Fredrick Harris Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Harris knows first hand about both ends of the surgery, since he has had it himself.
Very informative on the good and bad.
Dr. Harris is very short and to the point. He is also very honest, and supportive. He is a wonderful surgeon in my opinion. Thank you Dr. Harris for giving me my life back!
My family and I have nothing but respect for you!

I had to attend a seminar put on by Dr Harris and his staff. I got lots of information at that time and then made an appointment with his office to see him. I have always been very satisified with his treatment and he gives you lots of information. His office staff was just the best. I have been post op for only 1 week now and I have recieved calls from his office staff and also from the dietician. Dr Harris also found growths on the top of my uterus while he was doing the bypass and also took care of that too. I had been doctoring with a gynocoligist for just those symtoms. He brought in Dr christy Davis to check them out before he removed them. Overal with Dr Harris it has been an A1 experience.

I think that Dr. Harris is a great surgeon. He has been in practice for many years. He was a general surgeon and also in charge of trauma surgeons at Mckennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. About a year ago he went in to his own practice and specializes in only bariatic surgery. One of the reasons I think he is so good is that he has had Gastric Bypass surgery himself. I feel that having had a weight problem himself for many years, having had the surgery, and performing the operation gives him a persective unlike any other surgeon.

Attended an information session with him and his support staff (nurse and nutritionist). He's very confident in this procedure (RNY - the "Cadillac") and in his abilities. Even though my insurance has denied my request, I'm appealing that and will still be seeing Dr. Harris on May 2nd. 5/2/02: Met with Dr. Harris today. He took as much time as I needed, answered all of my questions, and offered to speak to my employer or do whatever necessary to help with insurance approval. I feel very comfortable and confident with him and his approach. 5/10/02: Attended support group meeting, Dr. Harris and his nurse, Sheila were there. Sheila is da bomb! 7/3/03: Sheila is still da bomb!!! Called Sheila last week when I was feeling so bad and urpy and she had me come in to see Dr. Harris. He thought it was another in-out-over visit, wouldn't take the time to listen to my symptoms. He gave me a Rx for oral thrush (which I don't have) and rushed out. Fortunately Sheila gives instant hugs and reassurance. He has great people involved in aftercare. 1/2/04: Six month postop visit today. Office staff still great, and Dr. Harris took some time to listen to me about a weird pain I've been having, and made some recommendations for my extremely low iron levels. Overall I'm pleased with my surgeon and the results so far ...

I am very pleased with Dr Harris. He is friendly and knowledgeable. His office staff is superb. The pre-op education is excellent.

I had my first consultation with Dr. Harris yesterday 7/16/03. I have to say the man knows what he is talking about, before you can make an appointment with him you need to go through a group information seminar that occurs once a month. During the seminar he will explain to you about the procedure and what to expect. Also his nurse Sheila will get up and tell you about what to expect from your insurance company. Dr. Harris, explain things in very good detail from the different procedures and what your choses are. So far I would rate him a 10 in knowledge.

Dr. Harris is very personable and upfront and brutally honest about what to expect. He's even had the surgery himself. I only have the uttmost respect for the man, and I'll take any and all advice he can give me. His office staff, especially his nurse, Shiela, is a hard working (that's an understatement) woman who seems to really care about Dr. Harris' patients' welfare, their feelings, and medical conditions. I can't say there was anything I likes "least" about them. They're simply awesome! Know that Dr. Harris tells it like it is and hides NOTHING from his patients about what to expect from the surgery. He will recommend group meetings post-op at Avera McKennan, and he also has us pre-op and post-op deal closely with a professional dieticial/nutritionist from the same hospital. I rate Dr. Harris and his staff a 10+ overall based on everything I've dealt with over the past several years with other bariatric surgeons and such. Nothing negative to say about this man. He is real and that's what I've been looking for. He is a life saver. I hope he can save mine! I consider him fully competent and just by reputation alone, he blows all the others away!

When I went to see Dr Harris for his information meeting, I was very impressed. I knew right away, that he would be the one who will be doing my surgery. I had seen another surgeon, and was really worried about the care that I would recieved, well needless to say that I changed before I had to find out how her bedside matter would have been.Dr Harris, has presented his plan, and how he would like it to go with great assurance. I was very concerned about being a very sereve sleep apnea patient, and going for surgery. After talking with Dr. Harris and realizing that he also had sleep apnea, and knew some of the challenges that I would have ahead, answered all my questions, and calmed my fears greatly. This was very important to me. I am currently doing the long waiting game with trying to get the paper work completed in order to get the insurance papers ready to be sent. Very tough time. Wish I had more insight into how this part all works. Hoping every day, to get the paper work sent in, then getting the approval, and finally getting the date to be on the OTHER SIDE.

my first impression was good he has a great sense of humorand no my impression has not changed the office staff has been great it was a little slow at first but we have to relaize they are busy people i dont think there is anything that i dont like about dr harris if future patience are looking for a dr i would recomend dr harris he takes the time for you as a person and cares for your needs strongly talks about aftercare and has the dietician call every two weeks they have a after care program you will have to see him six months post op then every year after thatwhen i first thought about gastric bypass i went to a seminar put on by dr harris and i think he covered everything welli would rate dr harris as a nine to me i think he did a wonderfull job and i have no complaints so fari think both his surgical and bedside manners are great

I met Dr. Harris at an information seminar. He gives one every month. I was impressed that he came to the seminar for such a long time, surgeons are kind of notorious for being unavailable. He has a gruff, outdoorsman kind of personality. He's quite blunt and willing to answer personal questions about his own surgery. He's a "larger than life" kind of person -- drove himself home from his surgery and went fishing a few days later, energy sort of bounces out of him. he has a sense of humor. His nurse, Sheila, and a nutritionist as well and again I was impressed with their handle on things. They encouraged people to read the handouts before asking questions -- probably to save a hundred duplicate questions, but were open to all the questions we had.

I also met Dr. Harris on a one-to-one consultation. I basically had my initial reactions confirmed.

I attended a four hour nutritional seminar with Kristan. The seminar is mandatory and I learned a lot.

I've heard the staff really is organized. I personally haven't experienced that. I've been trying to talk to Sheila for more than two weeks without any luck. I'm guessing their office move at the beginning of January has something to do with it and I hope my experience improves now that they are through with moving.

I'm wanting to know about aftercare -- what kind of follow up there is and whether there's a support group I can attend. I live over an hour from Sioux Falls so it would have to be at a time I can attend. Finding these things out is next on my list.