Elmer Valin Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

I THINK DR VALEN IS VERY PERSONABLE, BUT VERY PROFESSIONAL.MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF HIM HAS ONLY CHANGED FROM BEING ABLE TO CUT A JOKE WITH HIM AND MAKING HIM LAUGH AND RELAX.I FEEL THAT HIS OFFICE STAFF IS VERY HELPFUL AND HIS WIFE AND BEING THAT SHE IS NURSE HELPS VERY MUCH. HE IS A BUSY MAN AND THE ONLY THING WOULD BEING ABLE TO SEE HIM ONCE IN A WHILE INSTEAD OF THE OTHER STAFF FOR THE FILLS.I THINK DOCTOR VALIN IS A WONDERFUL SURGEON.I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS, AND THE SURGERY.HE DOES STRESS AFTERCARE. IT'S A GOOD TOOL.AS FAR AS A STRUCTURED AFTERCARE PROGRAM HE HAS A STAFF THAT DOES PROVIDE MEETINGS AND A 12 WEEK PROGRAM.DR. VALIN TALKED ABOUT ALL THE RISKS AND PROVIDES ALL THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.I WOULD RATE DR. VALIN A 10 IF YOU WERE GOING BY NUMBERS.AS FAR AS HIS COMPETENCE,BEDSIDE MANNER HE IS GREAT. MAYBE CRACK A FEW JOKES ONCE IN A WHILE. HE IS A VERY SERIOUS SURGEON.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYONE THAT IS LOOKING FOR EITHER THE GASTRIC BYPASS OR LAP BANDING.

My first impression of Dr. Valin was he was very professional and to the point.

I became very comfortable over time.

He had a very busy office but the staff was very helpful.

I can't say there was anything that I did not like about him or his staff.

Dr. Valin was very friendly and informational.

He puts very strong emphasis on aftercare.

He continually addressed the risks of the surgery through group sessions, reading materials and a short test of your knowledge prior to the surgery.

My overall rating for Dr. Valin would be GREAT. I had a wonderful experience.

His surgical competence and bedside manners were GREAT.

VERY YOUNG BUT HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIS WORK.HIS OFFICE STAFF WAS VERY NICE,HE CAME TO VISIT ME EVERYDAY IN THE HOSPITAL VERY NICE, AND HE HAD A STRUCTURED AFTERCARE PROGRAM. I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR ME. LINDA SIMON.

I had heard so many great things about Dr Valin, I was confident with my decision, although I did not meet him until 4 day prior to surgery. I was not overly impressed with my first encounter (for the endoscopy) primarily because I had never seen him before, and there were NO introductions, nor did he ask if I had questions or explain what was happening, and I was pretty nervous/scared. My first office visit with him was brief, but he really is a nice guy and definetly knows what he is doing. I wish the meeting had been a little more thorough, and I wish he had made me feel more comfortable about asking questions. I kinda felt like I was keeping him from something more important! As far as his skills a a surgeon, I am very impressed. I ended up having a more intense surgery, also needing hernia repair, but he did a wonderful job, and my level of pain has been suprisingly low!
His staff is wonderful! They always respond quickly to my questions and concerns!

Dr. Valin explained all the procedures that I would have prior to surgery in terms I could understand. He is patient with questions and addresses them all with ease. That relaxed me, because I felt that I could trust him and his knowledge. He never rushed me out or acted as if my questions were dumb. The office also has a seminar that you have to attend before your surgery that goes over the stages of food you can eat and post-op menus. They also offer therapy sessions if you have issues to address. Dr. Valin and his staff are wonderful and helped me feel like I was someone special not just a lazy person with no will power as most of the doctors I have seen throughout my life had made me feel.

I have found the entire experience thus far to have gone very smoothly. The staff has been helpful, and Ive been seen immediately every time I have gone to the office. Dr. Valin seems knowledgeable.

My daughter Tracy had the surgery in January 2004. I had heard her speak highly of Dr. Valin and his staff. When I first met him I realized what a warm personable Doctor he appeared to be. He continue to always be there if I needed him. If I called, he returned my call immediately. His staff was very friendly and made me feel like I had been going there for years. There isn't anything I didn't like about Dr. Valin at all. I have complete faith in Dr. Valin's ability to perform this surgery with the least of complications. It is of utmost importance to both the doctor as well as the patient to continue your visits as prescribed. He has a great support group program. Because I have so many in my immediate family that has had this surgery, the need to go to New Haven hasn't been an issue as of yet. But if for some chance things change, I know that there is the availibity to join in any support group the office offers. The Doctor, as well as the staff, did address the risk of this surgery to all, not only in the seminars, but in person as well. Because of my age, next month I will be 65, I knew there would be a risk. However, because of Dr. Valin, I wasn't at all concerned. I have had alot of surgical procedures done. I realize for me, both surgical competence and bedside manner helped me greatly in recovery. Dr. Valin has an exceptional caring bedside manner.

DR. VALIN IS GREAT AND HIS OFFICE STAFF IS VERY HELPFUL, THEY DEFINATELY ARE EXPECTS IN BARIATRIC SURGERY! I HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL AND HAVE LOST 80 POUNDS IN 8 MONTHS.

So far, everyone of the office staff have been very pleasant to me, and everything including the insurance approval has gone through so fast. I liked this office and surgeon because everything is so planned, and not just like oh she wants surgery and just throw you underneath the knife, its a process, to make sure you are sure this is what you want, the preliminaries is what makes me feel so safe about this surgery.

I have a meeting scheduled with him the day before my surgery. I met with him for my endoscopy but that was only 2 minutes prior to going under. I wish you spent more time with him than just a day before the surgery.

His office staff is WONDERFUL and Debbie (his wife) is the BEST. I feel so comfortable with her.