Ara Keshishian Bariatric Surgeon MD, FACS, FASMBS

I liked Dr. Keshishian right away. I've heard lots of great things about him from his patients and this site, and I was glad to finally meet him. I had to drive several hundred miles to reach his office. He's very professional and personal too. His office staff seem very efficient and pleasant. I have spoken to Dee several times and she's always been very DEElightful and helpful. Dr. Keshishian did not seem to be in a rush to get to his next patient. So many doctors are always rushing and you get the feeling that they can't spend much time with you. Not so with Dr. K. He has many patients, but he takes the time necessary to talk to you without rushing you. I met two of his long term patients (one year post op) while there and they looked healthy and happy (and lean).

Update: I also previously consulted with Dr. Mary Murphy in San Diego. However, I decided that I would much prefer the type of surgery that Dr. Keshishian performs.

I very much liked Dr K. and all his staff. they were all very helpful and answered all my husbands questions along with mine.Dr K does have an after care program. After care is a very important to Dr K. and his staff, they make sure that the patient understands how important it is. I am very excited and greatful to be able to have Dr K. as my Doctor and I am thankful to be able to work with him and his staff, to have better health, in which I need to take care of my four children, one who has many special needs from having Spina Bifida. Plus the benifit of not being so over weight.

Dr. Keshishian and his staff are very friendly and are terrific with supplying all the information one needs for this surgery.

I met Dr. Keshishian and his staff on January 16th and his whole staff was very friendly and Dr. K made sure I understood the risks involved before I left his office. He even wanted to meet my husband so he could explain the risks to him and "to see if my husband liked him" LOL. My surgery date is set for January 30th!!!!!

Dr. Keshishian presents as an efficient, skilled physician who respects me and who treats me as the intelligent person I am. I felt no castigation from Dr. K or his office staff for being a very round individual. I cannot emphasize enough how well treated I was by Dr. K and staff.

The risks of surgery, the surgery itself, and the aftercare program were gone over in detail with lots of time delegated to any questions which I might have.

I haven't had surgery yet, but as to the pre-operative patient, I cannot rate Dr. K and his staff highly enough. If I had anything negative to say, I would; however, so far there has been nothing negative to say.

On December 7, 2001, I met with Dr. Keshishian's Care Coordinator Dee Tinkle. She is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AWESOME. She answered any and EVERY question you can think of. The best part is that she has had the surgery so she was talking from experience as well as her field of care. The office staff was nice. The office was filled with postops so we got to sit there and talk to them and ask them about their experience with Dr. Keshishian. I met one woman who was one week postop and there to have her staples removed. Looking at her you would never have guessed that she just had surgery a week ago. SHE LOOKED GREAT. To top it off she had already lost 15 lbs. Other than the fact that I was at the office from 10 AM until 5:30 PM...all in all I am glad I chose Dr. K to perform this delicate surgery on me. He is a very soft spoken, mild mannered man who does seem to be genuinely interested in how you feel and if you understand what you are getting yourself into. I am tentatively scheduled for January 3rd, 2002 (pending insurance approvel) and am frantically making arrangements to travel the 900 miles round trip. Once approved I will know more. I actually look forward to being a postop so I can begin my journy to my new life.

Updated 11/29/01...Had the surgery, went through the recovery. Still love Dr K and his staff.His surgical skill is very impressive, and his follow up skill is great too. I didn't have much in the way of complications, but when I did go to the ER at the end of the first week, Dr. K was terrific. He met me at the hospital, and stayed while I got an ultrasound to check for a Pulmonary embolism. I think I was just over reacting to a stitch in my side, but he was very accommodating to me. Dr K and his staff, and the bariatric wing daytime staff were great. The night time bariatric wing nurses were not the best, and the ER staff left a lot to be desired. Overall, I was very happy that I went with Dr. Keshishian and his hospital. I think they literally saved my life.

Updated 8/11/01...I have met Dr. K and his staff, and WOW! They are very nice, caring, efficient people. I can not say enough good things about them. Handled everything very quickly and thoroughly, got insurance approval for me right away, and have been accommodating in trying to keep my friend and I together if possible. I did forget to get them flowers, but have it on my list of things to do when I'm down there for surgery.


