Todd McCarty Bariatric Surgeon MD, FACS

Please note these opinions and this experience is solely my own. I attended the Baylor WLS Center seminar on Jan 22, 2004. Dr McCarty was not present that night. I have heard wonderful things about the entire group and look forward to meeting Dr McCarty soon. I was impressed with the presentation by the two surgeons who were there.

This practice is very busy and is managed seperately from their individual surgery practices (different staff, insurance specialists, etc...). I can't imagine having to keep up with those busy surgeons and also having to keep up with four different offices + the WLS office calendar. I will update after consultation.

3/10/04 - Now I know why I waited to have my WLS at Baylor with Dr McCarty. I had my consult today and I am so impressed with Dr McCarty as well as EVERYONE on the WLS Center's staff. They are so efficient and friendly. I guess that's why they're in such demand. I feel totally comfortable with them and am so glad I made this decision.

<center>The opinions expressed and beliefs below are solely those of Teena Adler. The opinions and beliefs expressed below are not a reflection of the beliefs or opinions shared by AMOS/Obesityhelp.com or others. I am writing in regards to what I have experienced and witnessed regarding Dr. McCarty and the Baylor WLS Group, as that is all that I can speak of. Just because I have experienced or witnessed the things discussed below with Dr. McCarty and the Baylor WLS Group does not mean that you will have the same experience with him. <br><P>

I do not appreciate my honest opinions of Dr. McCarty and the treatment that I have endured while being a patient of Dr. McCarty being deleted without receiving an email from AMOS stating why it was deleted. I realize that this is your site and you have a right to do whatever you want, but if I followed your rules regarding posting a review of a doctor why was my post was still deleted?<br><p>

If it is honesty that owners of AMOS/Obesity Help and pre op patients are seeking than that was what I posted. This is my story and what I experienced in dealing with Dr. McCarty. <br><P>

When I first met Dr. McCarty 02/14/02 for the seminar he was so full of information and was so knowledgeable about the surgery and his statistics were wonderful. He was no doubt the doctor I wanted to do my surgery.<br><p>

I met one of his patients (Charlotte) and she was post op and doing great. She was at goal and was doing amazing and looked amazing. I had no doubt that my mind was made up to go forward with the surgery.<b><P>

05/6/02 - I had my consult with him and he put my mind at ease about the surgery and the procedure and the aftercare needed. He made me feel very good about having the surgery with him.<br><p>

06/06/02 - My surgery was 2 hours later than planned and I was alone because we were told to be there early and surgery ended up taking place later. He never called my mom until she called to find out how I was doing in the OR even though I left a note on chart that my mom was on her way to the hospital and would be in the lobby and after surgery to call my mom. The next day he sent his intern Dr. Arnold to see me and he did come and see me on the weekend to check on me.<br><p>


My follow up visits were decent and very quick and to the point as they should be I guess. I brought up concerns and questions and he answered them. I also developed an internal hernia 10 months post op. My PCP could not see it on x rays she ordered and Dr. McCarty was very quick in getting me taken care of and doing exploratory surgery and finding the Internal hernia and correcting it (turned out it was a break out of patients who had them around the same time 6-8). They adjusted the way they stitch things up inside because a connection was not closing on it's own naturally the way it was suppose to, hence the internal hernia.<br><P>


Things changed the farther the bigger the program grew as far as the program. It is only natural for Dr. McCarty to be busier as his practice grows. He is a doctor and has a family and other responsibilities, but the program took a drastic change in the quality of the meetings as more and more meetings were being chaired by the new doctors in the program and the topics were more and more suited to newly post op patients versus post ops further out. There was no compromise or balance versus newly post op info and post ops who were further out information.<br><p>

I have never said that I did not believe in his abilities as a WLS or Oncology surgeon to assist in the treatment of morbid obesity or Cancer, nor have I ever once doubted his surgical skills or knowledge of WLS or Oncology. He is a wonderful surgeon. It was because of him I was able to have surgery that made my stomach decrease in the amount of food I could intake which in turn helped me to lose weight. I owe that to him. He performed WLS on me and I am very appreciative of that.<br><p>

