I concede that Dr. Felix is a very gifted surgeon, but let's face it, the Advanced Bariatric Center is nothing more than a money making machine. His staff is less than stellar, his after care lacking and his very own message board on MSN is nothing but a joke.

I've had three strictures and never have they called to see how I was doing.  In fact, I basically scheduled the endoscopies myself.  They file everyone under a "textbook" case and dismiss varies symptoms of complications you relay to them.  They file folks into the office like a slaughter house and because of this multitude, you are never recognized.

I have a theory that the only reason they encourage no minimal caloric intake (quote from the head nurse: I'd be happy if you didn't eat anything at all) is to keep their after care at a bare minimum.  And speaking of!  They say that you may phone in your post-op "office" visits -- in fact this is strongly encouraged, I assume in order to pave the way for newer patients.

They sent me a letter about their seminar at Pismo beach and strongly encouraged us to tell others about it (obviously those who are overweight).  This isn't a medical practice, it's a pyramid scam.

During my pre-op class, the head nurse said something that sent up a red flag and that was, "I'm the head a multi-million dollar business."

Business...

Starbucks is a business.  Walmart is a business.  Coldwell Banker is a business.  Even drug dealing and prostitution are businesses, with the exchange of monetary units for services -- indifferent and unattached.  A medical practice is not a business.  When you're stripped of your dignity (ie, naked with only a lil paper nightie to cover ya), shoved onto a cold metal table and revealed to strangers for the purpose of poking and prodding -- that is damn well personal.

Dr. Felix's office has nothing to do with personal and certainly not emotional attachment.

I've been extremely fortunate to have two wonderful physicians in my short life.  Both with genuine concern for my well being.  Good grief, they even hugged me!  These are two doctors whom, if saw me on the other side of the street, they would cross it in order to say hello -- as opposed to, "Oh God, it's one of my patients," and run in the opposite direction.

Am I just completely spoiled and expecting too much?  

The thing is, if I had to do it all over again I would still choose Dr. Felix as my surgeon.  Why?  Because I believe he may have been the only one to do my surgery laproscopically.  And despite it all, I still like him.  But I'm very disappointed and if no one from that office bothers to call around my 3 month anniversary, I'm changing surgeons.