Center for Laparoscopic Surgery Bariatric Center


Doc R. is a very sweet guy. His paitient manual
and web site is the most extensive of any one that
I have seen. His site is http://clos.net.
Debbie, his main support person is nice and
direct. His office has been swamped with patients
of late (that's what happens when you're good).
Clinic visits can be very long - but only because
there are so many (50-60) of us there. But
that gives you plenty of time to talk with
other pre-ops, the post-ops who are there, and
watch is informative videos (including the
surgery itself). There is a Mini Gastric Bypass
e-mail support group available at onelist.com and
there is a monthly support group meeting for his
patients. That info. can be found at his website.
He and his manual is very explicit about describing the
risks as well as the benefits of the surgery.
Patient contact is a required step before the
sugery occurs. He encourages all to talk with
those who have had complications as well as those
who had smooth sailing.
My surgery date is 3/1/00 so I'll tell you the rest later.
I thinks he's pretty cool.

I am in the beginning stages of this long process. I have met with Dr. Rutledge and he was wonderful. He was very informative and very personable. He tells you like it is but he also cares about all of his patients. He speaks of them by name and their progress. He keeps in contact with them and really wants to know what is going on in their lives. His office staff was great. They were very helpful and informative. They will answer any questions you have.
My papers are to be sent to the insurance company this week. Now all I can do is pray!
I have no doubt in my my that Dr. Rutledge can be trusted with my life.

Dr. Ruteldge is a wonderful and caring person, that was the first impression I had of him and I still do have of him. His staff was friendly and helpful. He will take excellent care of you, he is very thorough. He puts a lot of emphasis on aftercare, I spoke with him almost everyday for approximately two-weeks after surgery then less and less over time. The last time I spoke with him was in December. He makes completely sure that you understand the surgery and the risks as well as the benefits. On a scale of 1 - 10, I would give him a 10+. His surgical competence and bedside manner are equally excellent.

Dr. Robert Rutledge is now in Durham, NC. When I first met him I knew he was the right man for the job. He is definitely cut from fine cloth. He is dedicated to changing the lives of morbidly obese people. He is a very compassionate man and an extremely thorough and competent surgeon. He makes sure that his patients are well-informed and educated and willing to make a life-long commitment to this surgery. He makes sure that his patients understand all of the risks associated with WLS. I have the utmost respect for this man and would (and have) recommended him to my family and friends. He and his procedure have saved my life. He even called me from his (long-overdue) vacation when I had an uncomfortable complication a week after surgery. And he is very accessible through email. I owe him my life, a life that is now exciting, full and fun.

Dr. Rutledge is a very personable doctor. As a Registered Nurse myself I am very intuitive about doctors and this man is one of the nicest and most caring doctors that I have EVER met. I cannot say enough about his bedside manner, his caring, his technique, ect. His new approach to WLS is going to change the way things have been done in the past. By having this procedure laproscopically I was able to go home in two days, I did not have to recover from a serious incision and have what little stomach muscle I had left cut apart. Instead I have five tiny little inch long scars.
His staff is wonderful, although I did not really have as much interaction with them. Dr. Rutledge is very involved with each of his patients individually. He e-mailed me frequently to check up on me after I went home.
As for the initial meeting and understanding the procedure completly, I felt like I was in school all over again. It is not possible to be mis-informed with Dr. Rutledge. Everything is gone over extensively, and there is even a video of the surgery to watch- which I really enjoyed being a Nurse and all!
Overall, I would give Dr. Rutledge the highest rating possible. He is a credit to the field of WLS!
Update: Dr. Rutledge has begun having monthly support meetings in addition to his watchful eye over all his patients. It has been almost a year since my surgery and I still feel very connected and cared about.

I had my first clinic appointment with Dr R on
12/11/99 and was very impressed with him and his
office. He truly seems to be interested in his
patients (and prospective patients) and also in
helping the morbidly obese in general through
public education. He has a very strict criteria
in place for qualifying for having the surgery
done that leaves 'no stone unturned'. In going
through the steps required you learn about yourself
(you really aren't a failure in life because you
can get/keep this weight off), your family gets
a good understanding of what you are going through
and wanting to do now, and you are required to talk
to at least 10 patients that he has already done
the surgery on to get their opinion of the surgery
and the surgeon. His office staff is very knowledgeable
in the insurance nightmare and willing to help you
in your battle (they also require that you have
a part in this battle, too). I have found nothing
negative in this experience so far. His aftercare
appears to be just as structured and strict as
his pre-op requirements. This is very important
for the patient as well as in collecting important
statistics for the care of the morbidly obese in
general. The risks of the surgery are spelled out
to the inth degree and you are given ample opportunity
to ask any questions that you may have. So far, I
would rate him a 10 out of 10. In working in the
healthcare field for many years as an RN, it is just
as important for you to have faith in your surgeon's
competence as it is for him to have a good bedside
manner. A patient is much more likely to adhere to
the post-op instructions if he/she feels like the
surgeon is "really" interested in the patient and not
just in it "for the money". You also need to feel
comfortable in asking questions of you surgeon and
that you are given the time that you deserve.

Dr Rutledge is truly the most remarkable
surgeon that you will EVER EVER meet.
He is one of the few that actually "cares"
about his patients. He in no ways trys to
rush over anything to just get your business.
He makes sure that you are as educated as possible
before he will perform the surgery. You will
find a great deal of information at his site,
and you can also join the onelist of friends!
We would love to have you join! On a scale of
1-10..This Dr is a 12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!