Stephen Pollard Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

I had this surgery with Mr pollard in October 2001 weighing 121 kg.

I did lose weight but had keloid scarring on the stomach and the pouch widened. In 2008 I had a band over a bypass in Belgium and at my thinnest in 2010 and 19 was 60kg. Unfortunately some obese patients will always have a problem with weight and after 23 years I'm obese again and awaiting remedial surgery. It did help but is not a total fix permanently. I have the longest success rate in the uk for a patient with the band over bypass but band needs replacement after 17 years.

i had a gastric bypass on 24th March 2009 at Spire Roundhay Leeds, it was a very informed decision, i had met someone who had the same surgery at the same place with Mr Pollard so i knew a lot about it before i made the appointment. I have struggled all my life with my weight, at my heavyest i was 21 1/2 stone, i am 5ft 1", at the time of surgery i was 15 stone and on my way back up again, i had all the usual problems with food issues and just knew i could not solve my problem with food in any other way.
Mr Pollard has been wonderful, the operation was nerve wracking, to actually put yourself through that is a hard decision especially for someone like me who hates hospitals, but it was over quick and i was back home in 5 days. I cannot praise Mr Pollard enough, he tells you as it is at every stage and although my journey since the operation has been up and down my weight loss has gone as i hoped, i am now 10.10 and want to stabilize at 10.7. i would look silly any smaller as my skin is baggy, If you have struggled and are at your wits end then this is for you, its hard and scary but have faith in your surgeon and if possible see Mr Pollard, i took a loan and paid for my operation and it was the best thing i could do i feel in control for the first time ever and once you get used to what you can do and cant do its plain sailing - Lesley Johnson

Dear Mr Pollard,

I don't know if you will remember or not but I came to see you at BUPA on my 50th Birthday in 2000 to ask for a Gastric By pass due to my family's Coronary Heart Disease history and my inability to lose weight.

Just 2 years later my brother aged 43 had a cardiac arrest and died.

I would like to thank you 10 years on at aged 60 as I truly believe if it had not been for this surgery I would not be sending you this email.

Also, on a lighter note, I have found the surgery to have been totally cost effective. Just after my weight reduction I was offered a job £7,000 more a year plus a company car. I think I paid about £7,000 for the surgery!

However, in general terms I have had all round benefit from the operation. I spend 5 months each winter in a bikini, on the beach and living in my apartment in Goa. That is something I could not have done in the past. My boyfriend just last week told me I had the perfect figure. Really funny as I do not discuss the past with anyone !!!

I must admit I am into hours of yoga in Goa and cycle about about 60 miles per week in Yorkshire.

Thank you once again for you help.

My first consultation over the telephone was excellent - he was very understanding. My subsequent visit was also very positive and supportive. He seemed to understand people who were overweight and was one of the first medical people who spoke to me in a manner which didn't make me feel like a big beast.rnAll of the pre-op stuff was excellent and I had total confidence in him in terms of the operation and short-term aftercare. He was very good at explaing everything including the risks and provided a useful booklet about the operation and eating both in the short term and later.In terms of the actual operation I would rate him excellent - he certainly knows his stuff and I had no problems whatsoever.I paid privately for the operation and I think this is where it fell down - apart from the 6 week check I've never really had any aftercare from anyone - my own GP doesn't really show any interest and doesn't seem to understand the issues ect so I generally don't even bother discussing issues etc. He does run a support group - but I wouldn't really call it that its seems more like a sales pitch for the operation - very shambolic in terms of organisation and only really dealt with short-term issues.

STEVEN POLARD.

VERY NICE

DID NOT

VERY GOOD

BEING POSSITIVE

VERYGOOD AT HIS JOB

HE IS VERY GOOD

YES

NO PROBLEM

VERY GOOD


SURGICAL COMPETENCE

My first impression of Stephen was that he was calm and nice. He seemed to really understand the plight of over weight people as well as he respected my knowledge about the surgery. This impression has not changed over time. In fact, the both of us have learned many things from each other in this journey through my operation. He has said to me in an email, "The things that I learn from you." His secretary, Louise, was always helpful and answered questions in as timely of a manner as she was able. I don't like the distance with him being in the sounth of the country and me way up in the north. It has made aftercare difficult, but he has been very good with me in either calling me and talking to me or emailing me and responding that way. He doesn't really emphasize much aftercare, but having said that I am very proactive with my own health and have asked him all sorts of aftercare questions. He answers them by email or phone promptly and has been great. But if you would not ask the questions, you probably would feel as if there was not sufficent aftercare. I feel that Stephen is bar far the premier surgeon in all of Europe for a RNY and he told me last week that he has now done over 1000 RNY surgeries as well as being a respected liver transplant doctor. He has a structured diet for us to follow after the op for the first 3-4 months but after that he says to eat in moderation a healthy and balanced diet and to exercise at least 3 x per week for a 30 min period. He doesn't have a huge list of rules of do and don't when it comes to your food, diet or even drinking with meals. he has always advocated to expierement different things in moderation after you are about 4-6 months post op and do what works best for YOUR body. During our original consultation, he went over the risks of the surgery well enough and I would rate him a 10 out of 10. I feel that surgical competence is the most important feature, but if that is in place, a good beside manner is also needed. Thankfully, Mr Pollard has both. :-)

Mr. Pollard is very sincere about his work and care for his patients. Unfortunately due to insurance problems he was not able to provide me with aftercare and I was dependant on other sources. But he has always been easy to contact through e-mail and quick to get back to me with questions I had.

Mr Pollard seemed very dedicated to his work and his patients. If any nurse did not treat a patient as he thoguht they should be treated that nurse would hear from him.

Mr Pollard has both incredible surgical competence- he's been doing this procedure for many years, before it became "the thing" to do.

I would highly recommend Mr Pollard to anyone considering the procedure.

He gave me a great first impression. He answered all my questions and explained the surgery in detail. As a matter of fact, he answered most of my questions before I even asked them. He was very calming and soothing about me being nervous.
However, his post-op follow has been very poor. I have had some complications and he has not been supportive. I had to have a British Dr(I live in the UK right now) at the last minute because Tri-Care referred military patients out.
To rate him overall I would have to give him a 5. The aftercare has been horrible for me but the pre-op and actual hospital stay visits were good. I think Mr. Pollard is just very busy.

Would never recommend wls to anyone. That is a personal choice that is come to individually. However, if anyone does decide to have wls, would recommend Stephen Pollard. He is the best. You couldn't want for a more understanding and professional approach to EVERYTHING.

I met Mr Pollard in February for my consultation. He was very understanding of the problems that overweight people face. He was reasuring and confident that he could help me with this surgery. He seemed totally committed to his patients and said that the support group run in Leeds was very good and most of the people who went would tell you what it was like "warts and all". He treated me like a human being and I came away very informed and eager to get on with it. His staff at the hospital were very helpful as well.