Ara Keshishian Bariatric Surgeon MD, FACS, FASMBS

Just a bit of an update. Surgery was 12 years ago. My BMI is in the normal range. I am healthy, I have never had a major DS issue. I don't 'diet'...but do try to make good choices. I take my supplements. I still attend occasional support meetings and DS online support groups to stay "in the know". I no longer do regular office visits with Dr. K...but still feel he is available to me by simply attending a support meeting or dashing off a quick question email. Thought someone would appreciate hearing from someone who is a DS Dinosaur. (haha)

Where do I begin? All I can say is that I truly believe for ME, that is was divine intervention being led to Dr. Keshishian. He is the most brilliant, "present" doctor/surgeon that I have ever met and I have met a few! He takes time to answer all of your question, makes you feel special and like he really cares about you. He will answer you phone calls, emails and questions in a very timely manor. It does not matter how many people I have spoken to about Ara Keshishian, the result and answers are the same! A truly wonderful, magnificent man! I am still in the early stages of my post surgery but I am really looking forward to my new life with the duodenal switch. The DS IS THE SURGERY of choice, or should be and Dr. Keshishian IS THE SURGEON YOU WANT TO HAVE! Thank you Dr. Keshishian! Thank YOU! Shireen Reid

Dr. Keshishian is an excellent surgeon with a great bedside manner. In the middle of January 2013 I traveled from out of state for DS surgery with Dr. Keshishian. The organization in preparing for this by his office staff was wonderful. They were complete and clear in everything. They responded quickly to questions and concerns. They had lots of help and advice for out of towners. The hospital, Verdugo Hills, had arrangements with a local hotel with an excellent nightly rate.

Attended a consultation with Dr. Keshishian the day prior to surgery. I had been pretty well prepped on details prior to coming to town but this was the time for me to confirm that I wanted surgery with him and for him to confirm I was qualified. It was excellent, he is funny and with a dry sense of humor. Loves bow ties.

Surgery day was smooth at the hospital. The hospital is excellent. Never have I been to a hospital that was so patient oriented. Dr. Keshishian saw me before surgery and talked to my wife right after. Excellent communication and made us feel confident in his skill. He came to see me in the hospital almost as soon as I was in my room. Gave me time to wake up so that I could communicate. He followed up every day usually more than once.

I had an excellent recovery and from surgery on Wednesday morning I was released Saturday noon. I was in town another week and released to travel back home. All has gone very well. Recovery has been slowed a bit the last week with a kidney stone but the DS is doing well! I attribute the success to Dr. Keshishian's skill, expertise, and experience. I cannot recommend him any more highly!

I know this sounds too good to be true as did some of the other reviews here but believe me when I say I don't make up good reviews, they are earned. Dr. Keshishian is highly recommended by me. As is Verdugo Hills Hospital.

Want to start by saying how very much I appreciate Dr. K and how much he cares for his patients. I first spoke with him in Mid July and we discussed my options. Once I got in contact with his office I was given all the information I needed for pre op testing and I was given a surgery date of August 10. I couldn't believe how fast it all came together. Primarily because I was self pay and didn't have to fight my insurance company. I got my pre op labs and testing done and was very quickly on the road to California. I met with Dr. Keshishian in person on Monday Aug 8, registered with the hospital on Aug 9, and had my DS on August 10. My first day or two in the hospital is very hazy for me due to meds and surgery and whatnot. Dr. K insists that his patients have private rooms, so I did not have to worry about disturbing another patient and as a bonus, the room had two beds so they allowed my husband to sleep at the hospital in the second bed so that he could be with me around the clock. I had a very brief bout of pancreatitis, which was mostly irritating in that it extended my stay and the amount of time I had to be on the IV. The nurses at the hospital were amazing and very helpful. I was walking every two hours or so by day two and slowly increasing the number of laps I could do around the nursing station. Dr. K came to see me every day and really listened to my concerns and questions. He also hit it off with my husband so there was a fair amount of geeking out between the two of them while I just smiled and nodded, which was good for the husband who was pretty much bored to tears.

The whole point here is that I cannot recommend a surgeon higher than Dr. K. His staff is just amazing, the level of care and compassion his patients recieve in the hospital is nothing short of miraculous, and his willingness to answer email questions and concerns since I left the area has been very comforting.

Thanks, Dr. K!

Dr. Keshishian is an excellent surgeon with a great bedside manner. In the middle of January 2013 I traveled from out of state for DS surgery with Dr. Keshishian. The organization in preparing for this by his office staff was wonderful. They were complete and clear in everything. They responded quickly to questions and concerns. They had lots of help and advice for out of towners. The hospital, Verdugo Hills, had arrangements with a local hotel with an excellent nightly rate.

Attended a consultation with Dr. Keshishian the day prior to surgery. I had been pretty well prepped on details prior to coming to town but this was the time for me to confirm that I wanted surgery with him and for him to confirm I was qualified. It was excellent, he is funny and with a dry sense of humor. Loves bow ties.

Surgery day was smooth at the hospital. The hospital is excellent. Never have I been to a hospital that was so patient oriented. Dr. Keshishian saw me before surgery and talked to my wife right after. Excellent communication and made us feel confident in his skill. He came to see me in the hospital almost as soon as I was in my room. Gave me time to wake up so that I could communicate. He followed up every day usually more than once.

