Shawn Garber Bariatric Surgeon MD, FACS, FASMBS

It's been one year and two days since I became born-again. I don't mean that in a spiritual sense; what I mean is that my new life began on August 10th, 2009. That's when I had gastric bypass surgery performed by Dr. Garber.

It is now one year and two days later. I'm down 108 pounds, and I've developed into a new person.

I still have a sense of humor, but it's not used now to compensate for being obese. I enjoy life, and I enjoy doing things I could no longer do.

When I first met Drs. Garber and Holover, they were quite patient with what seemed to be hundreds of questions that I had. But they addressed them all, and over the past year, they take the time I need when I visit their office for post-surgical care.

During their preliminary seminar, the doctors are sure to mention the negative aspects of surgery, the risks of surgery (any surgery, for that matter), and back up their statistics with easy-to-understand graphs. They are precise and knowledgeable about both types of surgery; lapband and bypass.

I have been treated by both doctors, Dr. Garber and Dr. Holover. They are competent, patient, and spend time with each patient to address concerns. In addition, the office staff is highly professional, knowledgeable about insurance issues, and makes you feel comfortable. Further, they go out of their way to help you, whether it be choosing foods to address your needs, or making an appointment to accommodate your schedule.

If I had one regret about the surgery, it is that I hadn't had it done earlier!

My first impression of Dr. Garber was, WOW, he knows his stuff. He was professional, confident, and knowledgeable answering all of my questions. I went to four Information Seminars before I had decided that this is what I wanted to do. I had no hesitation about the surgery because I knew that I had the Best Surgeon on all of Long Island. My lap band surgery was preformed on 4/26/2010. It has been twelve weeks since my surgery, and I am doing great. His office staff is the best.
I am now looking forward to great changes.

I AM PLANNING ON ATTENDING A SEMINAR THAT THE DOCTORS HOST, I HAVE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE NYBG GROUP, I AM CURRENTLY INTERESTED IN THE LAPBAND SURGERY...DR. GARBER HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE..MY FRIEND HAD SURGERY WITH THEIR OFFICE AND IS EXTREMELY HAPPY.

I had lapband surgery may 2010,i found the office through an online search, i would absolutely recommend the surgery to friends nowriends and family , recovery was only two weeks for me.The surgery has changed my life, im so active now!

MY COWORKER HAD SURGERY WITH THE NYBG GROUP, I HAVE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT DR GARBER AND HIS STAFF, APPTS ARE VERY CONVIENIANT AND HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, IM GLAD IM STARTING MYPROCESS WITH LAPBAND WITH HIS OFFICE!

having the surgery has given me my life back. i can do things again that i have not been able to do in several decades. i should have done it 20 years earlier. Top notch staff! Phenomenal surgeon!!!

I first visited Dr Garber in December of 2009 when I was simply desperate and couldn't take being fat anymore. My surgery was done on March 9th, 2010. It took a while to get all the testing done that needed to be done before I could qualify for the surgery. Luckily my insurance company covered a lot of that expense.

I opted for the gastric bypass after given all the information imaginable about WLS. Yes, it would be more complicated and yes, more expensive (I had to pay out of pocket because the insurance company didn't want to hear about WLS) but I really wanted to lose the weight and keep it off. I was 150 pounds overweight and miserable. I have since lost that.

I would rate Dr Garber an A+. My first impression was that I would get through this ordeal under the best care imaginable and my second impression was that this wouldn't kill me. He exudes confidence... and that's really what you want in a surgeon, isn't it? I know I do. I was simply terrified about the ordeal but the idea of failing at yet another diet terrified me more because I was suicidal.

Never in a million years did I ever think I would deliberately want major surgery. I hadn't been operated on before except for a lumpectomy. I was always very healthy despite my obesity luckily. I had no co-morbidities except for my cholesterol which has since gone down 200 points.. but it's still kind of high because it's the congenital kind.. and I kind of think that's all bogus anyway.

I had a few follow up visits after the surgery but couldn't afford to pay for them out of pocket as I had no job or money left after shelling out a ton of cash for the surgery and the stock market crashing down on me whereby I lost my retirement money.

