F. Edward Tenewitz Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

Dr. Tenewitz was wonderful from beginning to end. He is very caring about his patients and has wonderful support/bedside manners. His office staff is wonderful also. They all really care about you and you can contact them at any time for questions or concerns. They have an "angel" program also and it just helped so much having post-op patients coming to visit while in the hospital. Each of Dr. Tenewitz's staff really emphasizes the importance of aftercare and they set your follow up appointments a few days before your surgery so you don't have to worry about it after you've had surgery.
Lisa Wilbert the patient care consultant is one of the sweetest people I have met. She's always warm & friendly and answers any questions you might have. She's the first one you see.
Debbie, the insurance coordinator, really fights for you to get your approval asap. Thanks to her, I was approved in only 8 business hours. I can't express my thanks enough to her!!
Dr. Tenewitz as far as competence and bedside manner is great. I highly recommend him to anyone in the central Florida area. His support group meetings are awesome, very informative and alot of his post-op patients stay for the pre-op meetings to talk to those that are considering the WLS.
Everyone tells you the risks of the surgery and what can happen if you don't take your supplements and get enough protien. The only thing that surprised me was, because of my sleep apnea, I was put into ICU overnight just for observation and I was not told that may be a possibility.
TO ALL THE STAFF AT DR. TENEWITZ'S OFFICE, THANK YOU, YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

Dr. Tenewitz has been performing obesity surgery for over 15 years. He seems to really understand the challenges and frustrations of obese people, and he really wants to help.
He has set up a great full-service team, including a patient consultant/counselor, who is a former patient of his, a surgical nurse, and a psychologist who specializes in working with obese people. The patient consultant, Lisa, is such a warm and friendly person, and she orchestrates a support group for those considering surgery and those who have had it. The entire team attends the support group meeting and they encourage learning everything you can about the surgery and how your life will change.

The entire team is very open and honest. They tell you all the risks, they acknowledge that the first few weeks will be hard.

I like the Dr and the program. I am anxiously awaiting my surgery.

MY FIRST IMPRESSION WAS THAT HE WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE SURGERY. HE DID ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF SURGERY RISKS. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT THAT HE WAS IN ATTENDANCE AND SPOKE AT THE INITIAL MEETING OF POSSIBLE PATIENTS. I HAD ATTEND INITIAL MEETINGS OF TWO OTHER BARIATRIC PHYSICIANS AND ONLY THEIR ASSISTANT WAS THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. DR. T IS GENUINELY INTERESTED IN HELPING HIS PATIENTS. HE HAS AN EXCELLENT GROUP OF SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU ALL THE TIME. HE DOES HAVE A STRUCTURED AFTERCARE PROGRAM. HE HAS ONE SUPPORT STAFF WOMAN WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFORMING YOU, HELPING YOU, AND ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE (& SHE HAD THE PROCEDURE DONE ABOUT A YEAR & A HALF AGO BY DR. T - AND IS ESTATIC). I WILL GIVE FURTHER UPDATES WHEN THE SURGERY IS OVER. :O)

~~ I was uncertain about Dr. T at the very first pre-op support group meeting (which is required prior to any appts with his office). He appears calm & kind of quiet with a sort of flat affect. Upon my actual appt with him...I had already been to 3 support group meetings and two appts with his patient care coordinator, so in my mind Dr. T had become somewhat of a celebrity figure or something. I almost couldn't sleep the night before my appt with him, knowing this appt was the one that was supposed to gain me a surgery date!!! When he entered the room, I got so nervous that I nearly shouted out "Nice to meet you!" And then was very embarassed. Im sure he wanted to chuckle.
~~ To this point his office staff has been very helpful to me and very knowledgable about my needs and acquiring my goals of insurance authorization, etc... I cannot say the same for my primary care manager however, who I must depend on for all of my referrals and for letters to my insurance company. His office staff is unbelievably incompetent and have fought me tooth and nail all the way. I will be so glad to finally be on the other side of this surgery and free of them!!!
~~ About my surgeon, Dr. Tenewitz...his office is in Melbourne, FL near the hospital which he performs the surgery, which is Holmes Regional Medical Center. At this time he performs this particular surgery (RNY) only as an open procedure. This is not the only type of surgery he performs, and he does perform other surgeries via laproscope. But his feeling is that this surgery is of such serious nature that it requires hands on technique and plain unobstructed view of the organs involved. After listening to his views on open vs. lap I felt very much at ease with his theories, as well as feeling that the open version was the right choice for me.
~~ Dr. Tenewitz empasizes that aftercare and support are absolutely vital to the success of the surgery and that of the patient's weight loss and health. His aftercare program, as well as his entire peri-operative program is very structured...very well planned, very well carried out. His team runs very smoothly which is such a relief in this time of great confusion and emotion for me as a patient.
~~ Although bedside mannor may be important to some people, I will gladly sacrifice it entirely for the guarantee of a competent surgeon. As a RN I have known a few surgeons in particular whom I have considered to be absolute genius in relation to their practice...however, there was not much time left for bedside manner. I took my role as the patient's nurse to also be the patient's advocate and I myself provided the bedside manner...reassuring my patients and comforting them.
~~ At this point I do not have a single negative comment in regards to my surgeon or his staff and I do not expect that I will in the future.

