Oscar Lirio Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Lirio is very compassionate, but also very matter of fact. He has a mild, gentle manner, but you KNOW he means what he says, and if you do NOT adhere to his rules, he has no qualms of pulling you out of his program, or postponing your surgery. I only met him twice before surgery, and both times were very business like, but, again, he's likeable.
His office staff does EVERYTHING for you, so I can't complain about that. He is moving to a new facility where I believe he will be having more staff, which should make everybodies work easier and hopefully alleviate some of the stress that his office seemed ot have.
The only negative thing I can say is that I have a sense that he is sometimes uncomfortable in one-on-one conversations, but he is still a great guy.
If I could tell future patients about him, I would say you should enter his program knowing he is the BEST in the Capital District, (one of the best in the country) and with that, he has you adhere to a certain protocol. Don't mess with it, but if you do...don't be surprised if he sees through your B.S. and postpones your surgery. He's a tough cookie (aaah...remember cookies?) but it is worth it.
Well...as far as an after-care program. He DOES give you all the information and sources and tools you need, but will not hold your hand through it. I believe that is fair, and how it should be.
He tells you openly and honestly what the risks of surgery are, but he is so experienced that you truly feel if you follow his protocol...you will be okay.
I liked him a lot...rated him a phenomenal surgeon...he is compassionate and passionate about what he does...but strikes me as a bit uncomfortable in the one-on-one.
If you want the best in our area, or even one of the best in the Northeast, go with Dr. Lirio. His accomplishments are many, his preop program is extensive but worth it. You'll never regret it!

My experience with Dr. Lirio was very positive.
He was very competent and I have had success after the surgery. His manner is a little offputting and he is very blunt, but as a doctor and surgeon he is excellent. He is obviously very skilled and knowledgeable. I would recommend him to those considering the surgery.

Very thorough. The meeting explaining the procedure he performs was very detailed. Why he does it this way. The precautions he takes and why. I have only met with him once so far. I have another meeting 1 week before surgery.
His staff person is quite abrupt. Always seems to be stressed about her work load.
Very no non-sense. Do what is necessary or no surgery.
After care stressed highly.
Definite structure for aftercare. Given in writing.
All risks of surgery were addressed at the initial meeting. From the smallest possibilities to the fact that death could occur.
Overall I feel he really knows is stuff.

He might want to hire on another full time staff person or give the one he has better stree management training.

I met Dr. Lirio on the 9th of June. He seems to me to be very thorough. I went to a group meeting with four others and Dr. Lirio went over the entire process of the surgery and what to expect before and after. He explained about water and when to drink it and when to eat. I went to his Monday support group also on the 7th, and met many many people who are very happy wtih his methods and his mannerisms. I, too, feel that I am going to be quite happy with him as my surgeon. He seems very kind and even has a sense of humor which I saw at the Monday meeting.

Dr. Lirio was very informative. He explained very clearly what the procedure was, and made sure we understood. He has been doing this for a long time, and so far has had no fatalities. I am very confident in him. I wish however that my appointments with him weren't so brief. Also he likes to put his patients on medifast for various lengths of time. Personally it is eight weeks for me. and it is extremely hard.

I HAD HEARD OF DOCTOR LIRIO FROM A FRIEND AND I ATTANDED HIS SUPPORT GRUOP STARTING IN JULY OF 2003 TO START OFF. DR LIRIO ATTENDS MONDAY MEETING AND WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS. I AM VERY IMPRESSED FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD ABOUT DR LIRIO FROM GROUP MEMBERS
THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE SURGERY. AND THEY HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT WONDERFUL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT HIM AND I WAS PREVIOUSLY GOING TO ANOTHER SURGEON BUT I SWITCHED TO DR LIRIO, I FEEL HE MORE COMFORTABLE HAVING HIM AS MY SURGEON, EVERYONE HAS SPOKEN OF HOW THROUGH AND THAT HE DOSENT TAKE ANY CHANCES. I HAVENT HAD MY SURGERY YET AND I WILL HAVE MY CONSULT ON APRIL 7, 2004 AND I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
I FEEL VERY SAFE IN HIS HANDS.