I stand firm behind my personal beliefs, which are just that MY PERSONAL BELIEFS (THAT I PUSH ON NO ONE) that he is not as openly friendly to his patients at the Baylor WLS Group meetings or on the website that are not of Caucasian persuasion. I know this because I am a minority that has been both at the meetings as well as on his website and I know what I have experienced and what I have witnessed. Even though this is my belief regarding Dr. McCarty you may not have the same belief or experience when you meet him. The individual members of the Baylor WLS group at the meetings and on the Baylor WLS website on yahoo were always supportive, loving, and non judgmental<br><p>

However, there was a huge difference in the treatment minorities received from the Baylor WLS Group leaders /owners as far as how much attention they received, chances they get to lead meetings, be a speaker on certain topics relating to pre or post op life in front of other members, selection for media coverage, or medical research (free WLS), model for fashion shows, participation in the planning for big events (walks, races, fundraising, etc.) the minorities rarely have a voice at the meetings, except for when they have a question and raise their hands or post on the board asking for help. <br><p>

They were never asked to do anything where they have the potential to be in the spotlight like other members who are not minorities were. There were also no minority staff members. Why is that? That is a known fact based off of things I saw 02/02 – 10/03.Things may have gotten better, but all I can speak on is what I saw and experienced while I was there. <br><p>

Of course the first thing to come out of someone’s mouth that is not partial to minorities will be that they are not racists or bigots and that they treat everyone equally. If you are not a minority you would have no clue as to what it means, how it feels or even how to tell the subtle ways people who are not partial to minorities discriminate or treat minorities. It never has to be out right in your face racism or bigotry. It could be the simplest things such as choosing to only ignoring you, acting as if you do not exist, and treating you as if you are not even worthy of being spoken to, emailed ,or called. <br><P>

The doctors had less and less time to spend with post ops as their time was consumed with pre op members in the seminar. His group has expanded and has gotten far too large for the personal service that I received in the very beginning. There is a huge wait to get into his group, but I firmly believe that his surgical skills are worth the wait. If you are in need of constant one on one attention and feeling like you are the number one focus and having your calls returned immediately then this may not be the group for you because of the amount of patients that they have you will have to practice patience with a fine tooth comb.<br><p>


I made a post last year on the Baylor WLS Group website on yahoo stating that I was not going to be posting for a while and that I was taking a break. At the time I was having issues with anorexia and bulimia and was getting treatment. I had a lot on my plate and my trust was betrayed by a Baylor WLS member.<br><p>

Even though all of that happened the whole time I was a member of the site I never was disruptive or rude to anyone on the website. I was always respectful, kind, and supportive to others. Matter of fact I helped a lot of people on there, but after my post Dr. McCarty and his moderators immediately had my membership revoked even though I never asked for my membership to be revoked. <br><p>

I had the decency and maturity to contact the moderators of Baylor WLS website and Dr. McCarty directly and gave them the opportunity to respond to my emails. Seven months give or take is more than enough opportunity to respond to an email from a patient. I emailed the moderators asking why I was revoked from The BAYLOR WLS GROUP website on yahoo and was told to email Dr. McCarty to get membership again. I emailed him on five occasions spread out over a matter of months and never received a response. I just kept getting messages stating emails sent to him were deleted without being read. It has been 7 months almost and I have still to this day not gotten a response as to why this action was taken against me. Not responding to a patient’s email is a blatant lack of respect. I being a responsible person did all that I needed to do to attempt to find out why my membership was revoked and to open up the lines of communication, but my emails did not warrant a response from Dr. McCarty. This claim is far from careless or thoughtless on my part. It is true. I have documentation of emails I sent to him and email receipts of where messages were deleted without being read or responded to.<br><p>

Just because I have been completely ignored via email by Dr. McCarty and separated from the support from the Baylor WLS group website by Dr. McCarty’s request does not mean that you will. <br><p>


I want to clarify to you all that my review of Dr. McCarty is not a cry for help or attention as other Baylor WLS members seem to believe. This post is also not posted in retaliation for being blocked from the Baylor WLS group website, being kept away from Baylor WLS friends that I made while a member there, or for being able to access valuable Post Op WLS information that is contained on their website. <br><p>

