Robert Rabkin Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

My consultation with Dr. Rabkin was excellent. He is a kind, warm and caring surgeon. I was extremely nervous and he put me completely at ease. He is very thorough. Before I meet with Dr. Rabkin, his RN, Barbara (and Delephine) took me through an educational meeting in regards to the DuodenalSwitch surgery. It was very informative. I am also very impressed with Dr. Rabkin after care program. This is something that is very important to me and I feel will be vital with my recovery process. I also met with his insurance coordinator Camilla. Dr. Rabkin's staff is wonderful, especially the receptionist Elaine, but they are all very overworked and overwhelmed.

Actually, I didn't get to talk to Dr. Rabkin until after surgery. My pre-surgery exam was with his associate, Dr. Jossart.
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Dr. Jossart is young and apparently a whiz at laparascopic surgery. Between my visit with him and the nurse, Delphine, I received a very thorough understanding of the procedure.

I thought Dr. Rabkin was very nice. He gave me
a good exam and answered my questions. He has done
over 800 DS surgeries and is very knowledgeable. That
is why we flew to San Francisco. Since this surgery
isn't done in Texas I knew I had to travel so why
not travel to the Best. I really think he is great.
His patients have developed what my husband calls
the Rabkin salute. People literally stopped me in the hall asked if I was
going to see him and then flashed me their scars. His patients
all love him.

His follow-up care is great. I talk with his nurses on a
regular basis. When I began to have problems I called them
and they were very helpful. Before I had my hernia repaired, Dr. Rabin
called my surgeon at home in Texas and discussed my case. He then
called me to reassure me that he was comfortable with my
surgeons plan for treatment. Dr. Rabkin has monthly and bi-monthly meetings.
His patients have a clothes closet in San Francisco. Unfortunately I am too
far to participate. I do e-mail his group on yahoo.

I have no regrets with my choice in surgery or surgeons.

My first impression at my initial consultation NOVEMBER 23:
He is just as nice
and as genuine as people have been saying...
he's patient and was ready to answer all
questions...courteous...extremely knowledgeable.
His clinical nurse gives you a 20-minute lesson on the procedure
and then you are given a 20-question quiz to confirm that
you know what you are getting into. Also, Dr. Rabkin is a YALE and STANFORD graduate...
and that's no small feat...I feel REALLY good about
this doctor and his staff... We have to wait now
to see what my insurance says (PacifiCare).
I talked to Janice at the doctor's Southern California office
and she said that the medical group I have
is VERY good about approving
this surgery (Brown & Toland Medical Group).**HINT**ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE ALREADY
GONE TO A WEIGHT LOST DOCTOR PREVIOUSLY AND CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON THOSE RECORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


DECEMBER 7--My letter was faxed to my provider: BROWN & TOLAND MEDICAL GROUP
(under PACIFICARE HMO).........................................................................................


DECEMBER 10--APPROVED!!!! Lap Distal Gastric Bypass/Duodenal Switch
surgery scheduled for JANUARY 25, 2000.........................................................................


HOT DAMN!!!!!!! (SMILE)........................................................................................


JANUARY 24--UPDATE: Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life! I can't WAIT to get this over with!!! I have NO DOUBT
whatsoever that this is the BEST decision I have ever made for myself.
I have had to have the following tests (but I came through with flying colors): Pre-op history & check-up with my primary care doctor,
pulmonary function testing (i.e., blowing in a long tube; walking on a treadmill while being hooked to a heart monitor)
psychiatric evaluation and one last talk with "THE AMAZING and GIFTED" Dr. Rabkin (the surgeon). After that, I went to the hospital
to get all the pre-admitting stuff out of the way (so all I need to do tomorrow is SHOW UP!) Dr. Rabkin requires TONS of testing
before he will EVEN touch you. So, during the admitting procedures, I also had: 6 tubes of blood taken, urinalysis, EKG, chest X-rays and
a review of my history again... (PHEW!!!!!! This is HARD work, but worth every second of it...) I started taking all kinds of medications
already, like anti-biotics and laxatives to clean out my system. One of them I took last night made me sick to my stomach, so I had stuff coming out
of BOTH ends! (YUKKY POO!) Believe me, it was NOT cute! Today, I was told NO SOLIDS to eat AT ALL (only clear liquids, until Midnight...)
And more anti-biotics and laxatives today, tonight and then tomorrow.... IT'S SHOW TIME!!!!.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

AUGUST 29, 2001 (18 Months later...)

I had surgery 18 months ago. I was down to my ideal weight within 9 months of the surgery. I have lost 115 Lbs. !!!! I am as small as I was in junior high school. And that was so long ago I can't even begin to tell you... People who know me, pass me on the street and don't even know who I am!!!

I hope you like shopping... You need to get all your credit cards clean so that you can run them back up again buying clothes... I hate shopping, so to replace every stitch of underwear, lingerie, jeans, dress, blouse...was not my idea of a good time. HOWEVER, I did enjoy my first real shopping spree at Christmas, when my husband bought me everything leather I could get my butt into!

