Luciano A. DiMarco Bariatric Surgeon D.O., F.A.C.O.S.

My first impression of Dr. Di Marco was great. He's very pleasant and very detailed in the information he presents to his patients. The office staff is incredibly cordial and will help you with any problems. I met with the doctor on Feb 8th. We spoke on the procedure and what to expect. I had already read everything posted on his web site, so I considered my self well informed. I was advised on complications and after care. I am now currently waiting to see my primary care physician to get the ball rolling. Dr. Di Marco advised it would probably take 2-3 weeks to hear back fromthe insurance company. And due to his schedule, surgery possibly not till April. I cant wait to get the ball rolling.

My first meeting with Dr. DiMarco went well. He was very confident about his surgical skills. He studied under the doctor who is considered the "father of bariatric surgeory", he also studied under Dr. Shouer(spelling?) anyway the doctor from Pittsburgh who does alot of bariatric lap surgeory. His backround is actually in more difficult kinds of surgeory.He is experienced in liver transplants. He said that he became interested in bariatric surgeory because of the terrible looking livers of obese people. He said that obesity is the cause of more liver damage than sclerosis(because of alcohol). He is truley concerned about the health of these people(the morbidly obese). This is why he had extended his practice to include us. He loves it when his weight loss patients do something about their condition, i.e. having this life saving surgeory. No wonder some say that he is late. That has not been my experience however. We were both on time and he was EXTREMLY PATIENT in explaining and drawing the procedure. For the sake of this website I am trying to think of anything to say that i thought was negative, but I can't think of a thing. I'll let you know more after the surgeory.

Well, I haven't met the doctor yet, but I have spoken on the phone with a girl form the office and she seems to be very knowledgable and Has never made me feel like I am asking too many questions.


Nov.2 2000 Well I finally met with Dr. DiMarco and I like him! lol He made me feel very comfortable and never acted like my primary doctor(who is an ass) about my weight! He said this is the best thing you could ever give yourself. I went away KNOWING this is the right decision!

January 6,2001 Ok well, I am having some problems with the office staff. Seems the girl in charge there does nothing. The doctor comes highly recommended, but the staff is soooooo clueless.Can't ask them questions because they dont know,I can't ask for a letter to be sent because they lie and say oh yeah I will type it and put it in the mail, a month and a half later it is still not typed. I had to call the office manager after a few other problems, he is very nice and got things done that day. Its come down to 6 days before surgery and I haven't even had a script faxed to my Primary Physician for what kind of bloodwork they want me to have. Unbelievable!
Just a little update:January 24,2001
The Doctor did great work as far as my surgery went, he came to see me everyday in the hospital and I heard they replaced the girl that was running the office, I actually called them and they called right back! Imagine that!

I will let you know. I have my first consult with him on March 15, 2001. Cant' wait.

First impression was great. I heard good things about him before I scheduled a consult. The office staff is young and energetic. Here's where I will interject more info about the office staff. They are not well educated on what the surgeon does. I had questions that could not be answred by the staff. I do think Dr. DiMaro knows what he is doing, but the staff does not. I have asked for calls to be returned that never were and once I sent an e-mail and never received a response. For my initial appt. I was give directions to the wrong office. I cannot wait to talk to him personally about this.

Dr. DiMarco was very nice to talk with - answered all my questions - and spoke kindly with my husband also -
He explained the surgery fully and we understood what was next.
2 weeks have gone by since my initial consult and I have just found out today that my letter to the insurance has not gone out yet - and here i was actually expecting an answer this week - so I think things could have beena bit more timely here.
The office staff was okay - the girl who did all my questions was nice - the receptionist could have been a bit warmer, but perhaps I was looking for too much.
Dr. DiMarco is instituting a peer support group along with opening his new clinic (which opened the week I had my appt.). So, that is in the works, and also the office has a nutritionist on staff that I can use when and if the need arises.
All in all I had a pleasant experience and look forward to approval and a surgery date - I am thinking positively!!
Hi, 11/20/00

Just had to update now that i am 3 weeks post-op.
Dr. DiMarco was just the best - my surgery had a minor complication but nothing of importance - had to stay an extra day in hospital, but that was okay. I am home now and had my follow-up on thursday and feel great. His competence, bedside manner are without equal - and i cannot decide what is better - probably his skill as a laporascopic surgeon. Although be prepared - he is ALWAYS late, but never rushes you when he finally appears.

.I think I can fill this better after surgery

He has a very mellow way about him, which I liked, I feel more at ease, and more apt to ask questions. But he can be late, apparently this is kind of his reputaion. I was looking to have this surgery laproscopically, which he does and has quite a bit of experience doing it, and someone near my home. He met my criteria, so being late doesnt bother me as much, I will just have to be abreast to what is happening at the office and make sure my letters and such are being taken care of. He has a great staff and pleasant Nutritionist (Christin). They are working out some great plans for aftercare and support groups. I am very excited to learn more and be a part of them.

Dr. DiMarco is opening The Weight
Loss Clinic late July, 2000, in Harrisburg, PA. He has been performing laparoscopic Gastric bypass procedures since 1998.

The phone number listed in the web page is actually the Fax line at his surgery office. The proper phone number for Central Penna Surgical Associates is (717) 652 - 1107.

The phone number for The Weight Loss Clinic will be (717) 909 - 0290 and will be activated about August 1, 2000.

I work for Dr. DiMarco and wanted to clarify the proper phone numbers.
Steve J.

7/6/00 HE WAS LATE FOR THE APPOINTMENT BY AN HOUR.
WHEN HE ARRIVED HE DID NOT RUSH ME AT ALL!
HE ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION I ASKED. HE DID
NOT TALK DOWN TO ME ABOUT MY WEIGHT AND MADE
ME FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE PROUD BECAUSE I WANT
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT BEING OVERWEIGHT. HE
ALSO IS STARTING A PROGRAM AND HAS HIRED A
DIETICIAN AND A PSYCHOLOGIST. MY HUSBAND
ACCOMPANIED ME AND HE ALSO SPOKE DIRECTLY TO
HIM AND ASKED IF HE HAD ANY QUESTIONS, WHICH
HE DID. I ALSO ASKED HIM SOME HARD QUESTIONS
PERTAINING TO THE HOSPITAL HE IS AFFILIATED
WITH AND ABOUT SOME PROBLEMS OTHERS HAVE
ENCOUNTERED. HE ANSWERED EVERTHING TO MY
SATISFACTION. HE SEEMED VERY TRUTHFUL AND
VERY DOWN TO EARTH. AT THIS P0INT I WOULD
CERTAINLY RECOMMEND HIM, ALTHOUGH HE SEEMS
LIKE HE IS OVERWHELMED WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT
THIS SURGERY DONE. HE HAS BEEN DOING ONE A
WEEK, BUT NEXT WEEK HE WILL START DOING TWO A
WEEK INSTEAD.