My review of Dr. McCarty is not slanderous and blatantly untrue as one Baylor WLS Group moderator claims. This is all true and people need to know what I have experienced and why I am no longer on Baylor WLS website. It is not by my own personal choice. I had to speak openly and honestly about my feelings in regards to how I have been treated by Dr. McCarty. <br><p>

It is painful to know that someone that you once respected, valued as a person, and looked up to as a great man would treat me like that. It is also hurtful that he would keep me away from my friends I made at the Baylor WLS Group for reasons unknown or unexplained to me. Out of a lack of respect he does not even care enough to respond to my emails that were short, nice, and respectful simply asking why my membership was revoked and if he could give it back to me. Instead of responding with a yes or no he choose to ignore me for seven months.<br><p>



BOTTOM LINE: Would I have surgery with Dr. McCarty again???? YES.. I WOULD. Even though he has disrespected and ignored me, I still believe that he is a great and talented surgeon and I will and have always recommended him to anyone that is interested in having WLS.<br><p>

Matter of fact at least 10 of his patients who are friends, were co workers of mine, or has been to my personal website about WLS was referred to him by me. I have no doubt that he is one of the best surgeons in Dallas when it comes to WLS.<br><P>

I just feel his people skills need development based on his choice to ignore my emails and keep me separated from Baylor WLS group. A group that has equality listed as the foundation for their program. How equal was my treatment? <br><P></center>

I have to switch surgeons because BTC does not have an ICU and my cardiologist will not approve the surgery there.

I am going to see Dr. McCarty's seminar on 2-8 and hope that it will work out for me.

The good part is that I will have all of my stuff together and done before I even see him.

2/17/01
I met Dr. McCarty at a seminar last week and was very pleased with it. I learned more than I already knew and it was good information. He seems very competent.

6-7-01
Dr. Kuhn is going to be doing my surgery...I was just approved today.

11-2-01
Dr McCarty did my surgery today

3-30-04
have lost 140 pounds all together. I loved Dr. McCarty and all his staff has done for me. I could not have had better treatment or a better surgeon. I highly recomend Baylor WLS and Dr. McCarty.

Dr McCarty was very helpful. He answered all my questions and set my mind at ease. The office staff was great. They truly have everything down to a 'science'.

I met Dr. McCarty at my pre-op visit. I had seen him speak at the orientation a year-and-a-half ago. He strikes me as a very nice man. He seems very sensitive to his patients' needs. The office staff was very friendly and helpful. I was a little frustrated at their non-responsiveness during the approval process, but that was apparently due to a miscommunication with my insurance company. Otherwise, I have no complaints about Dr. McCarty or his staff. He carefully went over the risks of surgery, and has a structured pre- and post-op program. Overall, I was very impressed with him. I think surgical competence is more important than bedside manner, but ideally, a surgeon should be good at both.

My first impression of Dr. M was that he was very nice and very cute. The staff was also wonderful. Dr. M was very informative in my consult, he answered all of my questions as well as my husband's. He really put me at ease. We have a wonderful aftercare program at Baylor with weekly meetings and an online support group, in which the drs participate. I would recommend DR. McCarty and the Baylor group to anyone, they are the best.

I felt I would be in good hands.

He is an excellent surgeon.

He had little contact with me.
I hope it has changed.

He talked to me a grand total of maybe 20 minutes all totaled.
He is a superior surgeon.

Didn't with me

Yes

Right to the point

Excellent, but needs a better bedside manner

Surgical competence hands down.

Dr. McCarty was a very special person, from the moment I met him I knew he would do a GREAT job!! His office staff was more helpful than any staff I have ever dealt with! They had to handle my case a little different than most of there cases. They did a might fine job of taking care of all aspects of my surgery and all the pre-op testing that had to be done!! I love Dr. McCarty and all of his wonderful staff!! The aftercare program at this office is GREAT!! Dr. McCarty spelled out the risks of surgery. He has a good bedside manner and a genuine concern. He was a very attentive listener!

Very nice man. Great personality. Made me very comfortable. All staff members very informative and polite. Surgery scheduled 12/18.

I feel Dr. McCarty is a no-nonsense type of surgeon. You need to know what it is y ou want, and he will give you his honest opinion. He treated me very professionally and so did the team assisting in the surgery. I have a high regard for his skill and demeanor.