David Sooriash Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

11-13-02
I had my first visit with Dr. Sooriash and it was great. I had read here he was a bit stern at first but I did not find him that way at all. I am quite pleased! He just wants to make sure that you understand what is involved and that your motivations are appropriate. He knows his stuff! His staff is SO NICE too. Very willing to support and answer questions. I am very excited!

3-20-03
Well I am on the other side and continue to be pleased with the care received by Dr. S and his staff (you are the best NINA!). In the hospital he visited me SEVERAL times a day. I know some people think he is tough about the 10% but it is important. If you went from eating everything to eating nothing without a "transition diet" it would be a huge shock to your system and psyche. Remember he is a very good surgeon- you don't want a hand holding best friend re-arranging your insides- you want a good surgeon. If he was like my best buddy and told me to lose the weight before hand I would not have listened to him as well. And when he does praise you, you know it really means something.

4-11-03
I am 25 lbs post-op (51 lbs total) and just had a "check up" with Dr. S. I am so pleased with him as a surgeon. He gives me great big hugs and is eager to praise my weight loss. My 5 year old was with me and he was so sweet to her. At this point in the process this is just what I need. I needed someone firm in the beginning and now I need someone to keep me losing and praise me when I do. THANKS Dr. S!

my first visit was very plesant,,i found all staff personal friendly,knowlageable,,and sincere about you and your health..Dr. Sorraish is a no nonsense doctor,,if you know what you want,and why ,hes there to help you obtain your gold, but you must be sure this is what you want to do,,his time you will not waste,,he strait to the point,,he tells you what needs to be done,,and how its done,,also what he expect of you,,my first visit was -02/27/03,,my next visit 04/10/03. Iwas told that I should have the surgery about 14 to 21 days after that date,,(if my insurance has been approved.)I would like e-mail from some of his patients. THANKS LADYGOLD@ALLTEL.NET

I had read so many negative things about Dr Sooriash, that I was trepidatious about my first meeting with him. However my experience could not have been further from that, he was very kind, well informed, he answered all my questions, and some I had not even thought of to ask. Needless to say, I was impressed. I left his office feeling empowered about my choice to have this WLS. I am currently working on my 10-15% weight loss goal & have an appointment to return on April 21st with my husband.

My first appointment with Dr. David Sooriash was on 12-03-02. I felt very comfortable because he was very upfront about this surgery and wants you loose 10% of your body weight before he will schedule a surgery date. The office staff is wonderful and very supportive. Dr. Sooriash will ask you questions about what made you overweight and he only wants honest answers. Dr Sooriash was very upfront regarding the risk of surgery and that is why he wants you to lose 10% of your body weight as this will cause the risk to go down. I feel Dr Sooriash is very competant and only wants what is best for his patients.

1 st visit i was scared but he is nice and his staff reassured me he was not an ogre.1st off i dont like when people tell me to lose weight i know i have to on my own so i am but i need help in doing so..
He explains thouroughly of what to expect and what he is going to do...

My appointment was 8/14/02. I had to wait about an hour - he has alot of inital consultation appoints for WLS and visits can be about 1-1 1/2 hours. He is direct and to the point. He wanted to know what I thought of my weight problem and how I became obese...never had a doctor ask me that. I appreciated his openness and he listened to every question I had. I have a follow-up appointment in 5 weeks and have to loose 15lbs. He really puts emphasis on exercise so if you don't like to exercise or are not commited to exercise regimen, then don't go to Dr Sooriash. I really like Nina, his assistant, she very calm and pleasant and knowledge about bariatric surgery. I wish I couldve asked him more questions - I have 7 pages worth! I will update this site once I have more appointments about his aftercare program, surgical comptence, beside manner, etc.

9/12/02
Ive decided to remain with Dr Sooriash. I will find out by the end of September if I will have an offer from another employer. If so, I will ask if its possible to hold my position until January 2003. I hope they see the benefits of allowing me to have the surgery now vs after Im newly employed with them.

9/18/02
My 2nd consultation with Dr S included my mom and sister. I really didnt prepare them for the visit because I answered alot of questions, however my mom, did ask him what were the potential risks immediately after & longterm. Im glad she ask so that she could see the confidence Dr S had in his abilities. In addition, he explained that he believed the patient has a much to do with the success if not more than the physican. I hope many of her fears where squashed. I was so glad they decided to be my "support team". I was also able to ask more questions about his surgical practices - I was pleased to hear he routinely takes the gallbladder. Im concerned about how far done he will connect my small intestine to my new pouch. I heard the further they connect, the more nutrients I'll need to replenish with vitamins...ughhhh. On my next visit, I ask more about his Aftercare progam and diet.