My regular internist (Dr Jed Hantverk) is a doll and he saw me regularly to do blood work (when I felt weak or poopy) after the surgery and check my health. He originally recommended Dr Garber to me when I told him how desperate I was to knock off the poundage.

Dr Garber is always available via email. Imagine that? And he writes back quickly. So whenever I had a question or a concern, I'd contact him via email.

In November 2009 I was experience burning in my pouch and he told me it sounded like I had an ulcer and I saw his partner Dr Holover for an endoscopy which showed I had one. The meds cleared that right up. I had to re-quit smoking again. Unfortunately, my then ins. co. decided to deny the claim for stupid reasons and at this moment it is being fought by the NYS Attorney General's office on my behalf but it doesn't look good for me because it was a private insurance company/scam from the husbands car dealer. I owe Drs Garber/Holover a ton of money from the endoscopy and I just don't know how I am going to come up with it. The billing department... well.... we'll see what she comes up with for me. I was trying to negotiate for a lower price and figure out a payment plan. I don't eat much anyway, so I can pay out of food money over time until I find a job.

He saved my life last week:

On Friday, June 2,1010 I was at the end of my rope with another complication. I was having some gastric problems and it turned out that I had twisted bowels and an internal hernia. I had just gotten over a terrible intestinal virus which I believe is what twisted my guts into a pretzel.

I had already seen 4 doctors on my insurance plan and had 3 tests done (CT, MRI and endoscopy). Dr Garber is not on my current health insurance plan (I dumped the other horrible one that he wasn't on either) but I wrote to him to explain what I was going through and the horrible ordeal I was being put through by my covered health providers through my insurance and how I had been in excruciating pain for 3 weeks and still waiting to even have a consult with a surgeon would be another week. I was getting so scrawny and weak from not eating. I was dehydrated and dizzy.

I was seriously afraid of getting gangrene if the blood supply was cut off, that I had 6 hours to live should that happen. I read about it on this very website and that is what prompted me to contact him that morning.

He told me to immediately get to the ER at Mercy Hospital for emergency surgery. He said insurance would have to cover emergency surgery in an ER. His staff set me up. His partner, Dr Holover also called me from the hospital to talk to me.

Within one hour, I was being prepped for surgery to be performed by Dr Holover who just happened to be on my insurance plan and I feel that they saved my life. The two of them operated on me. Unfortunately I had to be cut open because the situation couldn't be corrected otherwise. But they tried. It's been a week. I can eat again although the operation really hurts.

The staff at Dr Garber's office was amazingly helpful, knowledgeable and supportive since day one.

The surgery is done at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Center, NY. The hospital is set up to handle bariatric patients and you don't feel like a freak. I went to a few sessions there before the bypass surgery and met with a nurse who explained everything in detail. How wonderful is that? I knew exactly what to expect, even though it was not pleasant. There were no surprises.

I have nothing negative to say about Dr Garber or Dr Holover. They are competent and quite personable as well. I consider them to be the dream team of bariatric surgeons. I was so well informed leading up to and after my surgery that I never felt stupid, scared or dumb. After speaking to numerous other friends who had the surgery by other doctors, I believe that I was the best informed.

Out of pocket costs for the surgery and 2 night hospital stay came to about $30,000. I will never regret the expense... not even with the complications I had subsequently. I was aware of the risks and accepted them. I have complete confidence that this surgical team will look out for me.

I hope this helps anyone in the NY area, or anywhere who is looking for an effective solution to being unhealthy and fat.

I am also so grateful for this forum and the information I got last week that I feel saved my life.

I felt GREAT after surgery. Mercy Medical Center was amazing!! The best hospital out there for bariatric surgery. They were helpful, kind, and I felt like I was in the best hands. Dr Garber is a exceptional surgeon.

The best practice there is!!!! YOU ARE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE BY NOT SEEING EITHER DR GARBER OR DR HOLOVER! They are EXCELLENT surgeons!

I had the bypass done by Dr Garber. It was BY FAR the best move I have ever made! I had terrible diabetes and I weighed 260lbs... and now I'm 150lbs!!!