I haven't met Dr. K yet, but I am SO impressed with his staff already, I'm going to take flowers in to them when I have my first consult on 7/27. They have answered all of my questions with patience and knowledge and accommodated my best friend and I so we could be seen on the same day because we were coming from so far away. In my opinion, we couldn't be receiving better care so far. If the staff at Dr. K's office reads this, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I haven't met Dr. Keshishian yet but I have my consult on July 17th. I have been extremely impressed with his staff! Of all the places I've contacted, Dr. K's office was the only one that answered my questions personally right away and didn't first require me to come to a seminar (sales pitch) or consult. I look forward to meeting the doctor and will update when I have.
7/20/01 See my personal comments for a more complete description of my experience. Briefly, I found Dr. Keshishian to be very friendly, sincere and attentive. His staff is wonderful. Everyone I've dealt with so far has been very nice and very helpful. He has an aftercare program that he stresses but is willing to work with out-of-town patients on alternatives. He addressed all the risks but seemed more interested in making sure I was making the right decision for my situation. Right now my overall rating would be a 9 out of 10.
11/25/01 Dr. Keshishian is the best doctor I've ever had for anything! He was there twice a day while I was in recovery and was always concerned about how I was feeling, if I was in any pain, if I had any questions, etc. On my 10 day follow up when I got my drains and staples removed, he was just a kind and attentive. When we were done, I asked if I could hug him. He hugged me back but was kind of shy and it was very sweet! My overall rating is now a 10 for Dr. K and his staff! They've been there for me over the Thanksgiving holiday when I had even the stupidist questions. And as for bedside manner compared to surgical competence, I insist on BOTH! I will never again put up with a rude or unkind physician after having experienced the best!

I have found Dr. Keshishian's staff to be wonderously helpful and professional. They are always extremely responsive, as is Dr. K. When I met Dr. K, the first thing that struck me was that he honestly cared if I was comfortable on the exam table. He was very well-spoken when I asked him questions about the surgery, and he was eternally patient with my questioning. He made me feel as though he would sit and answer my questions for the next hour and a half, if it took that long. (It didn't! :). I would recommend Dr. K in a heartbeat.

I HAD MY CONSULTATION WITH DR. K ON 10-03-01
I FIRST SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR IN A HALF WITH HIS WIFE DAWN, WHO WENT OVER EVERY DETAIL
ABOUT THE SURGERY AND ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS.
SHE WAS VERY THOROUGH AND VERY NICE. THEN I FINALLY GOT TO MEET DR. K WHO WAS SO NICE.
HE WAS VERY GENTLE AND JUST MADE ME FEEL THAT HE WAS THERE FOR ME FOR AS LONG AS I NEEDED HIM. NOT FEELING RUSHED WAS NICE. AFTER THE EXAM, HE DRILLED ME ON KNOWING THE POSSIBLKE COMPLICATIONS, AND KNOWING THE WHOLE STORY OF WLS, THE GOOD AND THE BAD.
HE ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS AND EDUCATED ME. WE HAD A REALLY FUNNY MOMENT, AFTER I ASKED HIM IF THE SURGERY WOULD BRING ANY CHANGES TO MY MONTHLY CYCLE. HE SAID THAT SOMEWOMEN STOP HAVING PERIODS BECAUSE OF THEFAT BECAUSE FAT MAKES YOU HAVE EXTRA ESTROGEN IN YOUR BODY. HE SAID THAT GOES FOR MEN TOO. THAT IS WHY OVERWEIGHT MEN HAVEBREASTS AND SMALLER TESTICLES. I TOLD HIM THAT MY HUSBAND WAS OVERWEIGHT AND WHAT DID I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD WHEN HE LOST WEIGHT (SINCE HE'S GOING ON A DIET WHEN I GET MY SURGERY) HE SAID THAT IF HE HAS ENLARGED BREASTS THAT HE WOULD LOOSE THEM. I SAID THROUGH A SMILE THAT I COULD'NT HOLD BACK,"THAT IS NOT WHAT IWAS INTERESTED IN" HE COULD'NT HOLD BACK AND SMILED. AT THIS POINT I THINK HE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY AND PROBABLY WOIULD'NT PASS THE PSYCHE TEST. ANYWAY I JUST FELT A CONNECTION WITH HIM. HE LATER MET MY HUSBAND AND COULD'NT KEEP FROM GRINNING.ANYWAY BACK TO CONSULTATION, I TOLD HIM THAT I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE THE PROCEDURE DONE LAP, BUT BECAUSE I'VE HAD 2 C-SECTIONS AND OTHER ABDOMINAL SURGERIES HE SAID THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF ALL THE SCAR TISSUE. HE SAW MY DISAPPOINTMENT AND THEN SAID THAT COULD START THE PROCEDURE LAP AND LOOK INSIDE AND IF HE COULD PROCEED HE WOULD, IF NOT HE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT OPEN. I AGREED. I WAS JUST SO PLEASED THAT HE WAS WILLING TO TRY TO PLEASE ME IF POSSIBLE, BUT STILL GOING TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR ME AND MY HEALTH.