Alex Gandsas Bariatric Surgeon MD, MBA, FACS

My first impression of Dr. Gandsas was of course via his staff... Paula called to set up my consultation and she was absolutely delightful, helpful and accomodating! I then met with Nancy Lum for a Nutritional consultation and class, she is very sweet, VERY informed and very accessible. She has been most helpful during this journey. Next I met with Dr. Gandsas who is compassionate, sympathetic and very professional. Prior to surgery he was quite serious... he wants to make sure that you know what you are doing, that this is a tool and not a cure, and that there are very "real" risks involved with the surgery. Dr. Gandsas requires an extensive workup prior to surgery which made me feel better knowing that everything was in working condition and ready for surgery. I had a Sleep Apnea test, EGD, EKG, PSYCH Consult, Abdominal Sonogram, Bloodwork, etc. I then met with his Nurse Karen who gave me paperwork with everything I need to do from that day through surgery (very helpful), and she made herself available at any time, for any question/concern (yes, she does actually answer her phone and return her e-mails). Finally I met with Eileen who made the insurance process a breeze (which is pretty amazing considering I have Aetna HMO. She submitted all paperwork, made all phone calls, and even followed-up with me after surgery! Eileen is also readily available and VERY energetic :o)

As a Registered Nurse myself, I went into this process very well informed. I picked Dr. Gandsas and his staff based on their impeccable reputation and they did not let me down... in any way! I asked for my surgery date to be moved up to accomodate a work/child schedule and they made it happen... and quick... I was treated with respect and dignity and they alleviated all of my fears while being 100% honest.

Today I had my 1 week post-op appointment and I have lost 17 pounds... Dr. Gandsas wasn't extremely impressed with my hydration status and was stern about my need to pick it up... and now! His after-care is very important to you and he/and his staff let you know it. You are as well cared for after surgery as you are before.

I would rate Dr. Gandsas a 10+ out of 10 for a top-notch surgical competence, a fabulous bedside manner and a terrific staff! My HIGHEST RECOMMMENDATIONS all the way!!!!

MY FIRST IMPRESSION ON DR. GANDSAS WAS WARM,CARING AND EDUCATED.

MY IMPRESSION IS STILL THE SAME.

HIS OFFICE STAFF IS VERY PLEASANT AND KNOWLEDGEABLE AND WELLING TO HELP.

I HAVE NO DIS-LIKES ABOUT HIM.

HE IS EXCELLENT ABOUT WHAT HE DO.

HE EMPHASIZES AFTER CARE ALL THE TIME AT EVERY VISIT.

YES HE DOES HAVE A AFTER CARE PROGRAM.

HE ADDRESSED THE RISK OF SURGERY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

OVERALL I WOULD RATE HIM FROM A SCALE FROM 1-10. I WOULD GIVE HIM A 9.5 AND THAT IS BECAUSE NO ONE IS PERFECT.

I THINK BOTH

Dr. Gandsas runs a comprehensive program for weight loss surgery. It takes a fair amount of commitment to complete the pre-operative process. Dr. Gandsas' preliminary requirements allow plenty of time and opportunity for each pre-operative patient to reach the right decision, as well as to properly prepare for the surgery. Clinic staff are very helpful and available to offer friendly assistance upon request, both before and after surgery. This surgery was a big step for me and I am grateful to have the support of this team as I adjust to a big change in my life.

Dr Gandsas was very professional without being overly medical. What I mean by this is that he explained everything in laymans terms so that anyone could understand what would be going on before,during and after surgery. His office staff were very nice and helpful with all the preop testing and then the postop visits. He has all of his patients have blood work done every three months to make sure that all vitamin and mineral levels are up where they should be.
Sinai Hospital has a special wing set up just for the Bariatic patients and that staff that works up there have been trained by Dr Gandsas and his office so that the patients receive the correct treatment while there. I have never had an inpatient stay that was as pleasant as that one was.
He has a support group set up that meets once a month at the hospital and then once a month there is a seminar where he and other physicians will discuss the pros and cons of this surgery. The other physicians could be doctors that are not Bariatic but in some of field that would be associated with this form of surgery. Example would be a plastic surgeon coming in to talk about what his profession could do for someone who has had the surgery and lost alot of weight.I am very happy with my choice to have Dr Gandsas perform this surgery. I would recommend him to anyone who is considering this step. In all honesty there is really nothing bad I can say about my experience with my choice to go this way.

Dr. Gandsas was very thorough with his explanations of what would happen during surgery and post op. He was very patient and answered any question that i had. His office staff is very professional, efficient and friendly. Aftercare is stressed heavily. Follow ups with Nancy the dietition are essential to make sure that you're on the right track. The post op meetings are helpful especially as a personal means to chat with others about their problems and successes post op. I would rate Dr. Gandsas and his staff with an A++++++.

