Robert Liem Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

I have known Dr. Liem as a surgeon since I have been in Florida, 11 years. I have worked in ICU and now in the Recovery Room for the past 10 years. He is very caring and so compassionate !! Not all surgeons are like that, as I see them all day everyday. My impression of him has always been wonderful. As they say always ask a nurse which physician to go to, especially a surgical nurse if your planning surgery. Maria and Elizabeth in the office are wonderful. It's unbelievable how Maria gets all those approvals, especially from my HMO.
They are genuinely excited when you get on that scale and see the pounds drop off, I often wonder who is more excited, me or them.
Having a nurse for a patient is not always easy. The only thing worse is having a Doctor for a patient. Dr. Liem has a support group at JFK Hospital. I also have started atttending some seminars with him at JFK to help get the word out to everyone who might be considering this surgery. Dr. Liem
and his staff are the best, I would highly recommend them to anyone!! The toughest part of the surgery was the first 30 days post op, but I made it and I am loosing weight. My husband even seems to be showing more interest, oh just wait!! HA

My first impression of Dr. Liem was that he was a happy man and showed genuine care and concern for me. Over time, I knew that he actually cared for me and whether I live or die.

Maria was the only office staff I knew initially and she was so warm and comforting. She pushed through my insurance approval with ease and little difficulty. The most difficult part of that process was the waiting. Later, I met Elizabeth, and she too, showed empathy and care for me.

I guess what I liked least about him had nothing to do with him, per se. It was just that the waiting for insurance approval and finally getting it, allowed for only one or two visits to Dr. Liem prior to the scheduled date of the surgery. I could have changed it to allow for more interaction, but I didn't. I knew that I would be leaving the job with the insurance one day, and would have to start all over again with a new insurance company and was not willing to do that.

We didn't talk much about anything in terms of aftercare, but he does have an excellent aftercare program. He facilitates an educational and supprot group for those who have had the surgery and those who want to have the surgery.

In terms of risks of surgery, Dr. Liem was careful, I think. He saw something on an x-ray that indicated an abnormality in my stomach and sent me for a more in-depth test (endoscopy? maybe). I already knew about the risks associated with the surgery because I have been approved for it two other times in the past. Additionally, in 1999, I went to a doctor in Fort Lauderdale who offered a free seminar to groups of people wanting to have the surgery and knew of the risks in that way as well. In fact, I knew that if I told Dr. Liem that I was a smoker, the surgery might not happen or even be delayed. So, I didn't tell him and took the risk. Only God could bring me out, anyway, so what was the use in telling him was my thinking. I don't smoke any more and haven't since the day prior to the surgery.

Dr. Liem is wonderful! On a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being superior, I would rate Dr. Liem 10+...with God's help, he saved my life! I would have died from the depression, pain and suffering associated with my severe osteo-arthritis. Nothing was riskier than living with the pain that I started thinking of as "My best friend" because it was ALWAYS with me. I often wished I could commit suicide, but knew I would not have an opportunity to ask God to forgive me after I was dead.

Dr. Liem's surgical competence is the best I have ever known. I have had several surgical procedures, 11 to be exact, and Dr. Liem is the best of all. His bedside manner is excellent. When I was coming out of my anesthesiatic fog, he was there. He had a grave look on his face and told me that my lungs collasped during surgery and that my heart was beating erratically, but I am alive and well today because God gave him the skill to save my life. He came to my room often, making sure that the leg pumps were operating properly and to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. He is a joy and I know that if the time constraints were different, I would have gotten to know him a lot better before the procedure. I know that if I had told him about my smoking, he would not have performed the procedure. I am glad I didn't because I would still be a smoker with Asthma, sleep apnea, and possibly dead. I no longer suffer from sleep apnea, asthma and I ambulate without a walker or crutches. I do not take any medication at all unless it is vitamins. I used to take Cataflam or Naprosen and Demerol or Oxycontin or other harsh, addictive, narcotic medications that I no longer need to help with the pain. I still have a little pain in my left knee and my spine, but not to the point of wanting to kill myself. It is tolerable. I still have to lose about 100 lbs, and then, if I still have the knee pain, I will consider having the knee replacement surgery that has been recommended.

WELL, I AM ONE AND A HALF DAYS PRE-OP AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I FIND DR LIEM TO BE A VERY CARING, UNDERSTANDING AND INFORMATIVE SURGEON--HIS OFFICE STAFF, MARIA AND ELIZABETH, ARE ALWAYS THERE TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS--CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT I WORK RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO HIM--I THINK SINCE MY SURGERY WAS SCHEDULED I'VE BEEN DRIVING THEM CRAZY--IM LIKE A FIXTURE THERE!!! I DROP BY ALL THE TIME AND THEY ARE ALWAYS FRIENDLY!! I HAVE ALL OF THE FAITH IN GOD THAT I NEED AND I COMMEND DR LIEM FOR HIS ABILITY TO DO WHAT HE DOES. HE GIVES PEOPLE THEIR LIVES BACK AFTER STRUGGLING WITH OBESITY FOR SO LONG. ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING INTO BARIATRIC SURGERY SHOULD DEFINETELY MEET WITH DR LIEM AND HIS WONDERFUL STAFF!! 2 DAYS TILL IM ON THE POST-OP SIDE!! TILL THEN--BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE AND THANKS AGAIN DR LIEM, MARIA AND ELIZABETH!! LISA KHAN

I first met Dr.Liem at a seminar for bariatric surgery.I found him to take his time and explain everything in detail and not rush with his answers.That same evening I met Maria who is Dr.Liem's right hand she assists in surgery and get the approval from the ins. companies.I made an appt. to speak with him and my husband after 15 minutes I knew that he was the one that I wanted during surgery and most of all after surgery.He made both my husband and I feel very comfortable with this procedure and Elizabeth and Maria treated me just like I was their only patient.They always help you on the spot and if they say they will call you back,they really do!My surgery was Nov.1st at 8:oo I was done by 11:00 when Dr.Liem and Maria were by my bed.Since then [2weeks] our relationships have grown.They made sure I had everything I needed and never made me feel that they were too busy.DrLiem attends the support groups every month and knows his patients by more than just a chart.This team is to be praised for the way they care for their patients.

I started with Dr. Marema. These were my comments. So far I have totally loved the team approach. I am the leader of the team and I am in control of the decisions made and the time frame. I really like this because I am the type of person to make things happen and I have pushed my appointments along.

They are very informative and I have been able to answer very detailed medical questions.

Still learning...will keep you informed.

NEW REPORT: Holy Cross Hospital is under going construction and I had a hard time coordinating a surgical date. I researched other doctors, closer to home and found Dr. Liem. Maria in his office is very nice and knowledable. Dr. Liem is funny nad very concerned. He met me in his office first so we would discuss the entire proceedure.

He is so very sweet
His staff are very concern about the people
who enter into the office.
I can't think of a thing I don't like about
Dr. Rehnke.
He takes his time and talk with you, I don't
care how my patients he have waiting.
Dr. Rehnke address my risks very well, I was
shaking going in there, but he comfort me
about everything.
Dr. Rehnke is my fourth Dr. I have been through, and he is the only one I can say I trust him with my life. Both.