Bruce Thayer Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

Dr. Thayer's office has a friendly atmosphere. His staff, dietician, psychologist, etc. are informative and considerate. At my initial evaluation, I was very nervous, but Dr. Thayer and his staff made my husband and I very at ease. He is very knowledgable and caring, but does not hesitate to "tell it like it is".

He was delightful with a great sense of humor.

2/28/01 Upon meeting Dr. Thayer myself and my husband immediately liked him. He has a wonderful sense of humor and has a way of calming your fears. Dr. Thayers office staff are very caring individuals. I would call it organized chaos. The great thing about his facility is that you get your whole evaluation done in one visit. Though the visit is three hours long it is well worth it. I first visited with the therapist, then the dietician, and then Dr Thayer. I found visiting them all at once extemely effective. Dr Thayer speaks with each one after their evaluation before he meets with you. It is great because everything is fresh in everyones mind. I passed the evaluation!! I am tenatively scheduled for surgery on June 21st!! Yippee!! Now I just have the dreaded insurance approval. I am thinking positively!!

3/07/01-UPDATE!! Just found out today that I have been approved by United Healthcare!! I am tentatively scheduled for surgery March 15th! I will know definetly tomorrow.

Dr. Thayer is a really nice guy, and straight to the point. His entire staff was really positive with me and I didn't feel at all like I should feel bad for my condition. The only thing I disliked about my visit with him is that there were tons of people there. They're really really busy. I didn't expect that much activity in the office. He made a great first impression with me and I think I am making the right decision having him as my surgeon.

Dr. Thayer has been wonderful. A very kind man who makes me feel very comfortable about my upcoming surgery. The office staff has been awesome. Everyone has made me feel very comfortable. He talks alot about how this is a tool only and that I must work at weight loss and health. He offers 2 monthly support group meetings and has also stressed that I can call the office anytime I have any questions or concerns. Dr. Thayer reviews the risks of surgery and before you even get an appointment, they sent out a packet with information. Overall I would rate Dr. Thayer as ***** (five star). My feeling is that both surgical compentence and bedside manner are very important, and I would not feel comfortable with a surgeon that does not provide both.

Dr Thayer is GREAT!!!! Very understanding,and willing to listen. The more I spoke to him the better I felt about my dicision. The office staff was wonderful also, but the office itself is packed on Wednesday...I don't know how they keep smiling all day:-) they are very nice people.
Make sure that you are honest about everything that you are asked about. it is importantthat you don't leave anything out as it may effect your treatment.
HUGE HUGE HUGE about after care... I think I was told the same things about after care at least 3 times. Very structured after care program.
Dr Thayer and the other staff that I met with today were very imformative about all the risks and bennifits of this surgery. They didn't hesitat to answer a single one of my questions.
Rating for Dr Thayer on a scale from 1-10 is a 20... ! He was wonderful!
Since I have not had surgery yet I can't rate his surgical ability, but judging from his waiting room, I would say he is a very skilled an knoledgable surgeon. He seem like he has wonderful bedside manner just from talking to him you can tell that he really cares about your health.

I thought Dr. Thayer was wonderful. It helped that he had a great sense of humor. He was very informative and told me that I shouldn't have a problem getting approved. Everyone in his office is super. They are right there to help you when you need it.

I would strongly recommend Dr. Thayer and his office staff. They are wonderful!!

What's great is that you get to see the Dr., the nutritionist and the physiciatrist all at once. It helps when you live far away.

Aftercare is a big part of their program.

DR. Thayer and his office staff are a wonderful group of people. I have felt like a member of a whole new family from my first phone call to now. I do not have one complaint about anything that I have gone thru. The monthly support meetings are a true benefit and great support. The only negative I have found is that they are very very busy. They do get back to you as soon as possible. I have heard that they are now booking several months out for a consult. This is a great group and you should phone them for more information if you want competant, personal medical care.

1st. Consult with Dr. David Brams Lahey Clinic October 2000

I saw Dr. Brams for the first time when I attended a lecture he gave about WLS. That evening I thought he was pretty terrific!

Went I had my first face to face consult with him, I was extremly nervous and tense ( which is normal for me) I felt a uncomfortable in his waiting room. It was a general surgery waiting room and all the chairs in the office had arms. Now for most people that doesn't present a problem, but for me it was a problem. SO I was not very comfy sitting there waiting. I had thought that because it was a place for morbid obese people, it would have been a bit more "friendly" to our fannies!
Anyway! I only briefly met Karen Flanders NP that works with the doctors, she seemed to be extremely nice. I would have liked to have chatted with her a bit more, but I had the last appointment of the day, and she was leaving. So next time I will meet with her.

I found Dr. Brams very honest and sincere. He does truly care about his patients. I also had the oppitunity to meet his associate Dr.Shah, he seemed very pleasent as well.
Dr.Brams was to the point when he spoke to me about WLS, in my particular case, I am extremly large (but have very few co-morbidities) I found that I am his largest patient to date as well. He wants me to lose at least 50 pounds before surgery. Which I have agreed to do.

I do have to mention that in a way I found him a bit "cold". Maybe it was cuz it was the end of the day, and I was his last patient, or perhaps it was me. But he made me feel ashamed to be as large as I am. I know that sounds silly, cuz he deals with obese people all the time, but with my weight being so high. Could be that he was truly concerned about my welfare, and I interurpted it incorrectly. In any case, I am waiting to see what happens on my next visit with him and his office on Dec. 12.

Don't get me wrong I truly believe he is a wonderful, caring and skilled surgeon, but somehow either he or I missed the boat that day when we first met.

Please remember that each person has their own set of emotions when walking into an office for the first time. This is my feelings, don't let my feelings or experiences affect your own.

I will be sure to update my opinion of him as soon as possible





*********************UPDATE*************************

Dr. Bruce Thayer

Well because of many reason I have switched doctors and hospitals! I never really could get over the things that bothered me about Dr.Brams and the Lahey Clinic. Maybe I just didn't give it enough chance, or maybe I was influenced by my friends. Either way, I have changed to Dr. Bruce Thayer, from Newton/Wellesley Hospital. I had my first appointment with Dr.Thayer Jan.3, 2001. I am totally impressed with him and his entire staff! I am super glad that I have changed over, not only does he seem to have the empathy for obese people
but he treats us with respect and care! I also met his associate Dr.H.David Reines, and he too, is marvalous! the entire experience was very comforting and a huge relief to me. I still have been "requested" to lose some weight before my surgery, but at least I feel that I am not alone in doing so. I was told repeatedly that
the whole "team" is there for my questions and concerns about the whole thing! Also I would love to add that the other patients in the waiting room were so friendly and answered questions about their personal experience with the hospital and the staff in the office. they spoke freely and really helped to ease my nerves!

On the whole I am super happy that I have changed over!