I had an excellent recovery and from surgery on Wednesday morning I was released Saturday noon. I was in town another week and released to travel back home. All has gone very well. Recovery has been slowed a bit the last week with a kidney stone but the DS is doing well! I attribute the success to Dr. Keshishian's skill, expertise, and experience. I cannot recommend him any more highly!

I know this sounds too good to be true as did some of the other reviews here but believe me when I say I don't make up good reviews, they are earned. Dr. Keshishian is highly recommended by me. As is Verdugo Hills Hospital.

I was among the first few 100 DS surgeries Dr. K performed in early 2000-2001... I lost the 100lbs and went from 213lbs to 113lbs (was too skinny for me)... in the last 10 years I’ve put back on about 10lbs every 3 years and now sit at my max goal weight of 145 (size 6)... with the ability to easily lose weight if/when I desire to... Dr. K has been an amazing Doctor over the past nearly 20 years... his memory (or notes) are immeasurable!... His bedside manner is perfect... and my results have lasted... I pay cash out of pocket to see him annually sometimes more for my check-ups... and I don’t blink an eye to do so... I often wish he was my GP... or that my other Dr.’s were like him... Both my sister and my cousin whom had at nearly 200lbs to lose also had the surgery as well and neither regret it... both have also maintained their weight loss for nearly 15 years... You won’t regret having Dr. K as your choice for DS (weight loss) surgery!

Now that time has passed, and I have been very sick for several years, I would not recommend this doc to anyone. I felt very little support, and there was a part of my digestive system made too short, so I have suffered from severe malabsorbtion since.
I was told that I would die soon after 1 1/2 years recovery should have happened. His last statement to me was that he could do a revision on me, and it would make me fat and at risk for disease again, what good would that do me. Let me just say the GR/DS did me no favors.

I had surgery June 29,2001 with Dr Keshishian in Delano, CA. When I first started researching for WLS I really didnt know what to do or where to turn. I had heard about the RNY and frankly it scared the crap out of me. The idea of leaving a part of my stomach in that I was not going to be using anymore just freaked me out. Plus, I had heard a lot of horror stories about the side effects of this surgery and I really could not imaging living a normal life with having constant dirrahea and not being able to eat what I want. THen I saw a program of the GRDS and thought that it was the better choice, my only issue was needing to find a Dr that performed the surgery and that was covered by my insurance. Thats why I first went to see Dr. K because he was contracting with my insurance. But, when I met him, I was hooked. I had pictured an older gentleman with a crotchety demeanor who had no time for answering my questions. But then walked in this rather tall gentleman in his bow tie, he was rather good looking and quiet speaking. He told me that it was my choice and he would not do anything that I did not want him to do. He explained every procedure to me and answered my questions and never made me feel like I was asking stupid questions or wasting his time. He even talked to my sister who is kind of a space cadet, but he explained everything to her (a couple of times) in a manner that she understood. He made me feel like it wasnt my fault for being fat. I knew at that moment that he was the one for me.

As my surgery date came near, I was getting rather nervous and I would call him with some pretty stupid questions and fears, but he answered my call (even at 11 pm) and he calmed me down. At 5 am I checked into the hospital and got prepped for surgery. The surgery was a trip because we found out that I have a very high tolerance for anesthesia and it wears off really fast and I woke up in the middle of surgery. I was unable to notify the Dr that I was awake, so I felt everything until I passed out from the pain. This problem was not Dr. K's fault, i held the anesthesiologist at fault for that because he should have been watching me closer.

Well, other than that, the surgery went pretty good, but recovery was a night mare. We found out that I was allergic to Moraphine and I had a really bad reaction to it. I had never had this drug before so it was a surprise to us all.

Dr K visited me a couple times a day while i was in the hospital and I was released on July 3 but had to stay in Delano for a couple days. We stayed at the local hotel and from the time I checked out of the hospital and went home I had lost 20 lbs. It was just amazing to me.

I went home and everything went along ok, but it was a very hot summer so I did experience dehydration. But, i never had any hernias or anything like that.

Today, is 2011 and I have maintained my weight at about 140 lbs. My weight does go up and down between 10-15 lbs but thats ok. If I had to do it again I would go see Dr. K in a heart beat and do it all over again. Although we are supposed to see Dr. K once a year, I havent seen him in a couple years, not because of anything that he did, but because of a couple people on his staff. I love Dr. K and I credit him for my life because I know that without him I would have died a couple years ago. He is my knight in shining armour. He does not judge anyone for their obesity and he truly just wants to help. He is a great guy.

Nancy Godina
Surgery date 6/29/2001
Delano, CA

I met with Dr Keshishian in May 2010 and although it has taken a year to get here I have a surgery date for this May 24, 2011. Diana has been wonderful keeping in contact with me and helping me get to this point. I will be having the duodenal switch and feel 100% confident in my choice of Dr. Keshishian as my surgeon. When I met with him last year he had a great sense of humor and was willing to answer all my questions. I am a medical marijauna patient and he was perfectly comfortable answering my questions about his policy regarding it, nor was he jugdemental about my use. I found that to be a very refreshing attitude. I will also be having my surgery in Delano.

I met with the surgeon the first time recently, and really liked him, and felt very confident he was the one to do my surgery. He took his time, and answered my questions.