Presbyterian Bariatric Center (COE) Hospital

I attended Dr. Voellinger's seminar a week ago and was so motivated that I completed the 26+ pages of paperwork and got it mailed off right away. He has a wicked sense of humor and a very calm and reassuring demeanor. He has also performed many surgeries (1600+) with only two fatalities. rnrnI will update this information after the consultation and as the process progresses.

I first Dr Voellinger at a seminar. He was down to earth and funny. I could tell he had a good bedside manner. He also seemed very knowledgeable about weight loss surgery. My impression of Dr Voellinger has not changed. His staff is caring and warm and very personable. They get to know you by your name or at least by your face. I cant say there is anything that I like about him or his staff. They are very knowledgeable and they will see you through the entire process and after. Dr. Voellinger emphasize aftercare as very important. After all, this is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix. His office has a very structured aftercare program. You visit with him as well as with the nutritionist and the excercise physiologist. The risks were addressed so extensively, I got tired of hearing about the risks. What can I say, I picked the best doctor. Both were excellent.

Very straight to the point yet kind-hearted. Plenty of years of experience.Respects my wishes of no-blood. I trust him with my life.

Dr. V. is great! When I first met him, I thought he was a perfect fit to me. He was well mannered and you just felt comfortable talking to him about your weight issues. He is very attentive to the needs of his patients both before and after surgery. His off has a wonderfully support system after the surgery. You meet with the nutritionist and the exercise therapist for many months after the surgery so they can help you get to where you want to be. In the hospital he came to check on me every day and asked me how I was feeling and make sure I was comfortable at all times. After the wounds healed, the scars were so small I could not believe he had even cut me open. He is just great! I wish there were more doctors out there that care about their patients like Dr. V.

My first impression of Dr V is that he seems nice enough.

Not to happy with the staff, seems to be to many cooks in the kitchen with no head chef. Having an issue with any one person knowing what is going on with my file. Which leaves me confused and frustrated? The whole process is a bit stressful and having an unorganized staff isn't helpful at all.

Not to clear on the aftercare, assuming that they have some but there is pretty much no communication or updates unless I call the official multiple times.

I could also be a bit "confused" on how the process goes. I am not a person that sees a doctor more than once a year and since Dec 08, I have a slew of doctors and they all are pretty on top of things calling me about blood work, setting up any appointments with other specialist. Perhaps a bariatric office works much differently.

So in the beginning I wasn't sure what to expect from Dr. Voellinger. Working at the hospital I have heard both positive and negative things about him. My personal opinion is that he is great! His office staff is wonderful, most have had WLS or been overweight before so they really understand the struggle. Dr V himself is very patient and laid back. He never makes me feel rushed or like I'm over reacting due to being a bit controlling. LOL He did a wonderful job on my surgery! The office wait times can be horrible but as long as you come prepared it's well worth it!

He is very personable and has a great bedside manner. The staff at the hospital had all good things to say about him. So far I would rate him as excellent.

First appointment was on April 17th with Dr. Michael Melkonian with Carolina Surgical in Charlotte, NC. I really liked him. He was extremely knowledgable about the surgeries, spent over an hour with my husband and I answering questions regarding Lap-Band and Gastric Bypass and was very patient through it all! He didn't sugar coat anything, told everything like it is. Was straight forward about the risks of both surgeries. But clearly, he favors Gastric Bypass over the Bands...

Dr V is wonderful! He takes so much time with me to make sure I am comfortable and understand everything that is going on. He is very sympathetic to my previous bad experience with the lap band leak and reversal. He took extra precautions with me to avoid another leak as he said I was high risk since I had a leak before. His staff is wonderful. They put so much of themselves into this for the patients. Creating guide books, pamplets, support groups, etc.rnI am very pleased with my choice.rn

Dr. David Voellinger performed the RNY on my husband on 11/04. He worked with a large general surgery group and did other surgeries as well. He was primarily interested in and did most of the bariatric surgeries and helped to create the bariatric program for a hospital here. rnIn the same week as my husbands' surgery he did a gallbladder removal on my daughter who had a lapband surgery from Mexico 6 months previously. Both my husband and my daughter, each with many comorbidities previous to surgery, have had no complications and only the best of care and outcome since he has helped them.rnDr. Voellinger, soon afterward, opened up a practice solely for bariatric surgery and it has a center of excellence rating.(Southeast Bariatrics) His only difficulty is that he is very busy, though still a compassionate, caring person. rnIn November 07, due to many comorbidities, I underwent the lapband procedure with him. I had a great result as well and have lost 84 lbs in the past 15 months. Due to a delay of getting my first fill (my travel), it has only been 12 months this week since it took place. I trust this man with the life of my entire family and would recommend him to anyone in my area of Charlotte, NC.rnHe does ask that patients commit to seeing him for continual medical and obesity help and support for life after you have the surgery. He has a very large support system available through the many employees that assist all of us in this partnership.