George Kerlakian Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

I was impressed with Dr. Kerlakian and his staff. He and his staff were very nice, thorough and very quick in getting my paperwork sent to my insurance company. I was approved in a week.

Dr. Kerlakian's office was very effective in getting my insurance to cover this surgery. In fact, the surgery was approved within one week! Normally, it needs to go through an appeal process but because Dr. Kerlakian has his patients go through specific steps I guess this makes the approval process much quicker.

As far as Dr. Kerlakian as a surgeon, I have found that he is patient and very helpful. He has listened to other health problems that I have that could impact the surgery. He is also rated one of the top surgeon's in Cincinnati by Cincinnati Magazine. He was very careful to point out the risks of surgery and had my husband come in to discuss follow-up care after the surgery at home. And how my husband would be supporting me.

At this point, before my surgery, I would rate Dr. Kerlakian an 8.

Dr.Kerlakian was very kind and professional.
Due to a series of events I won't bore you with I came to him late in the game after approvals and decisions were in place. He took over scheduled me quickly and everything was done efficiently. He does follow up for a long time. And is very interested in the success of his patients.

I have dealt with Dr. Kerlakian before and he is wonderful. My opinion of him hasn't changed. His staff is helpful and they answered questions after surgery right away for me. He keeps telling me that I am still healing and to wait it out. I would highly reccomend him. I still have to go every two weeks for aftercare because I had an infection. Even without an infection it's every 2 months. Yes you have to see him every six months for at least a few years. Dr. Kerlakian gives a packet of information and discusses the risks and benefits of surgery, then you sign a consent form with the risks listed on it. I would give him a 9. He is a wonderful surgeon and has a great bedside manner. His residence were wonderful also. I would say that the good outweighs the bad and I know that I will feel 110% better with time. My major problem is food getting stuck in my esophagus now, but it is getting better.

Dr. Kerlakian is very pleasant and up front. He met with me and answered every question I or my friend could think of very patiently. He also did a wonderful thing for me. I am a teacher and was told by him that once I saw the other doctor(s) and the dietitian, he could schedule me rather quickly. I needed to have the surgery in the summer so I could return to work in the Fall. When I finished with the other appts., his office said he was booked up until September. I was very upset!! I called him about it. He returned my call the same day and said he would try to find a place for me. I am very thankful that he was able to do that and I will have the surgery next week.

Most of these comments are about Dr. Fallang. My surgen has changed to Dr. Kerlakian, when I meet him I will write more about him.


I went to the 4 hour consultation on the 15 of Nov. I was very impressed with Dr. Fallang. I would feel very comfortable with him doing my surgery.
The only problem I have is the wait, they want me to wait until Jan. to submit to my insurance and they are booking surgery dates right now for Feb. and March.
So if you figure 1 month for the insurance(if i'm lucky) then it will probley be summer before I can actually have the surgery.
The staff was also very friendly and helpful.

2/13/02 Looks like I have to change surgens per Anthem. I'll write more in a month after I meet him.

3/17/02 I had a visit with the Pulmonologist Friday it went well. I guess if you arent having any serious problems it goes pretty fast. I think my shortness of breath is all related to my weight. We talked about the surgery. The breathing technics and problems after surgery, and he gave me his ok. Monday is my appointment with the surgen. I am very nervous, but everyone says he is talented and easy to talk to.
I guess after Monday if everything goes well then I will be back to waiting for insurance approval. I cant wait!

3/25/02 I called Anthem and they said they had not recieved any info from the surgen so I called the surgens office and they said they would submit the info and to call back on Wed. I am so stressed waiting AGAIN! If nothing else this has been a lesson in patients. So Ill write again after Wed.

5-26-02
Dr Kerlakian was great. The surgery went on without a hitch.
I retrurned to his office at about 10 days after surgery and they took out the staples it went smooth also.
I would highly recommend Dr. Kerlakian and his staff.

Dr. George Kerlakian, with Good Sam Hospital in Cincinnati, Oh. I have meet him once and very business like, staff was great and had my surgery approved in less than 48 hr. and a surgery date 2 days after I received the letter from the insurance co. Great so far!!!!!!!!!!! Very busy surgeon.

Dr. Kerlakian was very nice and informative.He made sure he went over the complications that could arise.Of course it is very frightening but I'm still ready to take my chances.The only thing that worries me is he had only done 21 surgery's as of March 13.He did say however,he is doing about 3 surgery's per week.So, by the time I have my surgery he will have done a lot more.
The dietician says she has many of his patients and so far everyone has been very pleased with their outcome.He admitted to having one person with a leak.When I go back on April 19th I'll get an update.

first i met Dr. Kerlakin and Dr. Grannon I felt pretty sure myself of because of the steps you have follow before surgery. So I knew I was going to be in good in hands this is sugery that you have to hand pick the doctor yourself. I did the background thing on Dr Kerlakin and everything checked to be okay.
Dr kerlakin ofc staff are okay. They treat you as though you are important and that's very important to have professional staff.
You meet them befoe you the doctor.
When I was in the hospital Dr. Kerlakin and Grannon both came to the hospital everyday to check on me but sometimes I was so out of I could not really comprehend what he was saying.
Dr. Kerlakin really stress aftercare with your vitamins and correct foods and the correct amount.
As far as the risk of surgery he stress it out a lot and did tell me this is surgery you cant just turn on and off. This is going to last the rest of life. In other words you can say he was this saying this high maintenence. He also said; a few have died after surgery not so because of the sugery but others thing was going on with their body. (may god bless them and there family)I am thankful i am here.
Dr. Kerlakin and Dr. Grannon was great I have recommend them both to other people.
I felt great after surgery like 6weeks later. Everything is going good for I had surgery on Jan8, 2002 weighing at 219 and now weighing in at 176 I am still loosing even thiough it is going slower now. I am still ready for the summer.

AT THIS POINT I HAVE ONLY MET MY SURGEON ONE TIME. HE MADE ME FEEL VERY CONFORTABLE AND WAS VERY TRUTHFUL ON WHAT THIS SURGERY COULD DO FOR ME. OFFICE STAFF WAS VERY NICE AND HELPFUL. I BUGGED THEM QUITE A FEW TIMES ABOUT GETTING THIS SCHEDULED AND OVER WITH. THEY SEEMED VERY PATIENT WITH ME. DR. KERLAKIAN WAS VERY UPFRONT ON THE RISKS THAT I WOULD BE FACING. I WILL MEET WITH HIM AGAIN ON MARCH 5TH A WEEK BEFORE MY SURGERY. I AM SURE I WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT HIM AFTER THAT.