Center for Laparoscopic Surgery Bariatric Center

Dr.Ruttledge treated me as if I were his only patient.My impression of him has only improved with time.He always remembers everything about me and my medical problems prior to the MGB.His staff are previous patients..so are very caring and are willing to share their experiences.He tells jokes and keeps you at ease..I like him and I love his caring way with all obese patients.He requires you to talk with his previous patients and to complete a manuel...which is a wonderful learning tool.I am a RN and I sure learned alot.He requires you to have a primary care doctor that is willing to follow you medically.We also do a every three month follow-up form on line...and can go to his clinic every Thursday as needed or wanted.I would rate him very highly..he was a trauma surgeon in Chapel Hill,NC for 20 years.I think his sugical competence is better than or as good as his bedside manner.

My first impression of Dr. R was that he was honest. He informed the class on the dangers of the surgery as well as of the benefits. Since my surgery I am still thankful to have known both sides of the surgery. My benefits and results out weighed the dangers.The office staff was polite and helpful. They were just as excited as I was. I did not find anything that I did not like about Dr. R or his staff. I would like for his future patients tho know that he will tell you the truth about the surgery and what to expect after. He emphasizes aftercare alot. My personal Dr. keeps check on my blood work to make sure everything is ok. So far, I have had no problems. I make sure I eat lots of vegetables. I crave salty things instead of sweet things. Dr. Rutledge went over the risks of the surgery with a fine toothed comb. He discussed them with both my husband and myself. He made sure I knew what could happen. I would rate him a 10 in every thing. Surgical competence is very important to me. I was thankful that Dr. Rutledge has both surgical competence and bedside manners. The biggest plus is that I felt he was a religious man. I knew God was on his side and mine.

Very knowledgeable and caring.

I am not easily impressed by doctors having worked for them for years. When I went to the informational clinic given by Dr. Rutledge I was absolutely mesmerized. He spoke for about 4 hours and I never once looked at my watch. He made everything very easy to understand without talking "down" to us. He gave very direct and honest answers and did not try to minimize the risks involved with this surgery.

Dr. Rutledge has an office staff that are almost all his post ops so they know what you are going through. They are very warm and compassionate.

Dr. Rutledge is very busy and will not waste his time on people who are not willing to make the necessary changes after surgery. He requires that his patients do a lot of research and be fully informed about this surgery. You have to put together a "packet" of information and letters along with test results. You have to contact at least 10 of his post ops to ask them a list of questions. If you try to cut corners he will not approve you for surgery. At first I found it irritating that he required so much for approval but later on came to realize that everything he required made me a better patient with a greater chance for success. I learned so much from Dr. Rutledge.

He performed another kind of WLS for 15 years before creating the minimally invasive gastric by-pass (MGB) 4 years ago. He has done more weight loss surgeries than any other surgeon in the world. I admire and trust him totally. He cares about improving your quality of life.

Dr. Rutledge requires that you have a primary care physician for aftercare. This physician must send Dr. Rutledge a letter staing that they will take care of you post op before he will approve you for surgery. You must also send him monthly reports through email and he suggests a one year follow up in Statesville, NC.

Dr. Rutledge is a true professional who is
compassion and concerned about the
care of his patients. He is a skilled and
gifted surgeon who makes himself
available to all of his patients...night and
day.
His office staff is fluent in the surgery
process and keeps up with calls and
e-mails...they are great.
My impression of Dr. R. has never
waivered.
Dr. Rutledge is concerned about after
care and will do whatever it takes to
meet with you (no matter where you
live) by way of mini-conferences.

Dr. R. gives a complete list of after care
and vitamins etc. He expects all of his
patients to follow his advise and I have
every confidence that I will be safe and
healthy if I do.
He addresses the risks of the surgery
thoroughly.
I would rate him a 10.Surgical competence is
extremely important but being there is too.

Dr. Rutledge was just as I had heard he was,
friendly, compassionate, professional and very
willing to answer all your questions. Dr. Rutledge
is not only all of these things, but he is also
a very skilled surgeon. And for all these reasons
I decided to travel over 1100 miles to have my
surgery done by him. I have no regrets. Dr. Rutledge
is very concerned about his patients being educated
about the surgery and committed to a lifetime
of aftercare.
Dr. R's staff is great! They are friendly and very
willing to help in any way that they can. And they
have all had the surgery so they are more than
understanding about obesity and the surgery.
Anyone who decides to have surgery by Dr. Rutledge
will be more than pleased with his surgical competence
and his concern of his patients.

Dr. Rutledge is without a doubt the finest, most compassionate and brilliant Dr. I have ever met..I am so fortunate to have chosen him to do my Weight Loss Surgery..I had my surgery done 4/20/2000..I surpassed my goal by losing from 262 to 125..I have bounced back to 135 but that was my choice..I have been holding steady for about 8 months..If you have chosen Dr. Rutledge as your Surgeon be thankful, and do everything he says to do and before you know it you will be on the journey of a lifetime...I would rate him A++ and on a scale of 1-10, he gets a 12..Now don't let this go to your head Dr. R..I guess he is not perfect but you would have to ask his wife about that...He is just about perfect in my book..I can't think of a negative thing to say about the man..I have tried but just can't..This is my opinion only but if you read other statements you will see that it is also the opinion of over a thousand of his other patients..Don't want to get sued so remember this is my opinion only..

A great surgeon and a great man. Very caring, very interested in his patients. He gives his patients his cell phone number which he answers himself.
It just gets better.
They are very professional and knowledgeable. Each of the gals has had the surgery by Dr R so they know the problems and feelings we are going through. We also have each of their cell phone numbers. They are sometimes slow to return calls.
Have nothing bad to say about him.
Aftercare is very big with him. We see him at one week to take the staples out, at one month, three months and six months for checkups. Thereafter yearly. We e mail him monthly to let him know how we are doing.
He was very plain spoken about the risks of this surgery. He shared his statistics with us. And told us there was a chance of leakage or death.
I would give him the highest possible rating.
His surgical competence is outstanding as is his bedside manner. He was a trauma surgeon for 20 years. Has a great sense of humor.

I don't think there is a scale high enough to rate Dr. Rutledge and his staff.
He is very compassionate and caring.
Most of his staff has had WLS and know first hand how to answer our questions and they know what we are feeling.
He does make you work for your surgery by completing a extensive packet on the surgery and its effects...in other words, by the time you are thorough with the packet you know exactly whats going on.
I can honestly recomend him and his staff