I attended a pre-surgery seminar and I was very impressed with Dr. Gabdsas's knowledge and apparent expertise. After 3 months of seminars and surgery one month ago, I believe that his program at Sinai is excellent. He is extremely vested in good outcomes for his patients.
His staff is dedicated, caring and supportive.
He was very clear and direct about the risks of surgery, which were adressed in a separate seminar and again one on one in his office prior to the surgery.
He puts a great deal of emphasis on aftercare and has a very structured aftercare program. He expects you to see him or another bariatric surgeon regularly for the rest of your life. (He will make arrangements for you to see another surgeon if you move.)
I think he is an excellent surgeon and recommend him and his program highly.
Although he can be very charming, I would say that his surgical competence is better than his bedside manner.

I was very happy with Dr. Gandsas. I felt that he was extremely careful and thorough, and I felt very safe with him. The pre-op screening and testing was extensive, but it make me feel a lot safer about having surgery. He came to see me every day after the surgery, even over a holiday weekend. He took time to answer questions and never made me feel like I was on a time-clock.

You do need to wait a while when you have an appt. - plan on being there a few hours. But it's a very pleasant change from most doctors' offices now where it seems like the doctor is stuck in fast-forward because he only has 2 minutes to spend with you.

The staff were wonderful. They took care of all the annoying insurance stuff. They actually followed thru on what they said they were going to do. If someone said they would check and call me back, they always did. They helped with setting up all the pre-op testing. They responded to phone messages and emails, the first time.

There is aftercare, also. There are post-op support groups, and follow up visits with the dietician.

My first impression of Dr. Gandsas was that he seemed very young. But don't let his appearance fool you. I attended one of his support group meetings and this particular topic was about the surgery itself. I found Dr. Gandsas to be very knowledgeable and he has performed over 200 surgeries. Dr. Gandsas has a great personality. He is very easy to talk to and is very funny and witty. He puts you at ease the moment you meet him.

Dr. Gandsas' staff is incredible. Karen, Paula, Eileen and Nancy are the nicest people I have ever met. I thought that since the office is so busy that they would be abrupt and just try to get your information with little chit chat or personal interaction. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Everyone asks how you are doing and they take the time to answer your questions or help you find the resources you need. They are really good at answering email. I am very impressed with the staff. They really know their stuff!

I have only met with Dr. Gandsas twice - so I will have to update more later. I would definitely recommend Dr. Gandsas to anyone that was interested in gastric bypass surgery.

I had my surgery on May 2, 2005. I didn't think I would ever see the day. I wasn't nervous at all. Dr. Gandsas answered any questions I had, so I went into surgery feeling well prepared. So far the follow up care has been wonderful. Karen even called me on the Sunday after my surgery to check in on me. I was shocked, but very appreciative that she did. Again, I can't say enough good things about Dr. Gandsas and his program at Sinai.

I don't know where to start. I am so blessed to have met Dr. Gandsas. I am so thankful to my friends for giving me his name so I could send for an information packet. My first appointment with him I knew that I was in good hands and I knew that I wanted to continue with this journey. My impression has changed over the months. I have so much respect for this man. He is very well educated and I know he cares for my well being. His staff is fantastic. Eileen walked me through a small hurdle when I received a denial letter. By the time I called her, she had it covered and sent Aetna the information they needed. Karen and Nancy both have called me right back when I've had questions. His team is like a well oiled machine. They all seem to work well together.
My rating of Dr. Gandsas is 100% satisfactory. When I was in the hospital and he came to check on me, he told me he had picked his mother up from the train station for a visit. Prior to that, he had just said he had spent the night in the hospital keeping an eye on a patient. As he was telling me this, my eyes filled up with tears. This shows the type of person he is and the dedication he has to his patients. His mother had come for a short visit from another country and here Dr. Gandsas was spending the night in the hospital. I just wanted to give him a big ole hug. His surgical competence and bedside manner are both great. He even listened to my husband talk about our black angus cows we have at home. :) I thought my surgery went well. The worst part of it for me was them trying to draw blood and giving me an IV. I am a very hard stick. I am being honest when I say I did cry from that pain but I didn't have any pain from the surgery itself. I stopped using the pain pump the day after. I'm healing very well.
Again, I am so thankful to have met this fine Dr. All I have is good things to say about him and not enough room to type.
I Love ya Dr. Gandsas!!!

Dr. Gandsas is an excellent surgeon. My first impression of him was very positive. He was very patient and understanding. I asked a lot of questions regarding the surgery and he was very thorough in answering my questions. He explained in detail all the associated risks. He also requires all patients to attend three support group sessions on topics related to the surgery.

My impression of him only improved with time. He checked on me personally while I was in the hospital, not an intern or a resident. He and his staff were always available for questions. I feel very comfortable with everyone in the office.

He puts a lot of emphasis on a structured aftercare program and the lifestyle changes that must accompany the surgery to make it successful. This structure has been helpful to me as a progessed through the post-op period. Being prepared for what might be coming made it easier to get through the rough spots post-op.

Both his beside manor and surgical competence are exemplary. Sinai should be proud to have him on their staff.