Are you getting the picture?

If I was to give any advice before surgery, it would be to eat everything and anything in sight because you are not going to be able to afterwards... Your stomach will only hold so much at first (mine was only 6 ounces, the size of a bathroom Dixie cup! ) Also, you will have to re-introduce yourself to different foods, a little at a time. So, your favorite foods will be a thing of the past for some time to come.

Also, make sure you have a very supportive person around you for the first 4 -5 weeks after surgery. (My husband really proved what he was made of during that time!!!!!)

HINT*** One thing I wasn't ready for was the psychological dependency I had on food and I got really depressed and grouchy because my food crutch was gone. (No Taco Bell, Burger King..) I can eat anything now, although Chinese food is still the one that makes me want to get sick sometimes...

Last, but not least (actually, the most important of all), my health is 100% clear of all the weight-related illnesses I was having: No more snoring at night (sleep apnea), acid reflux (GERD), back pain, knee pain, shortness of breath, urinary stress incontinence and depression... Everything is GONE!

Not to mention the social benefits: I was beginning to become a hermit and didn't want to go anywhere. Got tired of trying to fit in clothes and wearing the same, dark clothes....Was beginning to have trouble fitting my hips into airplane and theatre seats...Not any more!

Dr. Rabkin is a genius. His after-care program is the best. You can call them anytime day or night. I would do this again, IN A HEARTBEAT!!!! I wish I had done this earlier in my life, but they are perfecting the technique all the time... I am happy I have the latest technology has to offer right now...

Best wishes and good-luck (from someone who's been there) ~Sandy

I met with Dr. Rabkin on June 27 for all of 10 minutes. Before that, it was his assistant, Michael Rossi. Dr. Rabkin seems pretty competent and friendly, from what I would tell in the short time I talked to him. I'm very confident he'll do a good job.

I have not met him yet, but I feel that he is my latest possiblity for WLS. I have a friend who lives in San Fransico. She will be the first one to go to a metting for me to find out more about him. My Dr. here will most likey refer me over to This Dr on the west coast.
I feel so sorry about Larry. Larry's family, my heart goes out to you. Peace be to you all. I will try never to go to a Dr. who is doing this for the first time. How awful awful.

I had my consult with Dr. Rabkin on 3/21/01. You first start off with a nice, easy to understand, but quite informative lecture by his Clinical Nurse Delphine. Delphine explains the surgery, all its risks, complications and the entire procedure from top to bottom. She then gives you a written exam to make sure you understood the operation. The operation I am going for is the BPD/DS surgery. Dr. Rabkin specializes in this and has been doing this quite a long time.

There is an after care program and several support groups that meet during the month. I attended a support group meeting prior to my first conult and all I heard were raves about Dr. Rabkin.

When I met Dr. Rabkin after the meeting with is nurse, he was thorough and explained eveything again. I did find his bedside manner lacking when he answered his cell phone in the midst of my physical examination. Other than that, I have no negative comments.

I met with Dr. Rabkin and he's very low-key and centered. He seems to be a gentle man with a real concern for helping people feel better. He was very detailed about my history and wanted to know more than most doctors I'd been to before about what situation I was in when I began to struggle with my weight. He is also a very busy man... going to an appointment is often an all-day experience.

The office staff is over-extended need some restructuring, but Dr. Rabkin's RN Delphine is wonderful and practically spanked my HMO for not sending my referral like they told me they did (I almost had to pay $300 for a consultation).

I cannot stress enough that you need to stay on top of the office in regards to your needs and desires. They ARE willing to accommodate you, you just need to poke them.

My consultation with Dr. Rabkin was excellent. He is a kind, warm and caring surgeon. I was extremely nervous and he put me completely at ease. He is very thorough. Before I meet with Dr. Rabkin, his RN, Barbara (and Delephine) took me through an educational meeting in regards to the DuodenalSwitch surgery. It was very informative. I also met with his insurance coordinators Chamile and Joannie. Dr. Rabkin's staff is wonderful, especially the receptionist Elaine, but they are all very overworked and overwhelmed.

First Impression- GREAT! Concerned, attentive, involved, caring, non-judgemental, etc
My impression has not changed, he remains all of the above.
Unfortunately, as patients that is who we mainly deal with on a regular basis. Some problems: turnover of office staff, inconsistent info, difficult to talk to anyone, frequent office closings, having the answering service answer calls, the majority of staff haven't experienced the enormous wave of feelings a patient experiences with this type of surgery, etc.
His support staff and the $3,000 program fee required of all patients which is not billable to insurance companies.
Be prepared, you need to be your own advocate, you need to be tenacious and goal oriented.
Aftercare is discussed openly, requirements are outlined, etc
Yes
Yes
Surgeon (1-10)-9, Staff-3
I clearly demand competence, but bedside manner is equally important

All of the above are my personal comments surrounding my own experiences. My comments in no way speak for anyone else's experience. My comments should in no way dissuade anyone from seeking proffesional medical care from this physician or any other.