So, which so called "DS surgeons" should we avoid?
THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, OF COURSE!
I classify them by type:
1) Of course, the bait-and-don't-switchers, in particular the ones who USED to do the DS, but no longer do (or rarely do it). Dr. Feng in CA, for example -- and Kaiser has hired him to do their DS consults. Schlessinger, who says he does the DS, but then ALWAYS talks the revision patients into a crappy ERNY.
2) The ones who apparentlyfail or just refuse to do the DS in one surgery, where many other surgeons would be able to complete it in one surgery without breaking a sweat: Pomp and Schweitzer, for example. And even Gagner, too often.
3) The ones who have a reputation for doing sup-par DSs, and then blaming the patients. Deveney, Patterson and Herron, for example (I don't think any of them are doing the DS anymore.).
4)
5) The ones who charge outrageous "program fees" that are non-reimbursable by insurance, and required even if there is no possibility of the so-called services being used: Cirangle and Jossart at LapSF for example.
6) The ones with ****ty support staff, crappy office help and know-nothing nutritionists, as well as worthless aftercare. And unwilling to learn or step up to properly take care of them. Simpson, for example -- at least he stopped offering it. And several of the NY surgeons. Or who are partnered with anti-DS surgeons -- Crookes and his awful partner Katkhouda, who berates DS-seekers at the required seminar.
7) The ones who can't seem to stay in one place, stranding their patients. Husted and Gagner come to mind.
8) The ones who push the VSG as a standalone, who make the sleeve (IMO) too small, the common channel too long. Again, Cirangle.
9) The ones who decide they are competent to offer the DS with little or no proctoring with an experienced DS surgeon. Belzberg at SoCal Kaiser.
Again, these are my personal opinions, and are based primarily on hearsay information -- I'm sure some of their patients have other opinions.
I classify them by type:
1) Of course, the bait-and-don't-switchers, in particular the ones who USED to do the DS, but no longer do (or rarely do it). Dr. Feng in CA, for example -- and Kaiser has hired him to do their DS consults. Schlessinger, who says he does the DS, but then ALWAYS talks the revision patients into a crappy ERNY.
2) The ones who apparentlyfail or just refuse to do the DS in one surgery, where many other surgeons would be able to complete it in one surgery without breaking a sweat: Pomp and Schweitzer, for example. And even Gagner, too often.
3) The ones who have a reputation for doing sup-par DSs, and then blaming the patients. Deveney, Patterson and Herron, for example (I don't think any of them are doing the DS anymore.).
4)
5) The ones who charge outrageous "program fees" that are non-reimbursable by insurance, and required even if there is no possibility of the so-called services being used: Cirangle and Jossart at LapSF for example.
6) The ones with ****ty support staff, crappy office help and know-nothing nutritionists, as well as worthless aftercare. And unwilling to learn or step up to properly take care of them. Simpson, for example -- at least he stopped offering it. And several of the NY surgeons. Or who are partnered with anti-DS surgeons -- Crookes and his awful partner Katkhouda, who berates DS-seekers at the required seminar.
7) The ones who can't seem to stay in one place, stranding their patients. Husted and Gagner come to mind.
8) The ones who push the VSG as a standalone, who make the sleeve (IMO) too small, the common channel too long. Again, Cirangle.
9) The ones who decide they are competent to offer the DS with little or no proctoring with an experienced DS surgeon. Belzberg at SoCal Kaiser.
Again, these are my personal opinions, and are based primarily on hearsay information -- I'm sure some of their patients have other opinions.
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