James Classen Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

The first time I saw Dr. Classen was at the seminars he and his associate give on weight loss surgery. Dr. Classen was very well informed and also very upfront about the complications that could happen. I liked this alot as I wanted to know everything about this surgery. When I had my surgery I waited in the holding area for a long while. Dr. Classen was ready to do the surgery and came and got me himself!!! He didn't like the fact they were making us wait so long and said so himself. On my second follow up visit I was upset that he didn't take alot of time with me, but on my last follow up he was wonderful. I guess we all have our good and bad days!!! I feel Dr. Classen is a great surgeon and I really would not have wanted anyone else to do this procedure. The staff at Village Surgical are always friendly and Donna is one of the sweetest persons I've ever met. Over all I am very happy with Dr. Classen and feel his surgical competence is outstanding!!!

Dr.Classen is a wonderful doctor. Even though
I had complications and he had to go back in I would recommend him highly. He took time to sit and explain everything and ask it we had any questions. The other day I got really sick feeling called the office spoke with the nurse and he called me back a little later to tell me what to do. I thought that was very nice. On a scale from 1 to 10 he gets a 10! Thank you Dr. Classen

I had my consult w/ Dr. Classen today, 9-29-03. He was awesome!! He explained everything to me even though I had been through the process and was very familiar w/ the surgery. He was very pleasant. His staff was also polite,courteous, and very efficient.

My first impression of Dr. Classen was made during the initial educational seminar I attended at Village Surgical Associates where he moderated the meeting. He seemed very prepared and knowledgeable and answered the questions presented by the group honestly and gave good eye contact.

My scheduled visits with him have been brief and I wish he were more talkative. Hopefully, as we progress through this journey together, he will warm up to me and do a little hand holding.

His office staff has been very helpful and courteous in all my dealings with them.

VSA has their own support group which meets there monthly.

He seemed to have a passion for this type of work.
He doesn't like to teach or explain the details he like to deligate this to others.
I disliked this most about him.I like to be reassured. He believes aftercare is very important. His office has a good aftercare program.He was very good at explaining the risks and the benefits of surgery. I would give him a excellent rating and would use him over if I had to do it again!His surgical competence is much better than his bed side. He is not mean or anything just not to verbal in the bed side dept.

there's no first impression,i already knew him


never changed because i know him from past
when my husband was a patient


his staff is helpful and fast

nothing

yes

very strong

yes,he sees you at least two to three times
in a month
he holds a seminar after first initial appointment and address a local support group
he's very knowledgeable and answer any questions you might have.
both were great.

DR. CLASSEN HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO ME.THIS WAS A NEW PROGRAM FOR THIS SURGICAL GROUP AND I WAS A LITTLE SCEPTICAL ABOUT THEIR TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF OBESITY. DR. CLASSEN TALKED WITH ME IN MUCH DETAIL ABOUT MY DISEASE AND ALL OF THE COMPLICATIONS RESULTING FROM OBESITY. HE THEN EXPLAINED THE SURGERY IN GREAT DETAIL AND ALL OF THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS. I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH HIM AND HIS OFFICE STAFF.
DR. CLASSEN EXPECTS HIS PATIENTS TO RESEARCH THIS SURGERY AND KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK HIM . yOU ARE EXPECTED TO GO TO ONE OR MORE OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL FORUMS AT THEIR OFFICE PRIOR TO GETTING AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIM. HE ALSO GIVES YOU WEBSITES THAT HE WANTS YOU TO VISIT. THIS WEBSITE IS ONE OF HIS FAVORITES. HIS AFTERCARE PROGRAM IS LIQUIDS FOR 3 WEEKS CONSISTING MAINLY OF HIGH PROTEIN DRINKS. THE NEXT 3 WEEKS SOFT FOODS AND CONTINUE WITH THE PROTEIN DRINKS BETWEEN MEALS.AT 6 WEEKS YOU CAN START TO ADVANCE YOUR DIET AS TOLERATED,AVOIDING HIGH FAT AND HIGH CARBS. CONTINUE TO EAT HIGH PROTEIN FOODS. DR. CLASSEN IS A VERY COMPETENT SURGEON AND HIS BEDSIDE MANNER IS ALSO VERY GOOD. HE SAT DOWN IN MY ROOM ON EVERY VISIT AND TALKED ABOUT HOW I WAS FEELING. I NEVER FELT THAT HE WAS RUSHING ME. ONCE DISHARGED , YOU WILL SEE HIM WEEKLY FOR ABOUT THE FIRST MONTH. I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING THIS SURGERY FOR OVER A YEAR AND AM NOW 6 WEEKS POST OP AND DOING GREAT. DOWN 40 POUNDS. I DONT KNOW THAT I WOULD HAVE EVER GONE THROUGH WITH THIS HAD I NOT CROSSED PATHS WITH DR. CLASSEN AND FELT AS COMFORTABLE WITH HIM AS I DO. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.