED ME SO WELL. HE WAS INFORMATIVE AND PLEASANT TO SPEAK TO.

2. MY IMPRESSION CHANGED ABOUT DR. MACURA. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS UPFRONT WITH HIM AND MY EXPECTATION WAS BASED ON HIS SUCCESSFUL SURGERY RATE RATHER THAN HIS BEDSIDE MANNERS. WHILE ON THE OPERATING TABLE, THE SURGICAL TEAM HAD A HARD TIME FINDING MY VEINS IN ORDER TO PUT THE IV, DR. MACURA WAS VERY REASSURING AND HELD MY HAND FOR A SECOND. THIS SMALL ACTION WAS VERY COMFORTING TO ME.

3. AGAIN, THE OFFICE STAFF WAS WONDERFUL. JODI WAS MY ASSISTANT AND RESPONDED TO ALL OF MY QUESTIONS AND TELEPHONE CALLS. MICHELLE AND GERTRUDE WERE ALSO OUTSTANDING IN ENSURING THAT I UNDERSTOOD THE PROCEDURE AND WHAT IT ENTAILED. MICHELLE ALSO VISITED ME AT THE HOSPITAL, THIS MADE ME FEEL GOOD.
DR. MACURA VISITED ME ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WHEN HE TOOK OFF FOR TWO DAYS, HE MADE SURE THAT ONE OF HIS COLLEGUES CAME TO SEE ME. NOT ALL THE PATIENTS GOT THIS TREATMENT. I WONDER WHY? COULD IT HAVE BEEN MY MENTIONING THE INTERNET REP.

4. THE LEAST THING A LIKE ABOUT HIM IS THE WAITING TO BE SEEN IN THE OFFICE. HOWEVER, THIS IS EXPECTED FROM ALL DOCTORS.

5. FUTURE PATIENTS SHOULD KNOW NOT TO JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE RIGOROUS SCHEDULE, OTHER PATIENTS MAY HAVE GOTTEN THE WRONG IMPRESSION. HOWEVER, I WANTED A COMPETENT DOCTOR WHO HAD A GOOD RATE OF SUCCESS, AND ALTHOUGH BEDSIDE MANNERS IS NICE, IT IS NOT WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. I AM ASCERTIVE ENOUGH TO ENSURE THAT WHAT I WANT IS WHAT I GET.

6. AFTERCARE IS EXTREMELY CRUTIAL TO HIS PRACTICE. YOU MUST BE IN A SUPPORT GROUP AND MEET WITH YOUR NUTRITIONIST ON A REGULAR BASIS. A WEEK AFTER YOU ARE RELEASE FROM THE HOSPITAL, YOU MUST SEE HIM. ANOTHER VISIT IS REQUIRED IN SIX WEEKS, THEN ANOTHER AT THREE MONTHS. I AM ALREADY AT THE THREE MONTHS STAGE. HOWEVER, HE AND HIS STAFF ARE ON CALL ALL THE TIME. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, THEY ARE THERE FOR YOU.

7. DR. MACURA AND HIS STAFF ADDRESS THE RISK OF SUGERY THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE ORIENTATION PERIOD HELD AT THE OFFICE IN THE INITIAL VISIT. EVERY PATIENT MUST ATTEND A GROUP SUPPORT MEETING ORIENTATION FOR PRE-OPT AND POST-OPT PATIENTS.

8. DR. MACURA'S OVERALL RATING IS OUTSTANDING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I BELIEVE IN HIM SO MUCH THAT I HAVE POSTED FLIERS AT MY WORK SITE REGARDING A FREE BARIATRIC SEMINAR ON MAY 27, 2004. I MUST SAY THAT THERE A QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO NEED HIS SERVICES. MY SURGERY WAS ON 2/11/04 AND I HAVE LOST 52 LBS. THIS IS QUITE NOTICEABLE AND I AM GETTING A GREAT DEAL OF COMPLIMENTS FROM MY STAFF AND PEERS.

I met Dr. Lazzaro at the Seminar that Mamonides holds. He was very informative and pleasant to speak to. I had my Surgeon appointment today - 5/4/04 which is my Birthday and he is a great doctor. He spoke to me in a very friendly manner and answered all my questions. I am so glad that I came to Maimonides for help. I have not met Dr. Macura yet but I did see him and say hello. I hear he is as nice a man as Dr. Lazzaro and I look forward to having my surgery done by Brooklyn's 2 best Surgeons!!!!! I would reccomend everybody who needs this surgery to see them.