Chestnut Hill Hospital Hospital

I absolutely loved him from the minute he walked in the door.

He did nothing but impress me the more he talked. He didn't sugarcoat things but his bedside manner was excellent.

The office staff knew what they were doing and were friendly.

There was nothing I didn't like about him!

Future patients of his are extremely lucky. He is an awesome doctor and I wouldn't trust anyone else.

There is a structured aftercare program and they want you to attend meetings afterward. Taking vitamins and not overdoing it was discussed.

Like I said, he's awesome. I've met quite a few surgeons in my day and there was only one in Minnesota I'd recommend and Dr Meilahn is the first competent, friendly surgeon I've met in Philly. I know I am in good hands!

He is super at both - he knows what he is doing, has had no deaths, a very rare incident of leakage, and his bedside manner is absolutely fantastic. It was like talking to a friend and not a surgeon!

I'm psyched!!! :)

I cannot honestly say that my first impressions of Dr. Meilahn gave me the warm fuzzies about having the surgery. He does however come across as knowledgable, serious, direct, and detail-oriented. He will go over everything with you regardless of any prior consultations that you have had or research that you have done. And, he made me have 90% of my tests redone from another surgeon to confirm and evaluate any risk to his satisfaction and to get Temple clearances. After my first visit, he absolutely convinced me that either my prior tests were wrong or I was a walking and breathing miracle with my heart condition, because I was still mobile (working and chasing after 2 children) and not on oxygen. He also stresses aftercare and makes you sign his explanations and risk assessment and results in one form or another after about 3 of your office visits prior to the surgery. Also, on surgery day and during your hospital visit, he drives most of the nurses nuts with his demands and doesn't come across with the best bedside manner, except a little seemingly practiced pat on the hand for some reassurance that you have made the right decision in his visit before the anestesiologists start the process. HOWEVER, in hindsight, he is the MOST CARING and DEDICATED surgeon/doctor I have ever met with a wonderful track record. Even most of the other hospital staff that he drives crazy will not dispute that he is one of the best and sing his praises and what he lacks in bedside manner, his assistants, nurses in the bariatric ward and most of his office staff make up for that. I was in the hospital during the New Year holiday and he showed up there everyday more than once, even in the middle of the night and made sure the skelton staff at all hours followed his patient care instructions and even moved me from the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (which he put me there right after the surgery to make sure I would be monitored for cardic complications...which I had NONE OF...) to the bariatric ward at 1am because the nurses there were babying me too much and he wanted me doing more laps more frequently. He does not tolerate any staff who does not follow his protocol and anything that causes the patient additional pain or stress. (Even after laying in pain 45 minutes too long waiting on the Upper GI x-ray table the day after the surgery, even I felt sorry for doctor who administered the test (who kept getting personal cellphone calls and interrupting the procedure BEFORE Dr. Meilahn walked in to see what the delays were) and the staff he was strongly admonishing in the hallway. Less than 5 minutes later I was going into another x-ray room where the table worked and he was right there himself making sure I was OK and helping me move and he stood there and waited for the results to make sure they were OK and that I could go back to ICU). I even heard him and could see that he respects the hospital employees that show competance. And, he DOES warm-up significantly during your visits after the surgery and even smiled and laughed a couple of times with me. It's easy to come to realize that he takes great pride in his work and success and goes to great lengths to ensure that you will have no complications (even calling you at home in your first days home and as needed and trust me, he is a busy, busy guy). In dealing with him, just learn: 1) Keep an open mind about his personality and don't argue: he will get what he wants with you and your care and all the staff. 2) Don't joke or be non-serious with him about anything related to the surgery. 3) He is one of the best surgeons and he and his assistants (his surgical/office assistant is so warm and nice, but also professional) have your best interest at heart. 4) Follow the aftercare instructions, he and his staff check (including bloodwork) and seem to try to trick you into giving you the wrong answer so that they can lecture you on doing or not something that was not written in the red book (trust me I have that thing memorized and followed it and their class training diligently and I got lectured twice so far). 5) You don't have to marry the guy and I would rather have a surgeon who is to quote a nurse "socially autistic" and a GREAT SURGEON rather than has a great, warm personality and is not a great surgeon. However, now I see that Dr. Meilahn is caring and simply has his own way of showing how much he cares. He is a 9.9 out of 10 in terms of a surgeon and person.

