LeGrand P. Belnap Bariatric Surgeon M.D.
created
patients
Show reviews by
Sort by
Most Helpful |
Newest
I was really happy with Dr. Belnap, he was so nice and understanding. I really liked his attitude about obesity, he made me feel so comfortable. The wait in his office was long because he got called out for a transplant. However, the wait was well
worth it.
The ladies that work in his office were so prompt in getting everything to the insurance company , they had it to them the following day. They kept in contact with me and were so friendly they have made the whole experience very personal. I didnt feel like i was just another patient in a assembly line like you do at some big Dr Offices's. He also does not have a $500.00 education fee like other doctors in the Saltlake area.
My family wanted me to get the best surgeon that I could and I really did my research. I chose Dr. Belnap because he is one of the foremost transplant surgeons in the country. As a mother of 3 small children I needed to feel that ALL of my organs were safe in his hands and that he had the technique and experience to handle even the most critical situations. Surgeon experience plays a HUGE role in patient outcomes and Dr. Belnap has been doing the RNY for 24 years! He first started doing it to help his transplant patients.
He truly believes in the surgery and does as many as he can in between transplants.
If you don't expect a lot of personal attention while you are in the hospital and if you don't mind waiting hours on end in his office only to have your appointment canceled, and if you have a plan to be involved with other support groups post-op and don't expect a ton of aftercare, BUT want one of the best surgeons in the country, Dr. Belnap is your guy.
I'm glad I had him do my surgery and the nurses in the hospital even commented that if they ever had to have some kind of major surgery, he is the one who they would have do it.
My first impression was that he was a kind man, interested in helping others. He is very busy of course, because he is a organ transplant specialist as well, but I felt very comfident putting my body in his hands.
He has a very wonderful receptionist, who chatted with all of us...we were there until 11:00pm on a Saturday night, so that says something about him and his staff!!!
He is very quick, because he is so busy...but that is understandable. I'd rather him be busy than not...
I've been to other seminars, but his was more cozy and easy going. He held it like a discussion group in his office, rather than a hotel with tons of people (like I've been to before)..
His main emphasis was on how much genetics plays in weight, and how exercise and food intake are much less significant in the grand scale of things.
I think surgical competence and bedside manner are both important! I think he is good at both!
Be prepared to wait....with some good books, snacks, drink, etc....it will be a long one! Mine was 4 hours!!!! Also, I'd suggest to dress in layers, because that room was really hot in the beginning, then got cooler as people started going in for their meetings with the Doctor individually.
Another suggestion I have is to call ahead and have the receptionist fax or send the required paperwork. It would have been much easier to fill them out at home, and not the crowded waiting room....
Overall, I'm very excited about my new surgery date! I've had one before, and I've had to wait.....so I'm very ready to get it done and start building a healthier body and spirit!!!
05/13/04
I went in for my pre-op exam with Dr. Belnap, and my appointment was for 5:00pm, but didn't actually see him until around 7:00pm!!! He is very busy! He was sooo fast that I didn't feel like I had all of my questions answered, but at least I have done a lot of research on my own, and know a lot about the procedure.....
However, I am pretty nervous about having surgery this Friday. I didn't think I would be, but I am.
I am ready to start a new chapter in my life, however, and I am anxious to have it over with and be on the "losing side."
I'm scared about the "clearing out the bowels" that I will have to do on Thursday night, and I was unaware of how intense it will be. I've had surgery many times before, but never have had to do as much clearing out as this time.....hopefully it wont be too bad. The nurse told me that it is probably the worst part of the whole procedure!!!! AGHHHHH!!!
I will write back to update, when I have the surgery!
I had my appointment set up at 645 pm, then the office called back to move it up to 600 pm. this was on a Saturday. We showed up about an hour early, coming in from another State. The office gave is the paperwork, we went into the hallway to complete, they came to get us, saying we could join the earlier group. We enjoyed the DR's friendly additude and his clear explaination of things. He has a great sense of humor. He show compassion for his patient's. We had all doucuments with us, the office was going to send off for the auth approval right off, but at the end of the appointment (10 pm) office manager came in to inform us that the no longer a part of Tricare provider. I was upset, the DR walked by, asked what was wrong. He said they would do what they could. I went home very upset and disappointed.
My first impression of DR. Belnap was that he really cares about his patients..
The more i talk to him the more i like him.
Very nice and helpful
Just not enough time when i first met him.
You should know that he is a great person..
This is all i can say for now. beings i am pre-op and have only met him and staff once. but regular phone calls between staff and my self. very nice to me..
I just came from my first appointment with Dr Belnap. My first impression is that he seems to genuinely care about his patients. Like all of the other comments in reference to Dr. Belnap. I did have to wait for him for quite some time. He was, as usual, running just a little late. It was worth the wait. I feel that he is the best choice I could have made for the surgery. The people in his office were great. They were honest and straightforward about the possiblity of having trouble with my insurance. But, they were also positive about my chances of being approved. Dr. Belnap explained that he does a lot of extremely technical surgeries. He is a transplant surgeon. His main interest is to see his patients live their lives to their fullest potential. He is extremely easy to talk to. That is important to me. I think I have made the best choice.
Dr. Belnap is wonderful! You do have to wait many hours..as he is very very busy!
My appointment was scheduled for 5:30 PM, and I didn't see him until 8:15 PM. Well worth the weight (pun intended)
He explained the procedure and was very open and honest.
His staff was very nice and very helpful.
There was nothing that I didn't like about him...perhaps the wait time.
He took the time to explain everything and answer any questions that you might have.
He also explained the risks & aftercare
I will let you know more as my experience goes. Currently waiting on insurance.
Dr Belnap for some reason puts saving lives ahead of being punctual for scheduled appointments. He is certainly a very busy Doctor. My impression of him is that he really does care about his patients and attempts to be of help in anyway possible. Because he is often called out on emergencies I sometimes had to wait for an extended period of time for my appointments. I could tell the office staff were a little embarassed by this and did the best they could.
IT WAS A VERY LONG WAIT IN HIS OFFICE MY APPOINTMENT WAS AT 6PM AND I FINALLY GOT TO SEE HIM AT 10PM BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH IT HE SAID THERE IS NO REASON I WOULD BE DENIED AND HIM AND HIS OFFICE WOULD HELP ME ANYWAY THEY COULD TO GET IT DONE
HIS OFFICE STAFF WAS VERY NICE AND KEPT THINGS GOING PRETTY GOOD. THE THING I LIKED LEAST WAS THE WAIT. HE ADDRESSED THE RISKS OF THE SURGERY AND MADE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THEM. I WOULD RATE HIM A 10 ON A SCALE FROM ONE TO TEN