my first impression of Dr T WAS DID HE HAVE THIS wls HIMSELF?? HE WAS AND IS SUCH A CARING MAN .THE MORE I SEE DR T THE MORE I FEEL HE IS ONE OF MY MANY ANGELS ...
DR T'S OFFICE STAFF ARE JUST AS CARING AND HELPFUL YOU COUNDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER STAFF FOR THE WLS .THEIR "GREATTTTTTT LOVE YA BONNIE AND DEBBIE .....I HAVE NOTHING NEGITIVE TO SAY ABOUT ANYONE WITH DR T....
IF YOU HAVE CHOSEN DR T YOU WILL BE VERY AT EASE AND FEEL LIKE THIS STAFF REALLY CARES .....AND THEY DO!!! DR T WILL TELL YOU RIGHT UP FRONT THE DO'S AND DON'TS AND IF YOU CHOSE THE DON'TS WELL YOUR IN FOR A DUMMY RIDE ..LISTEN ..UP ...DR T HAS WLS GROUP MEETINGS BEFORE AND AFTER ..WHICH YOU MUST ATTEND ..HE REALLY STRONGLY CANT SAY THAT ENOUGH...DR T AND HIS STAFF (LISA) TELL YOU ALL THE GOOD AND ALSO LIKE WITH ANY SURG.THERE ARE RISKS ...I GIVE DR T AND THE WHOLE STAFF A WELL ABOVE 10 ...WHAT A GRAT JOB YOU GUYS DO .....TO ANSWER THE LAST QUESTION... I LUCK OUT THERE BECAUSE I NOT ONLY HAVE A "COMPETENCE DR.. BUT A SWEET CARING HUMAN BEING WHO CARES WHAT MY LIFE HAS BEEN LIKE AND THANKS TO HIM I WILL HAVE THE TOOL FOR A NEW LEASE ON A WONDERFUL LIFE WITH QUALITY.....

Dr. Tenewitz is a very confident surgeon and is constantly doing things to improve his follow up care. I didn't find him to be very personal, but he is nice and informative and takes all the time you need to adequately answer any and all questions (I had two pages front and back). The office staff is very nice and extremely competent. There are monthly support group meetings for post op and pre op patients. I would recommend him.

A bit arrogant and in command type person, but then, so am I.



He has something to be arrogant about. His success rate is phenomenal! And he truly cares about the whole person, not just your $$$.

EVERYONE is gracious and understanding. His Patient Care Consultant, Lisa, was once his patient, and to date, has lost 220 pounds. She is a continual source of encouragement, and is always available for questions, no matter how minute they might seem. She encouraged Dr. Tenewitz to start a support group meeting once a month, and we now have a pre-op meeting on the first Wednesday night of every month, and a post-op meeting, as well. The caring and concern that each memeber shows, and the high regard and high esteem they give to their patients can almost bring tears to my eyes. Debbie, who works in the office, purely on insurance, is the woman "with the golden tongue." She can persuade insurance companies to approve this surgery like no one else. She is definitely gifted!

Lack of bedside manner.

He is no nonsense and expects patients to obey his two rules: no food for a month, and no drinks with any calories and/or sugar for life.

Hugely!! His office staff has put together a pamphlet for the patient, and it is quite detailed.

Yes, specifically, certain appointments with him, with his Patient Care Consultant, and with his nurse, as well as the post-op meetings once a month. Life-long friends have been established at these meetings.

They make no bones about the dangers--they list them all!!

10 1/2

Surgical competence

I think Dr. Tenewitz has got an amazing practice. He is a doctor who is genuinely concerned about the success of his patients. His staff is marvelous. They know who I am just after a few short phone calls. He provides a support group and patient consultant-free of charge to all of his patients and he requires patients attendance to meetings with both before and after. He spends his own time and own money to organize these meetings and they are at no costs to the patients or the insurance companies. I have not had surgery with this doctor as of yet but I am completely confident that he is the man for the job! I honestly do not have any negative thoughts to share at this time-I work in the medical field so I'm probably used to the quirks that many doctors are famous for-I think he's great!!!!!

Dr. T. seems to be a very nice man..He has continued to be that way ...His office staff has always been great with me..and i have felt free to call and ask whatever it is i need to know ect..Dr. T very much so emphasizes aftercare.. and does have a monthly support group meeting..for those who are post op..and also for those who are seeking to have surgery..i would have liked tohave more info on the kinds of things to eat after surgery but am learning.. by others ... online and off... he has a consultant...who works for him.. she is Lisa Wilbert.. she herself has had the surgery 15 months ago and has lost 150 pounds..she is a very very sweet and sympathetic lady..easy to talk to also...Dr. T does answer any and all questions presented to him ...and that includes the risks...id have to say i found him to be completely competent..i guess id have to say ..my only complaint is lack of info as to the eating after surgery... but they are working on a info packet currently..and i think the probs will be fixed!

So far, I've been to 2 of Dr Tenewitz' support meetings, and had a consult at his office. I'm impressed with the years of experience he has in the field of bariatric surgery. He is willing to admit that he has changed his approach over the years to one that is more holistic and treats all aspects of the patients needs. He works with a patient consultant, Lisa, who has surgery a little over a year ago and has lost about 198 lbs.
Before surgery, there is little he requires from the patient. However, after surgery he requires strict compliance with the program he has set up. Which includes, no solid food for the 1st month. Dr Tenewitz presents as a warm, concerned, capable physician. I have every confidence in him.