J. Wesley Alexander Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

He wasn't anything I expected. He was very laid back. My impression didn't change over time. The office staff was helpful. However when I submitted the information to the person in charge of precertification she initally told me it would take 2 days. I called her back after 2 days and she told me it would be 3 weeks. Three weeks passed and I gave her another call and she told me it would be more time. I then explained to her she told me it would be three weeks and that time had already passed. She told me to call back later on that day. I called her back but she wasn't there. I then decided to call the insurance company to see if they had any information. The representative I spoke to told me she received the certifation that same day and she gave me my surgery date. So she had only called that day to get the certification. It seems that she only had to make a phone call but it took over three weeks. I wasn't expecting my surgery so soon, I was actually expecting to have it next year becuase he was so busy.
There wasn't anything about him I didn't like. Before he came into the room the nurse gave me a packet that I read over and it answered ALOT of question I had for the first visit. I didn't ask him about the aftercare program I will do that when I go back to see him on 12/9/02. He addressed the risk of surgery very openly and honestly. I was very comfortable after talking with him. As I said before I will go back and see him on 12/9/02 (ten day before my surgery), I've been writing down question I would like to ask him.

first impression, was not really good however i knew someone personally who had him so i was ok he looked as if he was really tired and worn out......as we talked over a period he was really a very nice doctor he filled me in on alot of things ,answerd every question without hesitation.Office staff.....well overall were really nice and friendly ...however there was this one nurse ....well she wasnt very gentle.. the doctor told me of the risks involved and we talked about them...i would rate him over all as a great doctor very nice and informative .

My first impression was "He's not very personable." He's very "business like", straight to the point. However, the 2nd time I went to see him, he was a little friendlier and was very willing to answer any question I had. The office is very nice and the staff has been extremely friendly and helpful! I've asked around about this surgeon and have had nothing but positive feedback on him, even other bariatric surgeons say great things about him. So, it's a good thing that I put more importance on surgical competence than bedside manner!

I've only met him once. He seems very "business" like and not very personable but maybe I caught him on a bad day. I am going to see him again in a couple of days.

My first impression of DR Alexander was he was a little old. He was very nice and answered all my questions. The office staff from what i have talked with them seem to be very nice and helpful. Their really isn't no complaints i have about DR ALEXANDER. just be your self and he will be the best person to talk to. DRAlexander doesn't emphasize on after care much he does like you to go see a dietician 2 times b-4 you have surgery and the cost of that is 20.00 a sesson.DR ALEXANDER LETS YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THE SURGERY AND ALL THE RISK INCLUDED IN THE SURGERY. I WOULD RATE HIM AN EASY 8 HIS BED SIDE MANOR IS WONDERFUL A VERY CARING DR.

My first impression of Dr. Alexander was that he was very unassuming. He had been in surgery all day and was running behind with his office visits but he did not rush me or my questions.

His office staff has been great...they have been very helpful and upfront about when my surgery might be scheduled.

His emphasis on aftercare kind of shocked me. He feels a patient knows what he/she needs to do about nutrition and seeing a nutritionist would be a waste of time and money. He makes a good point but for women like me who ignore common sense when it comes to eating ( I'd rather have a cheeseburger then brussel sprouts) even though I know what I should eat, my will power is weak. All that to say he doesn't recommend a nutritionist but if you really want one he can refer you to one.

As for the risks of surgery...I asked if I should donate blood in advance should something go wrong...like any surgeon I think that might have offended him. Given the number of this type of surgery that he has performed he didn't forsee a need for blood. When I pressed about wanting my own blood should there be a problem he went on to say the blood from Cincinnati blood banks, Hoxworth, was very safe.

I have a friend who works at Christ hospital as a RN and she and several of her coworkers have or are having the Roux-en-Y procedure done and they have been very happy with Dr. Alexander and the results of their weight loss. I hope I have the same success.

My first impression of Dr. Alexander was very good. I found him to be thorough in his examination, history, and questions. He has done this surgery 300-400 times and has never had a death. He gave a very detailed explantion of the procedure he does, gave me material to read over with my family while I was waiting, and then gave me and my family all the time I needed for questions and concerns.

His surgeries are scheduled several months in advance, but the timelines his office gives seem to be worst-case scenario. I was told I probably wouldn't even get to see him for a consult before August, and I got in at the end of May. He says it will probably be late fall before I can have surgery, but hopefully it will be sooner. He says that I should have insurance approval within a month, but again I am optimistic that it will be sooner.

I have heard from several sources that Dr. Alexander is worth waiting for, and I can see where that may be true.

I researched Dr. Alexander quite a bit before I actually met him, so I knew that he was not a "bariatric surgeon" but a general surgeon. I also knew that he was an older gentlemen, so this did not take me aback when I met him.

He struck me as a very knowledgeable, busy, and to the point kind of Doctor. While some may need more personal attention, this was fine by me.

His office staff has been for the most part pleasant. I did have a slight problem with his scheduler, Kathy, who seems a bit moody. One day she is very positive and the next she will be kind of snappish. Oh well, I don't guess it can be easy to answer the phones.

If you are going to have Dr. Alexander perform the surgery know that his credentials as a surgeon are very impressive. He practices out of Christ Hospital--and the nurses there who want this surgery have no qualms about using him as their surgeon. One of them even introduced themselves to me the day of my surgery.

He does not really stress aftercare. He does give you a strict diet to follow and emphasizes the importance of exercise. He wants you to return to work as soon as you can, as long as your work isn't physical in nature. He does make available to you a support group and a dietician who can answer specifics.

I came armed with knowledge about the risks of this surgery. Specifically, I wanted to know how he minimized what I see as the big three: pulmonary embolism, infection, and pneumonia. He did not have to prepare me much here as I was already well-informed.
Dr. Alexander has never, in 10 + years of practicing this surgery, lost a patient.

I would rate him an 8. His surgical credentials and competence are flawless--he is very well respected as a surgeon. If I had to say anything takes away from that, he could be a little more personable. It isn't that he isn't friendly--just not the most down-on-the-carpet-relationship-building type of Doctor I have ever met.

VERY NICE, VERY THOURGH, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS INDEED AN INFORMED DECISION ON MY PART & THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING I THOUGHT THROUGH.

HIS OFFICE STAFF VERY FRIENDLY, YET ALITTLE HARD TO REACH HIS PRIVATE NURSE AS SHE IS VERY BUSY. NOT SURE YET ABOUT WHAT I HAVE LIKED LEAST ABOUT HIM THIS WAS JUST MY 1ST VISIT.

FOR FUTURE PATIENTS I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPLANT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WHICH IS VERY COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE IN GOOD HANDS. HE REALLY EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF AFTERCARE.

SO FAR I RATE HIM EXCELLENT OVERALL. I HAVEN'T HAD SURGERY YET. HOWEVER, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS & SHE HAD HIM & LOVES HIM (REALLY RAVES ABOUT HIS WORK)

SURGICAL COMPETENCE IS BETTER BUT BOTH COMPTENCE & BEDSIDE MANNER ARE IMPORTANT! HOPEFULLY I'LL FIND OUT SOON HOW HIS ARE 1ST HAND!

I DO WORRY HOWEVER, ABOUT HIS AVAILABILTY AFTER SURGERY BECAUSE HE HAS SO MANY PATIENTS. HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T BE AN ISSUE!

Very compassionate, conservative and no shortcuts