Surgical Weight Loss at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital

Dr. LePort seems very knowledgeable and caring! His office is very busy but they get you in in a timely manner. I do have to say Ellen that runs his office is fabulous!

My first impression of Dr. Leport's office was that it was extremely busy. It was standing room only. I waited for about 45 mins to see Dr. Leport. He was the was very nice and understanding. He made it very clear that this was a tool. It was made very clear that if I was serious about making a lifestyle change that I would be wasting his and my time. His office move very quickly with getting the appoval. I saw him a Thursday and was approved in 8 days.

Dr. Leport's staff is great!!!!!

Dr. LePort was the lead doctor in a team of four who specialize in this surgery. He has done it for over 20 years and is an expert. Because I have more than 150 pounds to lose, I wanted to go to him. He was hard to get in to as he is very, very busy. I called March 31 for a first visit appointment and the soonest they had was May 29.

Dr. LePort knows that morbid obesity is a disease. He comes right out and removes any blame a person may be placing on themselves. He stated right up front that he could give me a tool, and how I used it would depend on my success. He also said the very best and safest way to lose weight is through diet, but knows that that does not work for many. His office staff is wonderfully supportive. He has teams which include nutritional counseling, adjustment, a weekly support group, and after care program.

He spelled the risks out verbally and gave me a packet of complete information on the surgery.

I would rate him as tops. He puts you through every possible medical exam prior to surgery to make sure he can prepare for any problem. In my case, I have asthma, so the anesthetic was an issue. He placed me in intensive care for two days, with breathing treatments and constant oxygen, as a pre caution. It paid off.

I was lucky, Dr. LePort is sweet and patient and is a terrific surgeon as well.

I can't really come up with a negative. Sometimes the office might have taken a little more time to call me back than I would have liked, but they were always supportive. I wish I had known I was going to ICU (Intensive Care Unit)ahead of time because when I woke up there I thought something had gone terribly wrong. The nurses told me, "No", they had been expecting me.

Dr. LePort is very much in demand and very busy. At my last appointment I was given a choice to see another doctor or wait perhaps half an hour to see Dr.Leport. This might anger some people, but I know that when Dr. Leport runs late, it is because he is taking care of someone else, who might be having an emergency or major complication. If one reads enough profiles one can see that things can happen and if I have to wait, or see someone else, because another patient is suffering greatly and needs Dr. LePort, then so be it; Fine with me. I was feeling great and saw his associate, who is also quite competent.

I met Dr LePort about three years ago when I was thinking of having the surgery..Darn, wish I would have done it then..I just love him, and feel completely confident in his extraordinary knowledge of bariatrics. His staff has always been extremely helpful.

First impression was fine but that matters little to me. I do not care about bedside manner so much as others do.
I felt great a meer 3 days out from surgery.
No complaints at all.
I wish there was a place to talk about the hospital too.
Fountain Valley Regional is FANTASTIC...staff is first rate.
If I wanted to critic his overall Office I would say he places TOO much of a workload on Diane and it shows in the details.
I had several cancelled appts (by them) both before and after surgery. My last visit had a full office waiting and only was told after I got in the room that Leport was busy and suggest I see someone else.
Also, I found paying 'cash' money to a his suggested therapist for approval of physch evaluation unusual.

I am happy with the overall experience but feel the 'patient details' need some added work.
This is just my opinion.

I met Dr. LePort today (5-12-01) at an informal seminar in my Drs. office in Bakersfield. He seemed very knowledgeable and straight forward. It was funny I have been researching this site so long I felt I could have answered most of the questions people were asking him. All in all he seemed very honest and sincere about the surgery. He said it was not an easy fix and it would take work and a life time commitment from the patient. It made me feel good that he stresses follow up with him and he and my Dr. are trying to start a support group in Bakersfield. I cant wait! I will actually be having surgery with Dr. Philip Chin, he is an associate of Dr. LaPort. I will not meet him until the day before my surgery.

I attended the required consultation with Dr. Le Port's office and found Diane to be very knowledgable about the procedure and insurance requirements. I meet with Dr. Le Port for my evaluation on February 5. I actually met with Dr. LePort on February 12. I waited for 2.5 hours in his waiting room. He went through all the risks associated with the surgery and said that he thought I would be a good candidate. He also stressed the life altering change that this surgery provides. He kept saying that this is a tool, which I understand, and that after this surgery things I enjoyed I may not any longer and people in my life that have been friends may no longer be friends. I appreciate the realistic nature, but definitely gives you something to think about.
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5/22/01
I'm six weeks out from surgery and doing great. Dr. Leport did a great job on my surgery. I was one of his first laproscopic RNY's, so surgery was a little longer than the open procedure but I have had no major complications and feel good. My follow-up visits with Dr. LePort have been positive and he says everything is on track and healing well. I would highly recommend Dr. Leport to anyone considering this procedure.

My surgery was Feb 6th 2001! No complcations at all! Dr. Le Port was great, and Ihave lost 52 pounds as of May 8, 2001. I have went from a size 22 to a 16. This surgery has saved my life!

first impression was good, quite professional, staff was very helpful for the most part.Explained everything, encouraged questions, did not try to hold back anything. Spoke about the good as well as the bad. Stressed that the surgery is a committment. Also stressed the importance of aftercare, exercise, eating properly, nutrition. Covered all the bases. I felt extremely confident in my decision to have him perform the surgery. I had gone to two of his seminars. Future patients should know that he is very competent and will not perform a surgery if he doesn't think it is appropriate. Has surgical competence and also a good bedside manner. Very understanding. Staff has been trained to work especially with obese people. Hospital has special program to deal with us.

Dr. LePort is a very busy man, but it is understandable because he is an excellent surgeon. When you have your first consultation with him, don't schedule anything from your appointment time until three to four hours after, because likely you will wait about an hour to 90 minutes to be seen. Almost every person I've referred to him has had to wait at least an hour. I attribute this to his just being so darned busy, trying to accomodate everyone who wants the surgery. Just go in with a very patient attitude.

I have only seen him once so far, but I expect to see him at least a couple more times as my pre-op testing is coming up in a week or two and lap RNY surgery is on 5/14.

I will post more about him once I get through the pre-ops.

Other than that, he is a very kind, gentle man, looks a little harried at times due to his schedule, but he appears to be well worth the wait.