Joel Freeman Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

MY frist inpression was that he was very strick and he only wanted pateint that would you exacly what he wanted of them. THat i think is a bit much to expect. He wanted me to exercise each day. And also join a gym and go 3 time a week. If i could do these things i would not be fat or need him. You see i am disable i walk with a cane and use a electric wheelchair for longer distance. I am in pain all the time. he also expected me to lose weight every month 2 to 4 pounds. I did but i was not eating very much to do this. He said if i dont lose weight and exercise he would not do surgery. and if i gain a pound i be cancel. so i really thing he was asking too much from me, I found he wanted the best for me and that was good and with time i understand why he is the way he is. alot of people are fat because of what they eat. But i always was careful of what i eat so this was no problem for me.I keept a journal of my food and i was told each time that i eat right. the reason i cant lose weight is because i have alot of pain and cant hardly do anything. I feel that i am in good hands with dr. freeman i will be having my surgery on march the 5.

His staff is wonderful they made me feel very comfertable. His nurse is very nice so is his diatician julie.

What i like the most so far is that he is very carefull and he check you for everything to make sure your ok for surgery. what i dont like is the way he tries to scare you to lose weight by canceling you. this is not needed.

future patient should now that he is very strick and he takes no excuses for anything.
but if your willing to do as he says you will do ok.

today is april 14 it has ben 2 months and 3days i had surgery . My surgery has heald well i had no major problems. DR> freeman did a good job i just wish he would take more time in talking and lissen to what you have to say to him . He does have a strong opion and it hard to have him chage his mind about things. H e is very strick and at times hard on his staff and co-workers. He is a great surgeon. but his bed side manner could be beter. i would rate him a 9 and if he had beter bed side manners a 10.

I've had my first appointment with Dr. Freeman, and have a second set up for about a month from now.
He seems quite busy and businesslike, but not unpleasant. In fact, at one point he made an aside to his intern -- something to the effect that there are some people who just seem to have a genetic predisposition to obesity, and for us, surgery is the only real answer.
He wanted me to bring in two low-fat cookbooks for my next visit, and he wants my husband to accompany me, as he says the rate of marital breakdown after this surgery is quite high. Apparently some husbands (or wives) get all upset because their partner is no longer fat (and easy to control); or they get jealous because they think others are paying too much attention to them.
I did appreciate Dr. Freeman's thoroughness in this -- not that my husband would ever fall into either category, but it's good to know Freeman is trying to check everything out, and make sure this is really the best course for me.
I'll report more after my next appointment.

He was Very thorough but too business like for me.
I researched his background , spoke with previous patients of his and asked for references which were supplied freely.
His office staff is wonderful and helpful even though sometimes hard to contact.
I fell he is one of the best surgeons around and that I have confidence in him.
If your not serious , dont go to him, if you dont want rules to follow , dont go to him.. He is strict but for good reasons, he wants you healthy and safe and successful.
He didnt have any thing in the way of support when I spoke to him but I hope to change that by starting a support group in Ottawa soon. My GP is extremely helpful and supportive of me and my surgery.

Cant give him a rating overall until I have had my surgery in 3 weeks time ,i'll be back to let you know then.

In my personal opinion his surgical competence is better than bedside manner although I wish he had as much manner as he does competance!!!
What a winner he would be then....