The first meeting with Dr. Melkonian was great, he was very to the point about everything! when it comes to a surgery like this you need someone that is going to explain everything! all the goods and all the bads. He did all of this. The office staff were very nice and helpful.
I chose him to do my surgery in 2006. I did had some very bad experiences with the surgery and spent many unexpected week in the hospital. nothing the Dr. Melkonian did. Dr. Melkonian was great with the whole experience. I was just one of the % that had every complication that you could possibly have. if you asedk me back then I would have never recommended the surgery to anyone. I would have done anything to keep you from doing it. but now to this day I do no regret having it done. It was probably the best thing I have every done in my life. I started off almost 300lbs and have been from about 128 to 135 for the past 5 yrs. Just be sure to prepare yourself for a major life change. I mean before the surgery you hear this, and you on educated on this but it is still not enough to make you understand how much of a change it really is. You have to mentally prepare yourself. I would gladly talk to anyone that is thinking about having this surgery. momof30721@yahoo.com
But all in all I love Dr. Melkonian and I would recommend him to anyone that plans to have weight loss surgery.

Best surgeon in town!!! He changed my life and is my hero!!! I have recommended him to my coworkers, and they are very satisfied with him as well!!!

I love Dr. Melkonian. My first impression of him was he does not mince words. When you leave you are well informed about the entire process. He tells you straight up about the risks. He was in the OR holding with me and saw me the day after. He is a great surgeon. He did my RNY and three months earlier removed my gallbladder. My recovery was great from both surgeries. I am not a lightweight. BMI was 61. Both surgeries were laparoscopic. If you are wanting a doctor that will hold your hand and comfort you and is all about bedside manner, that is not Dr. M. Personally I like a doctor who is confident,competent and skilled. Dr. Melkonian is that. I would recommend Dr. Melkonian to anyone.

Dr Melkonian is the best! He is straight up and to the point. He explained everything so thourghly and took time to answer my extensive list of questions. He came and saw me while I was in the OR holding and then the day after surgery. He made sure all my questions were answered.

The office staff is also great. Stafanie helped me with the apporval process and my NUT,Victoria became a part time shrink and well as nutrionist!

I would recommend this Dr and this facility to anyone looking in to WLS.

Awesome doctor and staff. They are very into customer service as well as aftercare.

It is impressive when a surgeon himself will spend as much time as this doc has to make sure you are well informed and comfortable with your decision.

The only thing I'll will say to someone seeking his care is he is very stright forward and does not pull punches. If you don't care for strightfowardness he may not be the doc for you. Not a negative thing, just wanted to put it out there.

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.

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...

I first thought Dr. Melkonian was mean because he didnt tell me what I wanted to hear, and he was very straight foward and a bit too honest.rnrnAfter I got over the initial shock of the first doctors visit, I came to realize that he was right and decided tthat i needed to make some changes, and I also started notcing some behaviors that I had that I never noticed before.rnrnThe office staff is very nice, friendly and helpful.rnrnFuture patients should know that Dr. Melkonian is a great surgeon but he is very straightfoward and he isnt going to hold your hand though the procesess. You have to do the leg work and help yourself.rnrnHe encourages you to sget into a support group, see the nutritionist, and get counsling if needed.rnrnMy doctor went into great detail about the risks involved and he also went over all the other types of surgery.rnrnI would give him a 10rnrnIs surdical competence is great but his bedside manner stinks.

I haven't meet Dr. Melkonian yet. I have a freind that was a patient of Dr. Melkonian a couple years back. He has told me many great things about Dr. Melkonian. I am going to meet him for the first time Dec 5th at my pre-op appointment.