Thomas Umbach Bariatric Surgeon MD, FACS, FASMBS
16 yr Experience
16 yr in Bariatrics
16 yr in Laparoscopic Surgery
16 yr in Laparoscopic Bariatrics
100% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is 18
Max Age of Patient is 70
16 yr Experience
16 yr in Bariatrics
16 yr in Laparoscopic Surgery
16 yr in Laparoscopic Bariatrics
100% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is 18
Max Age of Patient is 70
created
patients
Show reviews by
Sort by
Most Helpful |
Newest
Dr. Umback is great, my impression of him stays the same. The staff at SSF Kaiser are great. They all emphasize after care.
He is very nice and seems to know his stuff. Very patient with questions and answers. Tells it like it is.
Stresses aftercare.He covered everything about the surgery. And let us know you can die.
Kaiser have you take classes before surgery. Yesterday I went to my orientation.
I met Dr.Umbach. He is very nice, plesant, patient when asked questions, he explained everything in detail, the good the bad and the ugly. Talked about how we could die from having the surgery. Seemed very honest, and smart, with a great attatude.
The staff I have met so far at Kaiser is wonderful. Know their stuff. Do not baby you. They tell it like it is.
Kaiser has a very structured before and aftercare program. They emphasize how we will be expected to come back after surgery for 18 months for follow up. You have to sign an agreement that you will. They are very nice and caring people.
I will add more later.
My first impression of Dr Umbauch came when he firmly shook my hand and looked at me directly in the eye for a full 3 seconds. His interview of me was not extensive. He asked me a few questions off the questionair I completed and gave to his receptionist. I wasn't sure what he wanted to hear from me when he asked "Why do you want this surgery?" I told him. But, I got the distinct impression he had heard it before. I did not want to be just another of the same old song so I elaboreated. He really perked up and became quiet animated when I shared with him something a WLS group leader shared with me.I told him she told me that getting ready for WLS is just like preparing for an athletic event or competition. Then I proceeded to tell him how I was preparing. The thing I liked least about him was the way his eyes glazed over while I talked, like he was looking at something in his head and not focused on me.His receptionist was helpful, patient and understanding(I was 20 minutes late.) My advice to anyone comming from Fairfield to South San Francisco for a 9 a.m. appointment is to leave 2 1/2 hours early. Traffic is awuful. Dr. Umbach asked me if I had questions and I said no because most of my questions have been answered by this site and the bariatric surery team at Kaiser. He asked if I knew the differnce between lap and open. I told him what I knew. He had me stand up and he touched me up and down. He concluded my fat was evenly distributed all over and that lap would be good for me. I asked him who would be doing that surgery on me. I'm not sure but I think he got a little miffed at that and even more so when I asked him if he had done lap before. He then explained that bariatric surgery was his field of expertise and he had done lap before at some other place. He warned me that there are risk and that I could die. I told him I knew that. He did not mention aftercare but I will see him again about a week before surgery he said.