12/2/02
Well, its a week from since my surgery. My impression of Dr S beside manner is honestly not the best. While he was very concerned about the "leg messagers" being off while I was in the chair, he never came in just to talk to me about how I felt. Also, he continues to have this issue about people asking questions. He is a very competent surgeon, everything aside and I would never take that anyway from him. Ive heard others have different experiences with him afterward...Im just giving you my impression of him. What really topped it off was Friday, day after Thanksgiving I called and got his answering service. They said they would get a message directly to him. But I never heard from him all weekend. I let Nina know this today and I will discuss this with him on my 1st post-op appoint this Thursday. It is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE for a surgeon not to be availiable to someone after major surgery. Until I speak to him to get his side of things, my impression of Dr Sooriash stands. (see my follow-up note dated 12/16/02 in my personal comments).

Dr. Sooriash is really straight to the point. He expects you to listen to his verbal directions. My advice, write down everything he says! He can get a little grouchy if things don't go his way. Future patients need to know that he is serious when he tells you something. He has been known to say hurtful things. He doesn't understand about being overweight.
My impression of him changed over time. He really is more compasionate than he leads on to be.I had a lot of complications during surgery. I was in the hospital 13 days. Dr. Sooriash came to the hospital multiple times in the middle of the night to check on me. He held my hand and reassured me that things would be okay. I trusted him with my life.I would do it again if I had to.He's very compitent. He's really funny and has a caring but serious bedside manner. He doesn't have a good aftercare program yet. He's working on it. Nutrition isn't his specialty. His aftercare program has improved recently. He doesn't address the risks of surgery during pre op meetings. I recall him telling me that there aren't any risks if patients follow directions. I followed directions & had complications that were not caused by me. I'd rate Dr. Sooriash a 100% competent surgeon. He's got a 100% good bedside hospital manner. He needs to improve a little bit in the areas of pre- op information & post op nutritional information.

I had been reading all over the net about this RNY surgery. A couple friends at work had the surgery and it seemed like this was my answer. I have always been a big person all my life, I accept the fact that I am big and have certain restrictions. Sometimes I think people are uncomfortable around me becuase I can talk candidly about my weight problem.
What made me decide to have this surgery? I noticed friends and coworkers doing things for me( ie, getting me a glass of water, going to the printer for me, going to restaurants where I fit in the chairs better) I had a wake up call and decided I needed to check this out.
I had my first consultation with Dr. Sooriash about 3 weeks ago. I was very scared, I thought it was funny that his office had small chairs with arms ( I was hoping they would have couches as most people that come in there are huge like me right? ) .. Anyway, I met the doctor with my life partner, Phil. I have to admit, Dr. Sooriash is very abrupt and direct. I was in tears. I am the type of person that cries easily and yes, this was no different. I felt as if he condemned me for being this fat. I weighed in at 494 lbs and 5ft 11. and 32 years old.
His bed side manner is exteremly lacking, but his honesty is very much appreciated. He wants me to lose 94 lbs before he will do the surgery. He advised me to do the 1200 calorie diet , and exercise every single day. He aswered all of my questions - of course I was hoping he would tell me when the surgery date is - but got to lose the 94 lbs first. I appreciate the fact that he did not rush me or treat me like I was stupid for asking questions. He used every day terms with me and didn't act as if he was better than me or anyone else ( some doctors have a tendency to do that!!)
I left his office still upset with his poor mannerism but confident that I can do this. I started this diet of 1200 calories and it seems to be working . I have alot of leg swelling so I can not do alot of exercises but I am walking every day and also doing Richard Simmons "Sweatin to the Oldies".

I discovered this website and feel alot better that I see Dr. Sooriash lack of personality is normal and everyone had that same experience. I was considering seeking out another doctor, but thanks to this site, I think he is exactly what I need. I do not need a nice doctor, I need an upfront honest doctor that can help me help myself.
My next appointment with Dr. Sooriash is March 4 2003. I sure hope I get some really good news. I need some!

so far Dr. Sooriash has been a great doctor. I had gained weight during my scheduled appointments and he pushed back my surgery date cause he is concerned for me. I appreciate that in him cause it has made me work harder to get off the 10% that I need to before the surgery. He has a great staff. My surgery date is now scheduled for Feb 18th.

He is very strict and stern, but it is in the best interest of his patients. If you don't help yourself first, well you know, I don't even need to tell you. And he can tell if you are willing just by talking to you one on one during your consultation. He can tell if you are sincere or just using the surgery "as a way out", like he says you can have the procedure but you have to make it work for you! I really like him and his staff. 2nd visit will be 2/18/03.