Felix Spiegel Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

Dr. Spiegel was very impressive and answered any questions I had. He also seems to care about his patients. All of his staff are banded and know what you're going through. They are VERY busy but will answer any questions you may have. Will let you know more after PreOp and Surgery.

'I was impressed the moment Dr. Speigel began speaking at the seminar. He is very confident in what he is doing

I'm very pleased with Dr. Spiegel. He did a wonderful job with my band.

Dr Speigel is very nice and always helpful. Anyone looking for a good surgeon should go and talk to him. His office staff is very helpful also.

This is not so much about Dr. Spiegel as it is about his Houston office on West Alabama. (I didn't really spend enough time with Dr. Spiegel to form any opinion.)

I had already sat through an evening seminar Physicians SurgiCenter office. Dr. Spiegel was detained in traffic that evening on the way from his Port Neches office, and so the LAP-BAND Program Coordinator, Tracy Dallenbach, did the seminar. It was very informative, but also very, very positive -- perhaps deceptively so. Among the things we were told at the seminar was that recovery from this surgery would involve very little pain afterwards, that we would never feel hungry afterwards, and that any reflux problems would immediately be gone. A friend of mine who underwent the procedure with Dr. Spiegel shortly afterwards had awful gas pains for more than a week, felt like she was starving the first week, and continued to have terrible reflux problems. She still would've opted to have the surgery, but she feels that she would've been better prepared to handle the problems had she been adequately warned that she might actually have some of those problems.

I went to the West Alabama office just this past Saturday morning (28 Jan 06), for a 10:30 consultation. I felt like I was at a cattle call. I had spent considerable time filling out the papers that I was given at the previous seminar, and though I had those papers with me, I was dismayed to find that I had to fill out all of the SAME information on another form.

After being crammed into the office with dozens of other patients and prospective patients for over an hour, I was finally weighed. The weighing went something like this:

OFFICE WORKER: "How tall are you?" [I had been led to believe at the seminar that my height would be measured for accuracy. Didn't happen.]

ME: [to the office worker] "5' 5", or maybe just a little under."

OFFICE WORKER: "Let's make that 5' 4". Now step on the scales."

ME: "Should I take off my shoes?"

OFFICE WORKER: "Oh, no -- don't do that."

When the scale registered 279.2, the OFFICE WORKER said, "Let's round that up to 280."

I understand her thinking, but it just felt weird to have a medical professional fudge on those kinds of things.

When I finally saw Dr. Spiegel in a sparse examining room that contained only a plastic chair and an examining table, we shook hands, and he had me lay back on the table. He showed me the areas where the incisions would be, then helped me sit up, and asked if I had any questions. I didn't due to my research and the seminar. He said something to the effect of, Well, you really need the surgery, so I hope you get it."

I told him that the only thing I would be waiting on would be my insurance approval.

It was then that the woman who had come into the examining room with him took over while Dr. Spiegel went out the door. She looked very unprofessional -- wearing a very snug lycra-type top with sequins all across her bust. She handed me a sheet of paper telling me what my insurance expected me to do. She said I would be assigned a "case worker" who would call the insurance company to confirm their requirements and then start pulling together information I would need to meet those requirements. In the meanwhile, if I wanted to I could call the insurance company myself just in case the case worker go too busy to get right to it.

I explained to the sequined lady that I had already tried calling and e-mailing the insurance company and had not heard back from them. She jumped in before I was finished speaking to tell me that I had to keep trying, find more numbers to call, etc. It was obvious that she was in a hurry to get on to the next prospect.

As she was heading out the door, I had to ask, "So, what do I do to get started? Should I call my regular physician and set up an appointment."

"Yes, that's it. Exactly." And she was gone.

I would think that is information that she would've thought was important enough to tell me without my having to practically catch her going out the door to ask about.

I am sure that Dr. Spiegel is a wonderful surgeon, but the whole office experience was an incredible turn-off. I am now looking at other Houston-area surgeons who perform the LAP BAND surgery. I mean, considering my insurance requirements, I am going to be dealing with someone's office staff for at least the next 7-8 months just to get to a surgery date. I don't want to feel like just a number. I definitely don't want to feel like I did during those two hours last Saturday.

HAPPY WITH DR. SPIEGEL !!!

Was not too impressed. Did not like his office.
Staff was ok, not overly open and friendly. He seems to be in it for the money, but seems to be experienced and that is what i am looking for. I chose him due to his experience and location.He sponsors a support group and aftercare is a must to be his patient. Does not play up risks very much. Have not decided about his beside manner yet. Will know more after surgery when i see alot more of him and his staff. will update impressions as i know more.

My first impression was that he seems to be very knowledgeable. His seminars are very informative. It is a group setting but you learn a lot from other people's questions. My consult was short but he did give me time to ask questions and truly understand the process. His staff is ok. I haven't seen anything spectacular yet.

I liked Dr. Spiegel (read more info in journey log) and Melissa, and his surgery assistant. They both have wonderful senses of humor, and are dry at times, but I love it (I watch BBC tv shows, that's all they are). Dr. Spiegel addressed everything from pre-surgery to complications/risks, to post-op care. Even if you are considering the surgery, go to one of his seminars. You will learn everything you need to know even if you haven't done any research. He has done over 3,500 operations, hasn't lost a patient.

Ok, first off - I didn't go to the Pt. Neches office, I was at his Houston office. I am driving from north of the Austin area and so when my consult was scheduled for 10am, I left my house at 6:30 to make sure I made it to my appt on time. My consult was in the middle of 1/05. His parking lot was an absolute terror!! There were tons of people and therefore, way too many cars! I was worried about being there on time and he didn't even start the 'consult' until almost 11am! At first I was pretty upset about the group consult thing (seemed more like an informational seminar), however, it was nice to hear other people's questions. I never would have thought of those! After the group thing, I got about a 5 minute consult w/ Dr. S. in a private room to discuss my weight & BMI & if he felt I was a candidate. I explained to Melissa (my angel!) that we had just moved and changed insurance companies as well as doctors so I didn't have my previous medical information here - it was back in California. She said she might need it, but that she would try to submit the paperwork on just what she had. Melissa told me to call her with any questions and said she would be in touch. Not even a full 2 weeks later, I got a letter from UHC stating that my request had been approved!! I was thrilled! I was expecting so much red tape! Melissa called the next day and told me that my insurance would not cover the surgery center (go figure - I would think it is cheaper!) and I would have to be banded at Twelve Oaks Hosp. She asked if I was free the following week! Well, I was scheduled on 2/9. Melissa was so awesome! Since she new I was from out of town, rather than me drive all the way to Houston to get my pre-op testing done, she faxed the necessary paperwork that I needed to sign, along with the tests she needed to my PCP. The only negative thing about my actual surgery was that I was scheduled for 7am surgery. Drove to Houston that morning and was at the hospital 2 minutes late (6:02) and didn't actually get operated on until almost 1:00pm! So much for getting in and out of Houston in one day! By the time I came out of it and could have been discharged, it was 6pm and Dr. Speigel was making last rounds. He said he would prefer I stay and so I did. I wasn't in too much pain - more discomfort than anything. Dr. Spiegel didn't really address any aftercare instructions - just the paperwork that he had faxed over to me w/ my pre-op stuff. But he didn't personally talk to me about anything. His bedside manner definitely could use some improvement! :) Melissa however, she truly is my mentor! That woman is absolutely wonderful!! I only wish the office was in Austin so that I could have more interaction with her. She definitely goes above and beyond for her patients!! I rate Dr. S. with an 8 (really needs to treat each patient a bit better, however, surgical competence is definitely a 10!) and Melissa with an 11!