Dr. Meilahn is extremely serious and professional. He is one of the smartest people I have ever met and I was prepared to put my life in his hands. He has been a true GOD SEND and I am so blessed that he was able to make my new life possible. His staff is excellent from the front desk to the operating room. I sing his praises and recommend hime to anyone!

He has a very structured and strict aftercare program. He addressed the risks of surgery over and over and over again. I give him a 9.9 out of 10 (because no one is perfect.)

Dr Meilahn was really nice. Very straight forward, as was the rest of his staff. I did not have to wait long at the appointment, in fact I think the whole thing took about two hours. Dr Meilahn explained the procedure, the risk, the after life of gastric bypass. He also said that my adhesions shouldn't be a problem.
His office staff have been awesome so far. The Access Staff at Temple is a little confusing at times. One peice of advice, when they send you letters in the mail for appointments, call and confirm with each department. Some of the appointmens I was sent were wrong, and others I had two different dates. Fortunately I found out before I went.
From speaking to his other patients, I understand his after care is very good, guess I will just have to wait and see.

From the moment I first met with him it was clear that Dr. Meilahn was a very intelligent, experienced and thorough surgeon. Even though he acknowledged the fact that I've done my research and was well informed about the surgery, He still took the time to make sure that I understood the impact of the surgery and the changes that I would have to commit to so it would be a success. He was very frank with telling me all the possible complications that could be a result of the surgery. Coupled with his excellent professional demeanor was humanity as he would occassionally let down his super serious facade to crack a smile. Post-Op he would check on me every day to make sure I was recovering as planned. Even after I came home I'd receive a daily phone call from him up to about a week post-op. His assistant Victoria Frain also deserves recognition, she was always there for me when Dr. Meilahn was unavailable and she too did an excellent job with providing important information and support. I'd definately recommend him to anybody considering weight loss surgery.

Dr. Meilahn is the utmost professional. This initial impression only strengthened as the time went by and after the surgery was over I really saw him as a man who takes very seriously the business of taking care of his patients. Never saw a doctor work so hard.

His bedside manner is serious. He is not one to joke around and spend time talking about anything other than this surgery and the serious decision you have to make. However, he has a phenom nurse practitioner and surgical assistant who are both so sweet and compassionate that Meilahn gets your needs met for bedside manner through them. Don't take this lightly in fron of him. It's very serious business.

I would recommend him to everyone I know and to those I do not know. You want the surgery done right with a low risk of complication that Meilahn is your man. A 10 out of 10. He is exceptionally competent in gastric bypass. Has not lost a patient to date and busts his butt to see that it stays that way.

I have to tell you that the Doc. was kind of scary at first. He is a very serious man, and all jokes aside. He is ABSOLUTELY the best, and if you are looking for a surgeon he is the best. He knows his stuff, and I am not kidding. He is so into his patients, he drives his nurses nuts. I want to tell you that he is the Nicest man ever. So everyone out there Meilahn is the Man, he is a GOD SEND! His staff is the bomb too, and they are on top of you for your after care, I am telling you Temple hospital and Meilahn are the best.

I had my first consult with Dr Meilahn on May 17,2002. He was very informative and explained everything to me and drew pictures of what will happen during surgery. He told me about all the pre-op tests I will need and the reasons for them. His assistant Nyeesha was also very helpful. She took the time to answer any questions I came up with after I walked out of the office. When I call to update her on my tests, she speaks to you like she's your friend not just a name in her computer. So far I would recommend them to anyone.

First impression- Very serious about what he does. All business and very sure of what he expects of his patients and isn't afraid to tell them.
Saw him a second time. Still the same but wouldn't want it any other way.
Staff was great, courteous and kind. Dr. was a little intimidating at first but after I realized he takes his surgeries very serious, I understood. After all he isn't there for kicks and giggles.
Aftercare is very important. Support meetings are important to attend. Risks of surgery were discussed thoroughly. He is one of the best in this field of surgery. I prefer a Dr. who is surgically competent. It's nice if he has a good bedside manner but when it comes right down to it, competence is more important.

Very caring and straight forward.
Did not change per se,but was consistently reenforced.
Staff was excellent,caring and very efficient.
There was nothing to dislike about him.
His patient's care,treatment,and wellbeing are paramount.
He emphasizes aftercare to his patients a great deal.

I don't know if there is a structured aftercare program in place.

He was very explicit in addressing the various risks involved with the different
types of procedures. He sketches out the types of surgery for the different types of
gastric procedures that are available,and
goes over them with you the patient.

I would rate him overall as 9.5 out of a possible 10.

Both were better than great.