Voravit Wongsa Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

I was a laparoscopic gastric restrictive patient of Dr. Wongsa in 2004 and conducted a Google search to see if he was still practicing. I am occasionally asked if I have any Doctor or process that I can recommend to help mitigate obesity. I use the words “help mitigate” because this surgery should not be considered a panacea to be used as the sole solution to obesity. This surgery requires the recipient to perform due diligence in their diet and exercise to produce the desired/expected result.
Speaking to a related, but different topic, I believe it difficult for anyone to judge another when it comes to someone’s behavior based upon their personal philosophy. For example, one of my philosophies, which greatly affected my eating habits was, “Purchase and consume as much mass for the least amount of cost possible”. This philosophy was driven by a childhood affected by poverty. It astounds me to recall how poor we were. I remember standing next to my mother in the checkout line where she paid $37 for a week’s worth of groceries. I know it was a week’s worth because she didn’t have a driver’s license, didn’t make mid-weekly trips to the store and we drove as a family to the grocery store every Friday night after my father received his paycheck. When I began to pay for my meals, I would find the biggest bang for the buck buffet and get my money’s worth. Man, did I gain some weight.?!?
All that said to say this. When Dr. Wongsa first met with me, he stated that he wanted me to lose 5 lbs prior to the surgery. My logical assumption was that he wanted to see if I was willing to do my part in exercising some control, so that when the surgery had been completed, my continued effort would harmonize with his effort to “help mitigate” my obese condition. In other words, he wanted to know if I was willing to commit to the objective, as he was willing to commit to the objective. He told me of a patient who promised their commitment to the process and then proceeded to eat a gallon of whole milk ice cream every day. He said that patient lost no weight and the surgery was of no value.
Was he condescending when he spoke to me? Yes. Did he raise his voice? Yes. Did he treat me like I was somewhere lower on the human hierarchical scale than he was? Yes. And allow me to say, I am sorry to all of those experienced these same attitudes from him, but (from my perspective) if that is the worst price required of me to pay for this process, it was well worth it. My life was forever changed for the better as I flushed my mind of my buffet philosophy and joined efforts with Dr. Wongsa for the remainder of my life. Hopefully, this process may provide you the same result.

Today was my first visit with Dr. Wongsa and I left out of there feeling frustrated and crying. He is pretentious and believes he is right. He does not like to have his authority questioned. He is abrupt and self confident. berating me for gaining weight and having to seek revision surgery. He stated that surgery was not about what I wanted and that the reality was that I had issues with food. He seemed shocked that I agreed. I mean I would not be seeking surgery if that were not the case. However he did not care to hear what I had to say but rather wanted to hear himself talk for almost an hour. I finally told him I was ready to leave. I regret allowing him to make me feel like a failure or a loser for needing or seeking bariatric surgery. I can not imagine how he makes others feel. He made the comment at one point that I am not even that big and I can't help but wonder how he makes those "bigger" people feel.

Dr. Wongsa's office number has changed recently. It should now be 281-897-0333.

I have heard several wonderful sucess stories about Dr Voravit Wongsa but I can not find a good phone number for his office. Can anyone help?

He is very stern and serious, but dedicated. he was extremely angry with me for gaining 5 lbs the week before my surgery. I didn't do the meat and green veggies only the week before! I forgot! He was strict about the diet and doing what he said, but he was a very good surgeon.rnrnThe office staff was very friendly and personable and helpful.rnrnI least liked his bedside manner--just so stern.rnrnI don't know if he is still practicing here in Houston. rnrnI had RNY in Apr. 2, 2003.rnrnSurgical competence is better. He was very thorough about the surgery and the risks, etc.

I found Dr. Wongsa on this site. I did some research to see if he was on my insurance plan (Aetna)and sure enough he was. My first meeting with him was on 3/8/2002. There were a lot of happy people in the waiting room both pre-op and post-ops. Everyone was visiting like it was old friends week, which I thought was pretty amazing. Of course everyone was there for the same ailment. Anyway, I weighed in at 297 on his scale and then met the man. He is pleasant and matter of fact. He told me he wanted me to loose 2 pounds before the surgery. At that time I had no idea how long it might take to get approval, but I started the process and was approved 8/12/2002 and my surgery was scheduled for 9/17/2002.rnThat day arrived and I was being prepped for surgery in a holding room and I was weighed in at 312 lbs. on their scale. When Dr. Wongsa came to review my chart he pretty much exploded. He stormed into the room and started berating me for gaining weight and was going to cancel the surgery. Sorry folks but that was not going to happen for this guy. He and I shouted at each other for quite awhile. My wife finally said we should both cool-off. I told him that I was not leaving that hospital without the surgery. And I did not. Surgery was succesfully performed and I am home in great shape. I want to say that I agree i should have lost 2 lbs. instead of gaineing 15 lbs., but Dr. Wongsa's demeanor and unprofessional attitude were unforgivable. I am not suggesting anyone not use the man. I only relate my experiances with him.

**Updated**

after 24 months, I am still at goal, the procedure was a success. The lifestyle change was a success. My only regrets are that I waited so long to do this for myself.

FIRST IMPRESSION: abrupt and self confident. Office staff are supportive and extremely sweet.

