Dr. Peluso Is a very Tough love type of physician. She is very Smart and very to the point. The only problem I have is when I had concerns I felt as if she really didn't listen to me. She says call if you have any questions or need anything but then she made me feel as if my concern was silly. I like her as a surgeon but I don't feel she has a really good bed side manner.

I'm 5 weeks post op and doing great. Dr. Peluso impressed me from the very first seminar and continues to do so. Not only is she incredibly knowledgeable, she's also very friendly and knows how to use tough love when needed (ie-if you're a smoker, quit now!!). The surgery went great and she was even there discharge day (Thanksgiving Day) to evaluate me and remove my drain. My follow up visits have been equally positive. The staff at Pittsburgh Bariatrics, the practice she is with, are amazing. You can call as often as you like with as many questions as you like. It's great to come into the office and be remembered and greeted with a smile, especially when support is so so important in the WLS process.

Dr Peluso is Wonderful

3/21/2011: I am two weeks post op and I have had nothing but a positive experience with Dr. Peluso and all the staff at Pittsburgh Bariatrics and UPMC St. Margarets. They encourage phone calls and show great concern for their patients.

At 14 months out... I still stick to what I said. This practice was a great choice for me!

I had Dr Shelksohn,in Tucson Arizona. I thought he was the greatest. He was a straight forward type of guy with a dry sense of humor (reminded me of my grandfather). He said it like it was, what I could and couldn't do. He didn't sugar coat any of it. He wouldn't let me have anything by mouth for the 3 days I was in the hospital, said he felt it gave the stomach a better chance to heal. To tell you the truth, I could have cared less about eating anyways,it would have just been one more nuisance. He couldn't emphasize enough that the most important thing postsurgery was CHEWING my food, and chewing it well. The only problem I had was, since I had my surgery through a weight loss program out west and I live back east, there was no real follow up and my PCP was totally unaware as to my needs, the only thing he did for me was take a peek at my incision one time (could do that for myself!!!). The rest of it was a solo trip. Dr. Shelksohn was a wonderful man and a wonderful surgeon, my scar healed beautifully and my healing went well.
I had Dr Colella & Dr Patel for my revision. I can't say enough good about them. Dr Patel is no longer with Dr C, he has gone on to start his own branch of bariatric surgery. Dr C now has Dr Williams as a Fellow, I love both of them. They have been compassionate & understanding. When I was scared they were there, as were their staff, to answer questions & soothe my nerves. My scar looks great, at least as great as any scar that goes from the bottom of your breastbone to your belly button can look. I feel wonderful, they have truly given me a new life.
The only negative thing I have found,so far, is that I NEVER wait less than 2 hours to be seen. One time was an emergency visit, that I can understand, I was being squeezed in. But my regular appointment was also a 2 hour wait. I appreciate that they always make me feel important & I never feel like they are rushing me through my appointment, but my time is valuable too.
Well, Dr Colella has left the WPAHS and is a dr at UPMC (AARRGGGHHH), I haven't been back to the office since I got a bad impression of the surgeon who has taken over his practice. Dr Colella always said that "You didn't fail the surgery, the surgery failed you" when I saw the new surgeon, I asked him "Why am I having such a hard time? Why am I gaining weight?" his reply? "I don't know, what are you doing wrong?" Some help......I just see my PCP & endocrinologist now, that is enough since they have been with me through most of this and the new surgeon has only seen me 2 times and both times were MANY years post-op.

DR JOSEPH COLELLA WAS WONDERFUL. HE DID MY REVISION AND LISTENED TO EVERYTHING I SAID. I PREVIOUSLY HAD SURGERY WITH DR HAMAD AND IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I WAS BLAMING MYSELF AND DR COLELLA INFORMED ME SHE WAS TOO CONSERVATIVE WITH MY SURGERY, THATS WHY I DIDNT HAVE GREAT SUCCESS. WOULD RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYONE.. I WAS OUT SHOPPING THE DAY OF DISCHARGE!

Dr Colella and his partner Dr Uchal are/were GREAT. I had not met Dr Uchal prior to surgery, but I did have a chance to meet with him during rounds. Also, Dr Michael Palmer, Resident, had terrific bedside manner and really seemed to genuinely care about his patients.rnrnThe office staff is also very helpful esp Patti and Milissa. THANKS !!rnrnI would say that overall I would rate Dr Colella and his staff a 10/10.rnrnI have a 3-week follow-up scheduled and have not yet attended a support group meeting monthly.

I did not see Dr.Colella until my 3 month visit. Which I thought I would have met him before that. I really liked Dr. Miro Urchal who is part if the Allegheny Bariatric & Laparoscopic Surgey Group as he was very patience and gave me his full attention everytime I met with him. He answered all my questions and he did advise me that both himself and Dr. Colella was going to be doing my surgery. So I did meet doctor Dr. Colella briefly ~ as I was getting wheeled into the operating room. No problems as Dr. Urchal was great and I was glad to have him as my doctor. My only issue was with the intern doctor who came in to see me in the evening. Dr Urchal always checked in during the day. The intern was the doctor who released me from the hostipal and I wished Dr Urchal released me instead.

I only met the man one time and that was 6 months before my surgery. I honestly don't know if he is the one who performed my sugery or one of his associates. He did not do my follow up in hospital, but he did do my 3 week checkup. He is a nice doctor, I just think he isn't as personable with his patients.