4 yr Experience
7 yr in Bariatrics
7 yr in Laparoscopic Surgery
7 yr in Laparoscopic Bariatrics
100% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is 14
Max Age of Patient is 80
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch
4 yr Experience
7 yr in Bariatrics
7 yr in Laparoscopic Surgery
7 yr in Laparoscopic Bariatrics
100% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is 14
Max Age of Patient is 80
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch
Dr. Cottam is a surgeon. He has no concern for the health or welfare of his patients post-surgery. His staff is rude and lazy. Dr. Cottam is callous and almost bored when I'm describing the issues that I've had with my lapband. He charged me for a visit where nothing was done and I was rushed out of the office. I will never go back to him or that facility. I highly recommend a different set of surgeons for your weightloss surgery.
3 of 5 people found this helpful
Dr.Cottam was great, I was a little uncomfortable at first but he grew on me and i trusted him, well with my life =)
His office staff is very helpful and understanding.
After care is very inportant and he has a full staff with Registered Dietician, Trainer, and Therapist, that are there to help.
The only problem i had is that I only meet with Dr.Cottam twice once before my surgery and while i was in the Hospital, I would of loved to feel more like he was there to work with me and not just a name ona list.
Over all Ive very happy on Dr.Cottam and his staff and look forward to working with them for years to come.
http://www.bmiut.com In Utah
3 people found this helpful
I like Dr. C a lot. He is very laid-back and easy-going. I could have stayed another night in the hosp if I had chosen to do so - and I should have, he knew better than me - but I was getting antsy to leave.
He has a year-long program of after-care, with weekly support groups on different topics. I went to 2 of them before my surgery and liked the experience. I tasted a sample of a protein shake there and made a choice of what I would buy.
His office staff is very nice and supportive. He and his partner only do WLS and they publish their complication rates - a sign of an excellant physician.
I did have to wait a while to see him but I was the 11:30 appt and he was running late by then.
1 person found this helpful
My surgey will be 2/23/2010...so far I have been very impressed with Dr. Cottam he's been nice and very patient with any questions.I am very excited and have felt very supported from the staff at the office...especially the nutritionist and the excercise lady! They were awesome!!! Well back from surgery safe and sound! Dr. Cottam was amazing...attentive and very caring and informative.He checked on me twice and encouraged me to stay in the hospital another night which that next morning I was so grateful for as I had a nasty bout of nausea which would have been awful at home.The staff at Salt Lake Regional were incredible. One of my nurses there Elliot was like an angel I was alwaqys grateful to see him. When you're helpless like that and people that don't know you take such great care of you it's so nice and comforting!I am 100% glad I chose this Dr and hospital!
2 of 3 people found this helpful
First impression was at seminar. Quiet, but exremely experienced. I found out later that he is one of the leading bariatric surgeons in the country. Post surgery, I had several freak complications. An incision site infection, a stricture dialation, and then a whole new surgery because the second stricture dialation blew everything apart. However, Dr. Cottam was able to correct everything laproscopically!! He never had to open me from stem to stern and for that, I will be forever greatful!! He is an amazing surgeon!
3 people found this helpful
Round two with Dr. Cottam has been awesome. I enjoyed 18 months of great health after he did my correctional surgery below. Then last summer the burning sensation returned, and the vomiting returned, along with other unpleasant stuff. I wound up in the ER, and eventually had to return to surgery. I had yet another fistula. We converted the RNY to a gastric sleeve and took down the intestinal bypass. I am only three weeks post-op. He has always listened to me, returns my emails, and phone calls. I find his bed side manner great! We have no health insurance and handled my urgent situation with kindness. He is one of the kindest physicians I have ever met.
I have never received any support from his support program or staff. I cannot say if it is a good program or not. I would use no other surgeon. He tries to find what works for the patient, not make the patient fit into what works for everyone else.
**********************Previous Experience****
I had LAP RNY eight years ago on March 1, 2001. My start weight was 322 pounds. I lost 187 pounds.
I spent the first 6.5 years after my surgery in a living hell. I threw up every time I ate. I had bowel obstructions, pancreatitis, ulcers, and developed a fistula. The complications existed from the very start of my surgery. I could not get my original surgeon to listen or treat my problems. He felt it was all in "MY HEAD". Emotionally it wore me down. Those around me did not understand how difficult it was coping with the pain the surgery had created for me. I felt lost and adrift with no where to turn. I so needed help!
In August of 2007 I learned a new surgeon was coming to Utah. I was told he might be able to help me. I submitted all of my medical records to him.
I was Dr. Cottam's first patient in Utah. At my consult I was just stunned! He listened, he believed there was something wrong with my surgery. He was concerned.
I was his first patient in the operating room in Utah. He found that the technique used for my original surgery was flawed. My original surgeon had created a large "Candy Cane Limb" that was making me sick. Because of the limb, Ulcers and a fistula had developed.
I had the correctional procedure done 18 months ago and have achieved the quality of life I searched for eight years ago.
Today I finally feel ok. The pancreatitis flares its ugly head on occasion, but overall I am much better. I guess after 6.5 years of chronic pancreatitis ...the damage is done. However, the frequency of the attacks is much less. I rarely throw up and can eat like any other gastric bypass patient.
I am an avid cyclist and do many 100+ mile bike rides each year. I enjoy a thinner body. I have kept my weight off. However, if I could turn back time, I doubt I would chose WLS..It has just been too hard. Even those in the field have a rough time recognizing when someone is struggling and how to deal with the issues.
Dr. Cottam is a wonderful skilled surgeon and a great support. Many physicians/surgeons just blew me off. He knew instantly what was wrong with my surgery and bent over backwards to find a way for me to have a correctional surgery. So glad he has the skills and ability and desire to treat the complications of the surgery and the disease of morbid obesity.
I finally have a quality of life.
3 people found this helpful