Robin P. Blackstone Bariatric Surgeon MD, FACS, FASMBS

Dr. B is professional and polite. Her and her team always makes me feel like family!! They remember each detail no matter how big or small. They know my name and my situation. They genuinely care about me and all their other patients. I have known Dr. B and her staff for over 5 years now and they have not let me down. They remain consistent and eager to help me in any struggle or success that I have had and will have. Her and staff are very knowledgeable. I really love Melissa, she’s an amazing woman!!! Her and Dr. B work in sync… these amazing two women have made great strides and continue to strive for perfection!!! Their surgical competence and bedside manner are awesome!!! If you are thinking about WLS, Dr. B is the doctor you should go see!!! It’s no wonder she’s been recognized time and time again!!! Also, ask to see Melissa, she knows what to do and say in your letter to your insurance carrier to get you approved. I think if Melissa would have written the first letter for my revision, I would have been approved and not had the headache of having to appeal three times. Dr. B has set-up an entire team of people to be your safety net at all times. The entire team holds your hand, carries you, or pushes you….whatever you need to get to your goal. They have a very open line of communication and make each patient feel valued. Dr. B and her team are honest and trustworthy. Overall, on a scale of 1-10, I would rate Dr. B and her team a 15!!!

Nice lady, started with partner but her practice was bought by hospital and he didn't want to be an employee of hospital.

Office staff is hot and cold, some nice and caring and some not so great.

First visit with doctor (partner who left) was great, but same day visits with other staff was bad. Dietitian didn't have time, Exercise person wasn't there and Psychologist approved me without the testing results. Appt was on a day before holiday so it appeared they all wanted to leave early for day.

Nurse Practitioner is the one who gives orders etc and the one I had was not the nicest nor asked about prior health issues I had.

Also hospital recorded someone else blood work by mistake in my chart and I was treated based on wrong data until they found it 24 hours later.

These are all my personal impressions and my personal experience, I have found no other party that experienced the same issues I did.

I have had two surgeries by Dr. Blackstone. I had lap band surgery 6 years ago, and this week I had RNY Gastric Bypass. I have been very pleased with the entire process for both of my procedures. Scottsdale Bariatric is a Clinic of Excellence - meaning they are considered one of the leading bariatric centers in America. The pre-op and post- op education are extensive - I knew exactly what to do each day before and after my surgeries. Dr. Blackstone uses a multi-disciplinary approach to bariatric surgery, so in our education classes we learned about nutrition, the physical process of the surgery itself, and psychology and relaxation techniques. I highly recommend Dr. Blackstone to anyone considering bariatric surgery. The whole program is first class all the way.

Dr.Blackstone is kind and cares about you as a person. You're not just another # on her list. She's straight to the point and expects you to follow her orders 100%. If you do all that you'll be just fine. The nurses at Shea hospital are awesome and you feel like it's a hotel ( almost). It's nice having the private rooms.

Dr. Blackstone came highly recommended to me from a friend that had her as a surgeon 15 months before my surgery. She pointed out to me that she was selected as the top surgeon in Arizona for bariatric surgery.

My first meeting with Dr. B was at my pre-op appointment with her. Both my boyfriend & I enjoyed her sense of humor and confidence. She asked how I was feeling and I replied, "Both nervous & excited." She said that's to be expected, but that the important thing is that she was not nervous at all.

Although I had a scheduling error with Dr. B's staff early on, everything else down the road was great.

I think future patients or people shopping around for a surgeon should know that in Phoenix Magazine's Top Doctors issue (2010) she was selected by 5000 Phoenix physicians as THE top bariatric surgeon in the Phoenix Valley.

Dr. B has a hand in all aspects of her program....from the actual surgery to nutrition, exercise, & psych aspects. She demands the best of her staff and has selected the anesthesiologists from Scottsdale Healthcare Shea that she considers the best. (Mine, Steven Wickland, was also the top in his field according to the Phoenix Magazine article.)

One of my favorite things about the experience was that Dr. B has someone come up from the spa in the hospital on the 2nd day of your stay to give you a massage treatment. That was so welcome and needed. The gentleman that did the foot, leg, shoulder, & neck massage said that only Dr B (and her associate) include this treatment as part of the recovery process in their program. He thought very highly of her, saying that he thought she was one of the top surgeons in the world.....that she really cares about her patients.

I did encounter one night nurse(she was not assigned to me, but did respond to the call button) that was less than remarkable in many respects....even to the point of being rude. When I spoke to Dr. B about it the next day when she came in to see me, she apologized and had the nursing supervisor come in to see me within 30 minutes. That evening (although she wasn't assigned to me) the nurse I'm speaking of came in and apologized to me. All of the other nurses were fantastic. Laura, Robin, Dorothea....Remarkable nurses/aides!!!!

These are my personal impressions of Dr. B & her staff & realize that other people may have different experiences and making no statement about what they may experience.

hello,
my first meeting Dr. Blackstone at the seminar was amazing. Since i'm a patient coming in for a revision
i'm looking forward to be having dr. Blackstone as my physician. when i had my 1st procedure 10-14yrs
ago it was very pain full. I had the OPEN_RNY and they removed my gallbadder at that time as well.} i weighed 406
when i went in and within the yr i lost have which got my down to 206. i got so much confidence in myself that after my panni was done i went to start applying for jobs which one hired me on the spot:} i like her personality; and her knowledge in what see does,
i was amazed that after all those yrs i was still able to learn something. i'm looking forward to the appointment we have schedule.
sincerely teresa hoopingarner

Doctor and assistant were great. Office staff has a lot problems. Turnover and moving attributed to some of this.

The best

I had my roux-en-y on April 5, 2004. I had complications. Dr. Blackstone and the staff at Scottsdale appropriately addressed these. One issue was that it initially was difficult to manage my pain resulting in decreased air movement in lungs... the ruling out of clot in lung or leak in incision. But luckily these were not the problem. So, moral.. walk and deep breathe! I must say I am very thorough in my research and Dr. Blackstone stood out of the crowd. Since my surgery 8 years ago, I have known quite a few people who had a form of gastric bypass surgery. Though, I do not know of others with some of the complications or difficulties that I experienced the first year, I must say that I am so happy my surgery was performed by Dr. Blackstone. It is important to look at the WHOLE program.. not the flash- some surgeons are looking at the money. Dr. Blackstone cares--teaching of patient- before and after, no short cuts on the evaluations, follow-up help even when you have moved across the country.
One issue that I NEVER imagined.. has happened twice over past 3 years... too much weight loss. WHAT?! Yep! below recommended weight. This is where the psychosocial information and follow-up is important in relation to this surgery and the causes of being over weight in the first place. You may lose the weight but you are still you on the inside. The information provided during the evaluation helped me realize that this is a life long change and not a easy out... and that even if I am thousands of miles away, I can call the office and ask for a referral or help. Now that is a demonstration of passion, caring, and wanting to make a difference.
I would HIGHLY recommend Dr. Blackstone.

Dr. Blackstone and her team came by recommendation of my PCP. They are the best choice in medicine I have made! They are attentive, caring, well rounded and realistic. Before, during and after care are amazing. The program her practice guides you through is progressive but smart. I am eight months out and down 113 pounds - 32 to my goal!