Gerald Demarest, M.D. Bariatrics Bariatric Center

When I first met him I thought he was really mean. Looking back I can see that he was just very busy and wanted to make sure I had everything in line before we proceeded.
Throughout my surgery, Dr. Demerest was very thourough and made me feel very comforatble with the whole process.
His staff is very friendly and the surgical team I had was great they came and checked on me everyday postop.
Dr. Demerest's aftercare is not as rigid as some I have heard of. This can be good and bad. Good because I don't agree with some of the really strict regimins like no protien supplements--thats just pure crazy but it can also be bad because it puts a lot more of the responsibility on the person.
Dr. Demerest goes over all of the risks and explains the surgery very thouroughly even drawing pictures.
Overall I was very pleased with Dr. Demerest. I have heard a lot of horror stories about other surgeons (even at the same facility) and am confident that I made the right decision.

First, I thought the resident(teaching hospital)that saw me first used poor judgement in assuming that since I am a nurse, that I must be educated on the procedure. Dr. Demarest is cordial but professional but again he spoke to the resident and taught her what questions to ask me but I felt like a third party at times. When I saw him the second time last week, he was somewhat friendlier but didn't apoligize for the two hour wait my husband and I had. I work in a Dr.'s office and the difference is like night and day but I attribute this to being a teaching hospital.
His nurse/secretary, Neets, is warmer and has had the surgery herself, and has become proficient at knowing the requirements of the insurance companies. She was great the other day with a last minute change with my sleep study. Dr. Demarest gave me the surgery date but aftercare has not been discussed. I guess I have learned more from the support group members about that than any where else. I do feel very satisfied with him as a surgeon and he seems to like it better when you do ask him technical questions. Skill is the most important thing to me.
4/27 My surgeon was changed to Dr. Fry after Dr. Demarest was sent to Iraq with his reserve unit. I met with Dr. Fry last week for pre-op and he was very pleasant and through and I told him how grateful I was that he took on Dr. Demarest's cases. I like him and I feel confident with him. My new life starts this Wednesday, April 30!

A Big pain in the BUTT! But well worth it, stright up!!
He just told me lik eit is! It's in your heart, not on the outside of who your are.
Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything is great
He can be hard on you, but that's only for your best intrest.
Always follow up!!!
Yes, follow through with whant needs to be done.
He tell's it like it is.
200% with out him and the tool of the surgery I might not be here TODAY!
BOTH!!!!!

He was professional, calm, straight to the point. He did not require me to have the pulmonary function and sleep apnea as I had no symptoms of either. This is one of reasons that I was approved so quickly.

I was disappointed that he did not talk to me the morning of the surgery nor did he come to my room following the procedure. His 'residents' were very nice and visited once or twice a day.

The office staff was very helpful and pushed the paperwork through very quickly.

He was impressed that I had all my 'required' information with me on my first visit (9/4/01.) All labs, ECG, Chest X-ray, etc. was in hand when I met him. After the first appointment I had to visit the dietician.

My pre-op visit (10-18-01)was hectic, new residents, new staff, they lost my chart. But they did have me scheduled for 1-4-02!

I had very detailed risks of surgery given, and some discussion of post-op diet and care.

I have my first post-op check-up this week.

I prefer surgical competence but it never hurts to have a good bedside manner.

So far I really like Dr. Demarest. He has a great personality and is easy to talk to which is very important I think. He was very honest with me about the procedure and what he expects from me. I think I will be very pleased. He is doing my surgery on his birthday!!


I absolutley LOVE Dr. Demarest. He was so wonderful and caring with me. He really made me feel at ease. I would strongly recommend him to anyone thinking about having the surgery.

I enjoyed my first visit with Dr Demarest and his staff very much he was very personable and his Nurse Neets worked very hard to help me get all my test completed on the first visit. The other office staff were all very helpful and friendly also. He emphasized very much that it was not the cure all that I will have a long hard job in front of me and not to take it to lightly. He informed me that he has done a couple hunderd of the surgeries and has lost one lady. He explained the risk and asured me that he did not feel like I had anything to worry about. On the whole the visit was a 10 on a scale of 1 - 10.

5/10/01
Nice guy, looks to be about 40-something. Not
much info this visit. He just wanted to make
sure I didn't have unrealistic expectations
about this procedure. The questions are saved
for the pre-op visit on July 12.

My first visit to my dr was actually the
hardest one. that was when i knew i had a
serious weight problem. my primary care
dr was not very understanding, he said i
could loose the weight if i had willpower,
but he did get me my referral to the
surgery specialty clinic in albuq, nm.
That referral was ready and approved in about
a week. my first visit to Dr Demarest in
albuq was jan 13, 2000. I waited 2 hrs
to see him, he was a very kind man, but
before I saw him I had to talk to his
nurse and then his assistant. They were all
very nice and undersatanding. The first thing
he asked was what efforts had i made to loose
the weight. Then we both agreed I had been
battling this problem for 20 yrs.
Now the surgery info, they gave me several
pages of info about the surgery anf the after
care. Then I was given a list of tests I
had to have before the referral could even be
sent to the ins. co. During that first visit
they also gave me a list of patients that they
have performed the surgery on including their
phone numbers, for me to call and ask any questions.
They really stressed to me that alot of my
success will depend on me......