Advanced Surgeons Bariatric Center

I met with Dr. Cerabona at Westchester Medical Center on October 2, 2001. His office staff had lived up to everything I had heard about her. I had spoken to her at length prior to my meeting with Dr. Cerabona and found out what his requirements were so I went in to the meeting with medical clearance from every Doctor he required.

Dr. Cerabona was wonderful. My husband liked that fact that he pulled no punches. He told it like it was and held nothing back. He answered all my questions and made sure that I understood exactly what I was getting myself into.

I am so thankful for this website and the support I have received from everyone. If it wasn't for the constant encouragement, I really think i would have given up. Now I am charged as ever and can't wait for my new life.

12/29/2001 - YIPPEE! Everything has fallen into place just as I prayed it would! My surgery date is March 14, 2002. On that day I will begin a new life! The days pass by quickly now that I have a surgery date. So much to do, so little time!

as of 11/19/2001
I'm patiently, okay - NOT so patiently waiting for a surgery date. (smile)



My first impression was Dr. Cerabona was thorough and kind. My impression has not changed over time. His office staff is nice.

The one thing I don't enjoy is waiting for a surgery date. Of course I had to go see specialists first. All my tests were completed by Sept. 2001.

Now each day that passes seems like an eternity. But if you want the best, you have to wait.

He addressed the risks and the projected outcome of surgery. Aftercare is important and I will attend group meetings. Rated him a 10 so far!

Surgical competence is most important to me but his patient manner also helps.

He is a wonderful person. He is kind and understanding and really takes the time out for YOU on a one on one basis. He answers all and every question you have. His secretary Collen is the best. Together these two people make a great team. I love them both because they have changed my life forever!!!!

a kind, thoughtful, overworked but very capable man. I still feel the same, now post operative. His office is a lunatics asylum with a grand central type atmosphere, but that's ok... his nurse is top notch with insurance companies. For future patients, make the phone calls, don't believe when they say they'll call you... make the calls... they're very busy, but I actually got scheduled a month in advance because I called and there was an opening. The secret is to be well informed of the process and ask the right questions. The risks were presented with the necessary levity and generally i would rate him top-notch... he has beautiful, genius hands and that's what counts in the long-run. His bedside manner is fine... all-in-all he rates a 10 in my book... and when there was a problem with a drug reaction, he make sure I was kept in the ICU for 4 days where HE wanted me, not where the hospital wanted me. In the end, that's all that counts.

Dr. Cerabona was warm and terrific and took plenty of time with me. Colleen his nurse is very busy, but took time with everyone she dealt with.Unfortunately, I live in Manhattan and don't have a car so aftercare up there is really not practical, but I'm hoping to be allowed into one of the Mt. Sinai or St.Lukes's Roosevelt aftercare program. I really have alot of confidence with Cerabona, this is the main reason I'm going to go with him. Honestly, I made app't with a couple other surgeons, but found their offices too difficult to deal with, I really need the human touch to go ahead and put my life in this person's hands.
I think his bedside manner is top notch, and I asked about his stats with problems, he's been doing this operation for a long time, I forget 7 or 10 years, and has not had any major complications. This is very important to me.
The only problem I have is the number of preapproval testsfor insurance they require. It seems to be standard proceedure, but it seems excessive. I've had a cardiac stress test, a psych eval, not a problem, I have a therapist, I'll be getting a endocrinoligist, nutritionist and pulminary consult. Is this overkill for someone like me who is in good health?

My Doctor is Dr. Artuso. He and Dr. Cerabona work together. My first impression of him was cool...very professional and answered all my questions and put me at ease about certain things. I have read a few profiles where people are bashing their surgeons...that is ok if you have a legitimate beef...but a Doctor is a human being and cannot and will not be wherever, whenever you want them to be. At best...you are looking out for different changes in your own life. They can't be nurse-maids to what you knew you had to expect going into the procedure. The risks include everything.

4/18/01 I have an appointment to see Dr. Cerebona on 5/22. He's a 3-hour drive from my home, but he's the only doctor in my CDPHP network that does Lap RNY. It was very hard to get through to his office on the phone [the phone number on the profile was wrong], but everything is set up now. I'm excited!

5/22 I met with Dr. Cerabona today. I liked him a lot! See my profile comment. He gave clear, concise descriptions of the surgery and drew pictures for me. He treated me as an intelligent person, who was making a serious decision about my health. He was totally non-critical of my appearance and weight problem. I felt VERY comfortable with him. He told me his exact statistics for his 14 years of experience (including 2 1/2 years of Laproscopic experience). He currently does about three WLS per week. He also does other types of surgery; his practice is not limited to WLS. I found him to be friendly and competent, but not arrogant. He has a support group for his patients. Since I live so far away, he and I spoke briefly about how I will need a support group in my local area. I have not met any of his partners yet. He did tell me that it takes 2 of them to do a LAP RNY and that my surgery would probably take about 3 hours, if there were no complications.

The only negative thing so far is having to wait so long for the surgery because of his very long waiting list.

DR. CERABONA WAS VERY CARING AND NOT PUSHIE. HE GAVE ME MY OPTIONS. VERY POLITE.
THE OFFICE STAFF IS VERY NICE, AND VERY BUSSY.
AFTER CARE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
HE WENT TO THREW GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THE SURGERY, WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT ARE ALL THE RISKS. WE WERE IN HIS OFFICE A GOOD HR. TALKING I WAS RUSHING , I FELT BAD I WAS TAKING UP HIS TIME, BUT HE DIDN'T CARE. HE EVEN TOLD ME TO BRING MY FAMILY BACK TO GO OVER THE SURGERY AND HE WILL ANSWER ALL THERE QUESTIONS.
I THINK HE IS A CARING MAN, DR. I'LL LET YOU KNOW AFTER THE SURGERY.


P.S. ILL TELL YOU WHAT I DONT LIKE ABOUT HIS OFFICE IS- MY SURGERY WAS DELAYED CANCELLED TWICE SO FAR, FIRST WAS APRIL 26, THEN MAY 4 AND NOW MAY 14. I WORK AND I CANT HAVE THIS.

Actually Dr Teixeira & Dr Cerabona work as a team and both will be my doctors.

1st impression: Competent enough. I certainly didn't have that WOW I've read that others got when meeting their surgeons.

I had met with Dr Inabet (Mt Sinai) the day previous and felt that he asked more questions and physically checked my body (scars etc) than Drs. T&C.

My impression really hasn't changed over time - I've seen Drs T&C a total of 2x. Dr T has a warm smile and a calming way about him. Dr. C.....I'm sorry to say, I really don't have a connection. While I would like very much to have that warm & fuzzy feeling I've read others have with their physicians...I'll settle with having 2 terrific physicians who are aces in their field! (And I believe they are just that).

Other patience of these Drs have had all wonderful things to say...and I believe them.

Colleen is their office manager. Again, unlike everything I've read in the past - the patient (rather than the dr's office) is now responsible for finding out about insurance exclusions and setting up the appts for the tests involved. Because she's the only office support staff (at least that I'm aware of) - calls don't get answered as quickly as I would like.

Dr. Cerbona and his staff were great. Especially hi nurse Collen she was alot of help. He can be a little clinical but he grows on him. My main concern was how many times he had performed the surgery and success rates and his were all better than satifactory. i didn't have that much structured after care with him. My primary doctor has been handling that since several of his patients have had the surgery. He keeps close tabs on me! Dr. Cerabona explained every aspect of the surgery both good and bad in detail! Overall I would highgly recommend him. The best thing was his surgical competence.