"I am a lawyer and I was willing to travel anywhere in North America to get the best surgeon available. I used to defend doctors and hospitals as a lawyer and I know a little about the ins and outs of selecting surgeons and hospitals. So I did my research across the country and it all pointed to the top surgeon: Constantine Frantzides of Skokie Illinois. So I went to meet Dr. Frantzides. I had already decided on VSG but after listening to Dr. F explain the whys and hows of WLS I began to realize that he was right, I needed gastric bypass. During our first meeting he was warm, articulate and extremely knowledgeable and experienced, having already performed over 2500 of these surgeries laparoscopically. We discussed his statistics and medical results, we discussed possible complications and his extremely low statistics for complications. After just one meeting I was convinced I had found my surgeon and went ahead and booked my surgery date, 7.14.2010.
Dr. F's office staff is excellent above all others. Gerri is very knowledgeable and always willing to help. Great folks.
Dr. F stresses aftercare to the max and I am right now 2 weeks post-op and really appreciating how I'm being taken care of.
Overall I would give Dr. F a 20 out of 10. I know physicians and hospitals and I"ve had several surgeries and nothing comes close to the excellent surgery and aftercare I have received. Dr. F really cares about you and it comes through his actions, not just what somebody says.
His surgical competence is the absolute best. I know this because of my results and from what other people on boards like Obesity Help. I have had zero complications, can eat everything they've released me to eat and today, 15 days out, I have no pain at all and am back at work as a lawyer with all the stresses and challenges that go along with my job. Dr. F's bedside manner makes you feel absolutely safe and secure and makes you understand that you're in the best of hands. Enough cannot be written about his wonderful surgical liaison nurse Mary. Yes, he actually puts his own nurse in the hospital while you're having surgery and she tracks you through the entire process and takes care of you in addition to the hospital nurses. I was extremely grateful for this and so happily surprised. Mary followed me even into the OR and hugged me while they administered the anesthesia. Wow! His other key surgical help is Dr. Welley, a soft-spoken intelligent doctor who serves as Dr. F's fellow and surgical assistant. Dr. Welley is also competent, caring,and accessible for my questions. Dr. Frantzides and his group are the only way to go if you're able to travel to Skokie (Chicago) and select your own doctor. Start by reading his website and then read his dozens (100s) of professional articles. I did, and I'm happy and resting today because of my choice.
By the way, at 15 days post I have lost 23 pounds and have never felt one hunger pang since surgery. Post-op recovery and pain was a breeze, I took a couple of pain pills on days 1 and 2 but really quit at noon on the 3d day. No need, no real pain, so I switched to liquid Tylenol. I'm really starting to like this journey!"