I have the highest regard for Dr Lirio. The most important reason for my post op success of a loss of 160 lbs should be creditted to Dr Lirio's very active support group that meets at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady NY every first Monday and third Wednesday each month. Dr Lirio has a great heart and the ability to see people where others may only see obesity, he sometimes comes across as abrupt but his concern is truly with your healing and health and happiness.

Dr. Lirio is the most talented surgeon I have ever met. I met him almost 3 years ago. I was having severe problems due to a gastroplasty done in 1982. It took him 10 minutes to discover my problem when 15 other doctors could not find it. It took him another 2 years of taking care of me and taking my difficult case into a revisional surgery. THis is the best I have felt in 10 years. I suffered with malnutrition for almost the entire time I had the gastroplasty and gained 50# with it. I cannot express my gratitude in words to this man. He did the transected gastric by-pass 2 Juen 2003. I am down to under 160#. He has given me new life. I recently moved and can only visit his support meetings when I am up for an appointment but he is only a phone call away.

I know Dr. Lirio is extremely experienced doing this surgery and personally knows Dr. Fobi. I'm not sure what I think of him yet. Everybody I have crossed paths with that knows him says he is a nice man. I got the impression he doesn't listen to what you have to say. The first time I called the office for an appointment was April 2000. They immediately set my appointment but it wasn't until October 2000. After the initial appointment (it was an informative group thing) I saw the psychologist and the endocrinolgist then I ran into some insurance problems. We had a company managed plan and they didn't want to approve me. By this time it was December 2000. I decided not to fight it because the company managed plan was going to be out on March 1, 2001 and I knew I would be approved by the new insurance Plan (CDPHP). I was quickly approved and surgery was scheduled for October 2001. It has been a long process. The staff at Dr. Lirio's office are very competant. Excellent when it comes to the insurance thing. I understand the reason for the pyschological profile however,he doctor you are required to see has zero personality. I have had counseling at various stages in my life and I would not recommend him to anyone. I am having surgery at St. Clare's Hospital. My mother retired from St. Clare's after 25 years (as an RN) and knows Dr. Lirio very well. She says he is an excellent surgeon and a nice person. One of her good friends assists Dr. Lirio in the operating room and he will be there for my surgery even if he is not scheduled that day. I feel like I am in good hands.

After dealing with Dr. Lirio's office for the last year and a half I can honestly say they are truly wonderful. Dr. Lirio will go above and beyond the call of duty when you are having a problem. Paula in the office is a wonderful person also. She has been very helpful many times. I recently had a problem and Dr. Lirio called me on the weekends to check on me and ended up postponing a surgery so he could be with me when I was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital. I have nothing but words of praise and dedication for Dr. Lirio and Paula.

My first impression of Dr, Lirio was i thought he was a rather brass, doctor that didn't have much sympathy for you as to you obesity.


My impression changed after i had my surgery , He seems more compassionate as a doctor and wants to see you succeed.


His office staff is great, I have spoke to paula on numerous occasions and she is as nice as she is helpful.


He may seem brass in the beginning but he seems to really have your best intrest at heart. Stick with him long enough and you will see that.


Aftercare was not too bad i do live about 70 miles from his office, but he always kept in close contact with my doctor at home.


Yes he has a structured aftercare program but i was not fortuate to use it as i live too far away.


he addressed how serious it was to do this operation and if he feels that there could be a problem then he will postpone the surgery till the situation is resolved.( he did me, due to high blood pressure).

I would rate him overall a very cautious doctor who only wants the best for you .


Definately his surgical competance is much more supier then his bed side manners, but then again i would want his surgical competance to outweigh his bed side manners.