Presbyterian Bariatric Center (COE) Hospital

My surgeon is Dr. Melkonian. He was very nice and explained everything to me very well. I left the office feeling confident. I look forward to him doing my surgery.

I really feel comfortable with Dr. Lowe. He was really approachable and comforting. When he said I need you to feel comfortable with me, b/c we'll be seeing each other for the rest of your life. I felt really good about it, b/c this meant that I wasn't just a number. He didn't try to rush me in and out. I would say anyone that can get him as a surgeon, get him. He told me all the risks and told me this was a tool and how to work my tool. If I had to rate him I would give him a 8 now. After I come out of surgery smiling and living then I'll give him his 10. I would say having a bedside manner and surgical competence are two very important things. They go hand in hand.

My first impression of Dr. Voellinger was a good one. He appeared to have a warm personality. His office staff Jessica was wonderful throughout my whole process. She helped and made sure I had all my paperwork in. His nurse Julie also was very helpful too when she received my paperwork and getting my surgery date. I just had my surgery on 9/30/05 and had my first followup visit on 10/12/05. My second visit is on 10/26/05.
My personal rating for Dr. V. on a scale of 1 to 10 is a 10 so far.
I will do a followup as time goes on.

I met with several doctors in the area before I picked Dr. V. He is a wonderful person to talk with. He seems like is concerned about you and what is best for you. I had the lap-band others made me feel that wasn't the way to go. I didn't feel comfortable with the other surgery options and Dr. V said this is a starting point. So that made me feel good knowing he cared about my concerns. The surgery went well and I am feeling great. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needed a good doctor. Bobbie his nurse is just the best. She knows her stuff being a WLS patient herself. She makes you feel right at home. The whole office if great. The one and only thing that is bad is the wait...when you go for an appt you are more then likely going to wait @ 30 mins. But to me it's worth it know that the level of care I get is just as important as the next person. Thanks to Dr V for changing my life.

I have seen Dr Voellinger once but that was enough time to see his is truly concerned about his patients. I felt like a person not just a number while I was there and every time I have called his office ( which has been quite a bit!). His office staff is especially helpful and don't seem to get upset if you call with questions. The aftercare is a major part of the program and he lets you know that up front. I was told the risks of surgery and feel I have more risks health wise if I don't have the surgery! So far I give him and his entire staff an A. I was concerned about the time it took to get a responce with a surgery date. It took 2 weeks before my info was sent to my insurance company, and I finally called my insurance co and they said I could give them the information over the phone. I was approved within 2 days after that call. It took 2 weeks once I had heard I was approved to get a phone call. I do understand that they were waiting for his surgery schedule for the new month and I was his first one for the month of August

When I first met Dr. Melkonian I thought he was very impersonal, but knowledgable. I would choose knowledge and skill any time over personality. The more I got to know him I got to see his "true" personality and liked him even more. He explained everything to the most minute detail and left nothing to the imagination. He performed a total of four surgeries on me and I never went in not knowing what to expect before, during and after. I would trust him with my life (actually I did).

Nita his nurse ...what can I say? She is wonderful and the most helpful person I've ever met in the medical profession. I even found out we grew up only one mile from each other. Small world.

I met Dr. Melkonian after a WLS seminar at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte and to be honest I did not know when I went there that he was going to be my surgeon or who was going to be my surgeon for than matter. After the seminar, I went up and spoke to Dr. and told him that my cardiologist said hi (apparently they went to school together) and after that..conversation ensued and I had a surgeon. I like him right off the bat, he is very straight forward and does not beat around the bush. The office staff has been great too. Only one oops so far and that was that my insurance packet got faxed to the wrong number, but when they got the correct number, Nita ended up faxing it like 5 times because something was wrong with the fax line and she was getting a message that it was not going through, when in fact it was... The insurance called and said alright already...stop faxing us we have 5 copies. Nita said good then have enough to give everyone in the office a copy. (Love her since of humor)

Aftercare is very important to Dr. M...he makes it VERY clear up front that WLS is a tool and without you using it correctly you will fail. He tells you all the risks of surgery and does not sugar coat anything.

I will answer the rest of the questions after my surgery.

I have done my whole journey, and just met Dr. Voellinger, I think he is really nice.
His staff is fantastic.
So far there is nothing to say bad about anyone there.

Dr. Voellinger was very straight forward. He didn't beat around the bush and seemed to be very honest. I appreciate that!
I really like the Bariatric Centers program. They focus on the whole indiviual, and the best way to make the surgery successful. I am excited, and cannot wait until I am a BIG LOSER!

I first had seen Dr. Melkonian at the Surgical Options Seminar and thought he sounded very knowledgable on the surgery.
At the intital appointment he was very friendly, courteous, and took the time to go over the surgery in detail and asked all my questions.He went over the risk, possible complications and that this was a tool and what my part of the surgery would be to make sure it was a success. He never made me feel like he was in a hurry, but took all the time needed. Nita his nurse was just as wonderful as I had heard she was. I will have have required sessions completed June 3, and when she received reports she will prepare paperwork to send into insurance for approval.I would rate him a 9 overall. I was very pleased with initial visit.