LIKE LEAST: He is pretentious. He knows that he is right. He does not like to have his authority questioned. He is precise. He is perfect. He is meticulously good at what he does, I would trust no one else for the job of cutting and re-plumbing. he makes no mistakes.

WHAT FUTURE PATIENTS SHOULD KNOW: do not think one moment that he is an enabler, he is not. You have a job to do and he does not want to hear your excuses. He has a job to do and he accepts nothing but perfection from himself and his staff. the results are flawless.

After care program:
4 vitamins a day, everyday, forever
first week: liquids
first 6 months: lean meats and leafy green vegetables
after target weight. eat normally but in small quantities

MORTALITY AND RISKS:
freaking scares the crap out of you with 1 in 300 die from surgery.

OVERALL: I selected the best surgeon for the job.
he is flawlessly skilled and very talented.
I hate to admit that he is right. right about the diet before the surgery. right about the diet after surgery. right about the protein. right about carbs sabotaging your efforts. I do not like that he is right, but he is. the most difficult thing for me was that all of the information in books and online stressed protein intake, and while he stressed eating lean meats, it was really hard for me to comprehend how I would be able to stay healthy.

I really felt conflicted, but ultimately, with unbiased blood results, I was able to see concrete evidence that I was really getting all the nutrients that I needed. it would have been helpful to have this explained better during my 'concern' phase rather than a more exasperated discussion at my 'obvious lack of understanding' when I know that I do not know EVERYTHING, I do give myself credit for being smart enough to read the back of a food package (I do have a couple college degrees) and I still had concerns.

10 out of 10, not for his sense of humor but for exactly what he is. a tool to get through this successfully.

SURGICAL COMPETENCE is outstanding.

BEDSIDE MANNER - Tenacious and protective. Many people that are obese are self destructive. He performs the best surgery, and is pretty strict to encourage the patient to maintain the best nutrient / fluid intake so that they can succeed.

He is a very upfront tell it like it is doctor that scared me to death at first but he changes my life. For that I will be forever grateful. Would definantly recommend him to anyone.

I had NO preconceived opinions about Dr. Wongsa as I only heard his name through my cardiologist who highly recommended him to me. I found him to be exact in what he expected and not one to joke around with or take a light tone. He told me what to do and how to do it and I did it and more. I think his whole interview appointment is a test to see how serious you are and how much you want this to succeed. He treats you like he has time for you, but it's clear from his waiting room that he has more patients than many doctors and can afford to turn away any that don't suit his requirements. I saw nothing wrong with that. I wanted the best pair of hands with the most experience I could find in my belly and I thank God that I found just such a doctor in him.rnrnHis staff is excellent and very helpful and supportive. It's easy to get an appointment and the wait to see him is not as long as for some.rnrnI personally would of liked to have a print out of exactly what I could eat before, right after, in the process and in maintenance, but that's because I feel more comfortable being able to hold such a paper in my hand and read and reread as the situation dictates.rnrnI know he is not keen on this forum only because his way is so strict and so many others doctors allow carbs and such from the very beginning. One can get side tracked reading others words and start to question 'well why can't I do so and so'. You can't fault him nor the others for doing what they feel is best for their patients. If someone doesn't like the drill they should not enlist in his army!rnrnHe explained all the risks of the surgery and made no guarantees about my future except in the broadest of terms. He knew and I knew that I wouldn't be sitting across from him if I hadn't of investigated all aspects of the surgery - good and bad and I knew the risks involved as well as the awesome benefits for people with diabetes II.rnrnHe is a first rate, skilled professional. He's not there to entertain and yet he was most kind, almost tender to me, after my surgery. There was a spot of trouble with one of my consulting physicians - a lack of communication and an unintentional misunderstanding and he handled it well - she did not. He did not make me feel uncomfortable. She did. I'm more than pleased that he was my surgeon. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to others who truly want the benefits that he can provide if they are really serious about WLS and changing their lives for the better.rnrnUpdate: 4 months post-op:rnSince my first office visit after surgery Dr. W has done nothing but harp on me for not following The Plan. Don't EVER tell him the truth about what you are eating.....lie like a big dog and tell the man what he wants to hear. He is not pleased with my weight loss, thinks it should be more and faster. I'm pleased. My cardiologist is pleased. My diabetes doctor is pleased. Since the surgery I've lost 53 pounds. Since June of 2006 I've lost 82 pounds total. I've got 31 pounds more to lose to reach goal. I'm averaging 2-3 pounds lost a week. I feel great and I look good! He's a fantastic surgeon, but he's not a people person when it comes to positive reinforcement or motivating people. He asked me if I was trying to do it my way and I said no, but maybe I am or maybe I'm doing the best I can and I'm tired of people getting IN my face about what I'm eating....that's been going on my whole life....the surgery is not a cure all it's merely a tool. The bottom line is me and I'm finally in control of what I put in my mouth. Yea me! I love being merely overweight and not morbidly obese! I'll never be MO again!rnrnRemember: tell him what he wants to hear.

I was referred to Dr. Wongsa by a friend. She had surgery in 2000 by Dr. Wongsa. After much investigation - with the help of OH, I determined Dr. Wongsa's success rate to be one of the best. He performed my surgery on January 29, 2007. His expectations are very clear. I appreciate his attitude towards the seriousness of this surgery.