HELP! Looking for Surgeon (Mexico) for Lap Band Revision to Duodenal Switch

I was a revision from an old stapling procedure with Dr. Marchesini.  I have a full DS now.  I fax Dr. M my labwork but other than that I have not needed him other than one trip to the ER that turned out to be nothing, but he was on the phone with the ER doctor.

I have his office number, his cell number and his home phone number and can call him anytime. I also can email him anytime.

I have had several surgeries in the US and the care I received in Brazil has far surpassed anything here.

I have had zero complications.

Be aware that Dr. Marchesini wants you to stay for 2 weeks after surgery and refuses to be responsible if you cannot/will not do that.

Dr. Marchesini is an excellent surgeon and a very caring man.

If you have any other questions you can PM me anytime.

Good luck,
Michele

I recommend Dr. Ungson whole-heartedly.

I was having ulcer-type pain post op and he Did consult with me (this was like 4,  5 months post op)

He told me to get an endoscopy and that he would like to see the results.

So there definitely WAS a willingness for follow up!

He rocks!

He is the quiet, strong, dark mysterious type (& super Skilled)

He doesn't have a lot of bubbly conversation though but is a sweet, I would say somewhat reserved man.

I think he talked mostly to my mom LOL when he'd come visit because I was pretty out of it.

I was having nausea and feeling Sick... he came Twice a day while I was in the hospital to see me.
Also when he didn't come visit me, it was one of his other Staff .. the nutritionist, his private duty nurse (to help you shower) or his patient coordinator who is just wonderful, Luz

You can PM me for any questions and I will be glad to share what I know

I went in Nov of 09

Loretta

Hi kacie
I had a lap-band revision to the DS.
Dr. Marchesini did it last year July.
He is a very skilled surgeon, extremely caring and when you meet him you have the feeling as if you've known him all you life.

I had a lot of scar tissue fromt he band, the band was not kind to my stomach.
But Dr. Marchesini did just fine. I had not trouble with my surgery.
It was done on a Wednesday and on Friday I was back at the hotel with my daughter. She stayed in the room with me at the Hospital and slept on a second bed.
By Sunday we where out shopping and doing a bit of sightseeing.

I know walking and moving around really helped me a lot.
Even the language barrier was no big deal, the people working with Dr. Marchesini either spoke english or they had no problems making themselfs understood.

Give it a bit of time and he will e-mail you back I'm sure. He has always been pretty quick in his replies. He likes to keep in contact with his patient and I send copies of my labs and anything medical to him all the time. He believes once you are his patient you are that for life.

are you sure you have the right e-mail addy?
it is:   [email protected]

I would let him do the surgery again in a heartbeat.

good luck to you in your search.

Inge

Thanks so much, that really helps! I double checked the email address and I have the correct one.  I'll give it a little more time.  I read in one article where Dr. Marchesini is 69, so I was afraid he may have retired. 

It is nice to talk to someone who has had the exact procedure I'm considering.  I've read where folks that have had revision surgery may not lose as much as they would have if they had had the second surgery first.  Do you feel like your DS has served you well?  I guess besides the risks of the surgery, the possibility of failing again is the thing I'm most afraid of.

Thanks again!

Yes, Dr. Marchesini is 69 but he acts and looks like he may be in in 50's. And I doubt he is thinking of retiring any time soon. He is so much younger in his mind.
On one of my post-op visits to his office we got to talking about his trips to all the different bariatric conventions all over the world, he told me then that he is teaching himself french because he is thinking of going to one in France next year. He speaks several languages, once he found out I am originally from Germany he started to speak German to me. The man is amazing.

I have had no problems losing my weight. I'm at goal and have been since about Easter (April). There is nothing like eating satisfying foods and losing at the same time.

I had gained all but 10 pounds back when I had the Band. So, I had the same thoughts go through my mind too, I did not want to fail again. It occurred to me later that it was not I that failed, but the band failed.
So, the DS has worked wonderfully for me.

Just keep reading and researching so you can make a informed decision.

Inge ( or anyone else who might know):  Does Dr. Marchsini have a website in English?  Do you have any info on what he charges for a virgin DS?  His preferred sleeve size and common channel length?  Thanks and glad to hear that you have done so well.

I hear that he is working on a new website but it is not up and running yet.  He had to take down his old one due to some changes in Brazilian law, something about prices or such.

He prefers to do the 'Hess method' where your Alimentary limb and common channel are a percentage of the total bowel.

My alimentary limb is 175cm and my common channel is 75cm.  He will do a shorter common channel if you are SSMO or SMO. So does Baltazar in Spain.

My stomach is/was about 5 ounces.  I am 5 years out and cannot eat a whole sandwich so it didn't stretch too much.  I don't know if that (non-stretching) is due to something surgical or if I just got 'lucky'. lol

You can email him at [email protected] . He will answer any and all questions you might have.

You can also ask me anything else you want to know.

Oh, I am not sure on the prices, but I do know that open is less than lap. (pretty standard)

Michele

Thanks.

Thanks you!