Lee Grossbard Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.
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I had Dr. Grossbard for lapband surgery. He is the worst surgeon. Please anyone who is going to think about using him please seek care elsewhere. It took me 2 years to get better from what he did to me.
I took to Dr Grossbard immediately. Very funny but honest and brutally to the point. Tells me like it is without beating around the bush.
My surgeon has been named by INAMED to be a founding member of the Lap-Band Leadership Institute Program. What else can I say - I was self pay so I wanted the best that I could afford. He also has a lap-band and has lost 100 lbs. and has done over 2000. He knows like no other.
My first experience with Dr. Lee Grossbard was at his seminar in Tampa, Florida. He was easy-going, had a sense of humor, and explained each and every event of Lap Band surgery in detail. He also answered every question we had. The only downside is that he had a bad experience with insurance reimbursement, so he only does surgery on a cash basis.rnMy consultation, pre-op, and surgery went very well. As a matter of fact, a staff member stayed by my bedside while all surgical prep was taking place. It was very comforting. His staff is professional, his nutritional RV has a great knowledge of the diet you will need to follow. After surgery on April 3rd of this year, I h follow-up calls from staff to insure everything had gone well and answers any questions that I may have had. I also got my questions answered immediately by calling his office. rnI can't say enough about Dr. Grossbard's technique, as I have only small, well-healed incisions after only one week from surgery. My follow up visit is on: April 28th. As of this date, I have already lost 18 lbs with his liquid diet, but more important it has taught me how to look at food in a different way now. I will eat to live....not live to eat!
I heard about Dr G. thru a friend who had the lap band did amazing. I had my stomach stapled 25 yrs ago, which was hell. So I really didnt want to go the surgery route again, but I went to the seminar to get more info..like could they even do lapband over staples? I left there knowing Dr G and the lapband were for me. Dr G and Dr DiCicco have been wonderful. I had surgery on 3/24 and they worked very hard not to have to cut me open which I am very grateful for. The after surgery follow up has been great and the staff is so friendly and helpful especially Barbara and Betty. I would strongly reccomend going to his seminar if you are thinking about the surgery and decide for yourself.
Dr. Grossbard is the GREATEST!!!!! He has also had the band put in and has lost over 100 lbs... He is very understanding and will sit and talk to you about any questions you have.
Dr. Grossbard came highly recommended by a friend who used to work with him in his regular surgery practice. I found him to be pretty sarcastic and egotistical, but that is not unusual for a surgeon. All of the staff members who I have met have been great. Dr. Grossbard has the band himself and has had it for quite some time, so he understands personally what his patients are experiencing. All of his patients seem to love him and have only the utmost respect for him as a surgeon.
My first impression of Grossbard was terrible. At the informational seminar, I thought that he was pompous, full of himself, and delighted in ridiculing all of the poor fat people at his informational seminar. He would pull people up front to demonstrate the difficulties in putting on shoes or sitting comfortably in airplanes. He would choose a person from the audience, stand her up and twirl her around, poking at her fat, talking about it. Many other people found him funny; I saw lots of people laughing. I thought it was offensive.
My impression of him has never changed but I decided to put his abrasive personality aside since my insurance was being very cooperative and it looked like they were going to approve him for surgery. My mother accompanied me to the hospital for my surgery and when Dr. Grossbard came out to speak to her and tell her my surgery was successful, she asked him about prescriptions for pain afterward, to which he replied, "Pain? What pain? Tell her to take Tylenol." Yeah...... sure. It wasn't the worst pain in my life but Tylenol wasn't cutting it. I wish he had prescribed something a little stronger. Everyone tolerates pain differently. It felt like I had been kicked in the stomach after doing 500 ab crunches. I was sore and the incision near the access port hurt like anything.
His office staff was very pleasant to talk to and they were a bright spot in the whole process.
I think future patients should know that:
1. He's a jerk as a person. Prepare yourself for humiliation, crass language, degradation, and to only see him once in your life: at the informational seminar. I never had an appointment with him personally, never saw him pre-op, and he never came to see me post-op. My first appointment 2 weeks post-op is with his nurse practitioner.
2. He's a good surgeon. I have no bruising around the incisions at all, and they are very small and neat. I have no complications besides wishing I had something stronger for pain.
3. Stay on top of his office staff. When they say that they will take care of something, call back to check up on them. If you stay on top of things, then there is less risk for delays or postponements. His office staff is very nice and pleasant.
As for aftercare, he is very structured and rigid. There is NOTHING but clear liquids for two weeks, period. I got a cute little goody basket from the hospital with instructions, drink mixes, hard candies, teas, and other things to help get me started on clear liquids. After that, it's full liquids and then solid, soft foods. You have to go back once a month for follow-up appointments for at least a year. It's very structured but at least it keeps you connected to the office so they can track your progress.
The risks of surgery were very clearly stated and I was quizzed on them several times to make sure that I understood. I think the pain was minimized though, it was a lot worse than I expected. The common perception is that it is possible to go back to work in 3-4 days. I was expected to go back to school a week post-op and I had difficulty sitting in a desk for any length of time as well as difficulty driving for any length of time. A week post-op it was still difficult to sleep any way other than flat on my back and lying on my left side was out of the question. (the port and incisions are on the left side of the abdomen).
In all, removing his abrasive personality from the situation, he was a good, thorough surgeon. I would give him a 7 out of 10.
At the moment, I'm still 1 week post-op, so look for this information to change, based on future occurrences.
I liked him very much.He knew alot about it because he had the surgery himself also.
Has not changed only better. He is very helpful.
Everyone at his office is just great and caring and answer what ever questions you have.
I dont have a least about him. like all
Dr. G. is very understanding and you can talk to him about your feelings.
He tells you like it is. And explains all you have to do to take care after surgery.
Yes, You have to follow his aftercare it is structured.
He tells it like it is what can happend and what the risks are for surgery and after.
I would rate him a number 9
I would say surgical is better. But Dr. G.
does have a good bedside manner also.