Alexander Onopchenko Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

I was very happy with this surgeon. He is very straight and to the point while still seeming genuine. I never felt like I was being talked into anything which I did feel from another surgeon I went to first. I specifically wanted the Lap Band and the first surgeon I went to really kind of bad mouthed it. Dr. Onopchenko lets you know the positives and negatives of both the RNY and Lap Band and lets you decide. In reading other comments on this message board it seems that there are other surgeons out there that are not as positive about the Lap Band procedure. Dr. O has more experience with it and believes in it.

I have had no complications from my surgery and went back to work after just one week off.

I would recommend this surgeon highly.

My first impression of Dr O was fantastic. I was very comfortable talking with him. He really seems to care about his patients and understands what we are all going through. His office staff was wonderful also. I have just completed all the pretesting that was required and am just waiting for my date!!

Very professional, but friendly. My impression over time reinforced that initial reaction. His office staff is wonderful but very, very busy. People who consider him should no that he's a very no-nonsense kind of guy. If you're not serious, he'd rather not do the surgery. His aftercare program is minimal because his post-surgical program is so comprehensive. You'll know exactly what to anticipate after the surgery. Plus if you have any questions, he or his staff is always availible. I would go to him for any of my other surgical needs, I value his expertise that much. He is both surgically competent and has a caring bedside manner.

Dr. Onopchenko is such a wonderful doctor!

He takes the time to listen to you and explain the types of weight loss surgeries available. He recommends which will be best for your life style.

Dr. Onopchenko doesn't push you into this surgery. He makes sure this weight loss surgery will be beneficial for you now and in the future.

He is very straight and to the point with his answers. Dr. Onopchenko will not "hide" the bad things that can go wrong with having a major surgery, such as this.

His office staff is very pleasant & understanding. They don't look "down" on you for being overweight like some offices I have been to in the past do.

Dr. Onopchenko will stay in touch with you after your surgery (my mom had surgery with him and after care is great). He doesn't take your money and tell you your on your own.

I am recommending anyone intrested in having weight loss surgery to attend one of Dr. Onopchenko's seminars and compare what his group does for you to prepare for surgery against another group. There is alot to do, but it is all to make sure you are healthy enough to have a major surgery done!

I just love Dr. O. He has been caring, understanding, sincere and patient with me and my family. We attended his lecture and agreed right away that he was the man for us.
Dr. O's office staff has been great! They have helped with everything and has made it run very smoothly. The office staff took care of some of my appointments with the hospital, and took care of all of everything for my insurance. All in all it only took three months for everything. I was very happy with that.
Now I just wait for surgery..

My 1st impression of Dr. O was that he was very open and gracious when it came to answering questions. I attended a seminar (mandatory b4 he schedules appt's) and spent some time with him afterwards expressing some concerns I had. He took his time and answered all my questions along with other people that had attended.

The office staff is very professional and equally helpful. Ive never felt rushed or that I was being a nuisance, they take the time to make sure your questions are answered and have been very helpful in the pre-op testing phases getting test results to the appropriate doctors.

I was also impressed with his pre op regimen. He has a strict requirement for pre op testing, cardiac, psychological and pulmonary clearances as well as support group meetings and mandatory nutrition classes both pre and post op. This is the structure that attracted me to use him -- he had a program and insists you follow it or he will not perform the operation.

So far I havent found any problems with Dr. O, his office staff or his program. I highly recommend him.

my first impression was very good,i had my first visit November 11,03. Kathy his secretary is wonderful.i have to make appointments for some tests. will update as i go along.Dr O is a very caring Dr. and cares about his patients.


There is nothing I didn't like about Dr.O,

Dr O is caring,friendly and down to earth.

Dr. O emphasizes aftercare

Dr.O Reccomends us to go to support meetings the first Monday of the month, and nutrition classes

overall Dr.O is a 10 in my book.

I first met Dr.at a seminar for WLS information. I found him to be very intelligent and honest about the entire process. I was particularly impressed with the amount of pre-op testing and EDUCATION he requires. I was also impressed with the emphasis on-required- post-op nutritional classes.

I met him again during the initial consultation. At that time, I felt as if he was "rushed" and didn't feel comfortable taking time to ask the questions I knew I should have written down!. My husband was with me and, of course, he hadn't written his questions, either. ** I had been forewarned by another physician that, while this doctor is a great surgeon, he lacks bedside manner.** I'm thinking that my perception may have been jaded due to that warning. I do have great confidence in this doctor- always go with the "gut" feeling, and as he has performed over 300 surgeries with no fatalities, that works for me.

The office staff was fabulous. Very caring and considerate and offering assistance in any way possible. I was not uncomfortable speaking to any of the staff. I



I believe a truly great surgeon has expert technical skills as well as expert people skills.

My first impression of Dr. O was his thoroughness and great sense of humor.
He was frank about risks, I was concerned about blod clots I had before and he said he would insert a greenfield filter before surgery. That made me feel better.

Office staff were very nice, pleasant.

My first impression of Dr. O was one of complete amazement. I am not used to someone in his standing and "thin" having the compassion he was showing us at the seminar. When I finally met him face to face I saw the same person I saw and listened to a couple of months prior. He was supportive but very no nonsense.
I have not seen any difference in Dr. O over the last year. He is dedicated to his profession and goals. He is, however, a black and white type of person. This meaning, he has set guidelines to a successful way to lose weight. You MUST follow those guidelines to the letter and all should be well. However, if you go off the track and something happens, he is the first to tell you that you had the ability to use this surgery as a strong tool and if you don't want to follow his advice then don't be surprised if there may be complications. His success rate has been terrific because he is the way he is,,an obsessive perfectionist.
You should plan on meeting with Dr. O at set times. This will help him to better monitor your progress and keep his records and stats up to date. He has laid out this plan to better serve you and secure your success. Go to the nutrition classes as much as possible, keep your appointments, take your vitamins, exercise/walk everyday, drink lots of water, go to the support group meetings as they are filled with lots of information, and use the tool wisely. This will give you the results you desire so much faster.
YOu will fully understand all the risks of the procedure before going into surgery. You must complete all testing to insure your safety and his ability to treat you better. If you complain of the tests he is ordering, you should reconsider the procedure. These tests are necessary.
Dr. O can be a stern, and some say difficult surgeon, but my feelings are if he wasn't the way he is, you would have an incompetent doctor who is out for himself and not for you. Incompetence brings danger and unnecessary high risks. He should be considered a roll model in his field. He does know his stuff. Some say his bedside manner was not what they expected. I on the other hand, had a terrific experience while in the hospital, preop and post op. I knew, when I made a mistake, that whe he got upset with me, it was for my own sake that I understood the importance of following the program to the letter. I try not to set myself up for pain, discomfort, or unnecessary pain.
Number one in my book is that the surgeon be competent in all areas of the gastric bypass surgery. That is what is going to save your life, not the bedside manner. It doesn't take skill to have a bedside manner, it is, however, skill to pull someone through major surgery without complications or as little as possible.
Best of luck to all who are considering this surgery as a way to make your life healthier and happier. I would, without a doubt, do this again in less than a heartbeat.
~God Bless!~