Bariatric Medicine Institute Bariatric Center

Dr. Cottam is the most easy going and brilliant doctor! I am so glad I am seeing him. I've even referred my sister from Washington who came out and had surgery as well. Would refer him to anyone considering this type of surgery.

There have been TONS of complications with my surgery! All of which was NEVER mentioned by anyone in the office. I am still suffering from complications 4 months out there is so much more to tell she has gave up trying to figure out what SHE DID! I was not sick prior to this, and now I am pretty much bed bound, throwing up everything been in the hospital admitted 3 times for over a month, been in the ER to many times to count. Everytime I see her she just tells me my body will eventually even itself out, Four months out I am still really sick, I throw up, I pass out, I have been dehydrated more times then I can count. I can not keep food or water down 90% of the time. Richards sees me and says you can get ANOTHER feeding tube. I am tired of feeding tubes I have had more then one! I am tired of being sick, I am tired of her lousy answers. She has done nothing to figure this out.My regular doc says it is her that needs to help figure this out. I also got a knick in my bowl after the first of 4 surgeries she has done that almost killed me! She did that during the first surgery and at first didnt want to admit she did till the nurses got on her. She then took me back for emergency surgery, less then a month later I was admitted again and she did another emergency surgery without ANY tests at all. All she found was scar tissue The next day again she did another emergency surgery for fear that she knicked the bowel again only to find nothing BUT a simple test would have showed her and I would not have had to have the last 2 surgeries. I am letting you know so you can make a informed decision! I would NOT recommend this surgery with this dr for NOTHING. For those that pick her good luck and I wish you the best.

Dr. Cottam is a surgeon. He has no concern for the health or welfare of his patients post-surgery. His staff is rude and lazy. Dr. Cottam is callous and almost bored when I'm describing the issues that I've had with my lapband. He charged me for a visit where nothing was done and I was rushed out of the office. I will never go back to him or that facility. I highly recommend a different set of surgeons for your weightloss surgery.

Dr.Cottam was great, I was a little uncomfortable at first but he grew on me and i trusted him, well with my life =)
His office staff is very helpful and understanding.
After care is very inportant and he has a full staff with Registered Dietician, Trainer, and Therapist, that are there to help.
The only problem i had is that I only meet with Dr.Cottam twice once before my surgery and while i was in the Hospital, I would of loved to feel more like he was there to work with me and not just a name ona list.
Over all Ive very happy on Dr.Cottam and his staff and look forward to working with them for years to come.
http://www.bmiut.com In Utah

Amidst the LONG wait for SMDC (now Essentia Health) to become a "Center of Excellence," I endured a 45-month waiting period, before my surgery actually occured on Feb. 11, 2009.

Dr. Medlin had been with me since 2005, and I was NOT going to go anywhere else for my surgery, even though others tried to persuade me to go elsewhere in Minnesota, or even fly to San Diego, CA & catch a shuttle down to Mexico!!! NOPE, that was NOT gonna happen!!

Besides doing a great job on my Roux-N-Y gastric-bypass surgery, Dr. Medlin also repaired a Hernia which I had been waiting to have done simultaneously.

Dr. Medlin continued to remain a positive influence and was an ENCOURAGEMENT to me, even during the long time I had to wait. I had a surgery date in late Sept. 2008, & that was cancelled 3 days before, as my Diabetes numbers were way high & out of control.

SO...I had to jump through the hoops all over again, and re-apply for surgery, since my psych-evaluation was outdated, and my dietician appointments were too old/expired. <sigh>

I got another surgery date lined up for early December 2008, but that date was cancelled the NIGHT before surgery. Apparently, I was ANEMIC and had no idea about that, but the pre-op physical from early November 2008 showed my iron levels were dangerously low.

So, I had gone 11 days and 13 days in to my 14-day LIQUID PROTEIN FAST...and had both surery dates cancelled. And the tougher one HAD to be the 2nd one, because I was on my LIQUIDS during Thanksgiving 2008, while the rest of my family was eating a full Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Meanwhile, I was sipping down some Carnation Instant Breakfast for the Carb Conscious!! (YUK!!!!)

Just a few days ago, I celebrated 3 years & 3 months OUT from my surgery of Feb. 11, 2009!!!

I am quite literally "HALF" the man I used to be.

In January of 2012, I finished my 90-Day Challenge with VISALUS (Body by Vi, protein shakes), & weighed in at 167 pounds!!! I was up over 330+ pounds at my high weight!!

My 30th Class Reunion is coming up at the end of July 2012, and I am currently wearing the same size pants & shirts I was back in 10th Grade (32 years ago)!!! WOW...and I never anticipated I'd be smaller NOW than I was at the time I graduated!! :) <grinning>

My diabetes is GONE.
Sleep apnea is GONE.
Meds: from 14 day pills & 24 night pills (38 per day), now DOWN to 3 pills & 3 liquids. My insides are working MUCH better after getting rid of so many medications!!!

I now have my Doctors' BLESSINGS to be going to the Personal Fitness Center & working out on any machine around. Years ago, I was restricted to only using the swimming pool or therapy pool.

Thank you, Dr. Medlin... you truly helped SAVE MY LIFE, and I am Forever Grateful to you, and the time you spent here in Duluth, MN. You were NOT the typical Bariatric Surgeon, but you were also a bariatric patient, which made you even MORE COMPASSIONATE of a Physician for me and many other patients here in Duluth!!

I was sad to hear that you were leaving Duluth, but I was SO THANKFUL that you were around long enough to peform my long-awaited surgery.

You ROCK, Dr. Medlin!!! Always!!!

I am 10 days away from my surgery, but so far, I have been very happy with Dr. Richards and the staff at BMIUT. Since I used to work in Medical Clinics, I tend to notice and judge every little thing that goes on in the office. Dr. Richards performed a TNE on me a few weeks ago and that is not a fun procedure. Heidi comforted me with the small jesture of putting her hand on my back and that little thing made me helped a lot. Dr. Richards and the staff have answered all my questions and been patient with me. I will post another review post op, but so far I would highly recommend Dr. Richards and BMIUT.

He's Great Glad i Chose Him his staff is Great So I Give Him 5 stars!!

I am very happy with Dr Richards and my entire surgical experience . She is an excellent surgeon -- easy to talk to, knowledgable, and accessable. Her PA, Irma, is also very knowledgable. The office staff is pleasant to work with and is very willing to answer questions on exercise, nutrition, etc. They all seem genuinely concerned with my final outcome (improved health and well-being) and are not judgemental as many doctors are.

I was Dr. Medlin's 5th lap band at St. Mary's in Duluth. He did a wonderful job on the surgery. I fell through the cracks though. Did not keep up with band fillings.

I like Dr. Christina Richards I only met her twice once at the seminar then at the initial consultation the whole team was nice and I'm glad I chose her:)