Paresh Rajajoshiwala Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

When I chose to have weight loss surgery, my first choice was to have Dr. Raja as my surgeon. However, due to Dr. Raja being quite popular, I had to go with another surgeon at the same center. My surgery went great but I still didn't feel that I could talk to my Dr. openly and honestly without being treated like a child. For reasons I will never know, luck took hold and Dr. Raja became my doctor! And boy let me tell, he has been wonderful. What i love about Dr. Raja, is the personal relationship he has with each patient. He gives each patient as much time as they need to ask questions and he takes his time answering the questions so that the patient understands the answer. Dr. Raja is a doctor who will do whatever it takes to make sure potential patients have all the information needed to make the decision for surgery. He makes sure that patients follow the plan set by his office staff in order for the patients to be successful. Even after surgery Dr. Raja is still there to answer questions, and do whatever it takes to keep his patients on the road to a healthier life. Dr. Raja and his staff make an amazing team and when you walk into the office it's like one big family. They support you and you develop a wonderful relationship with not only with Dr. Raja but with each and every person in that office!

My first impression of Dr.Raja was a very good one. He was very concerned about my well being and very thorough in explaining the process to me. His office staff has been really great and helpful in assisting me through this process and I couldn't have done it without them. I feel like I can really relate to Dr. Raja. He has been very helpful and professional in guiding me through this weight loss journey. After surgery I was not made to feel like I was no longer important, I felt safe and supported at the same time. Overall Dr Raja is the \"Greatest\" surgeon I've met hands down. I would definitley do this all over again because it has changed my life for the better!!

I remember going to my first visit on my 49th birthday and spending most of the day there. My husband could not go, but my mother went with me as my support person. Dr. Raja was very informative when I got to meet him. He was so tall and thin, I wasn't sure he could really identify with obese people, but he was very patient and listened to all of our concerns and conceptions or misconceptions about the surgery. rnrnHe gave me goals to reach before I would be able to be scheduled for surgery, as did everyone in the office. He even gave me information on what would be my regimen after the surgery, and really prepared me for the surgery. I had talked to other places about weight loss surgery and spoken to friends who did not use the Wish Center, and they did not have nearly the amount of information before their surgery as I did, and they had quite a bit of problems. I think that is what impressed me most about Dr. Raja and the Wish Center. rnrnI had certain goals to meet before my follow up visit in two months so they would know I was able to live with the changes I was going to be making after the surgery.rnrnThe staff there is so very caring and willing to help you understand anything that is going on with your body. If they don't know the answer right away, they will find out from the surgeon, and for the most part, the surgeon is the one who calls you back. I really like that one-on-one relationship with them. They are great cheerleaders and inspiration when you are having your down days, which will inevitably happen.rnrnThe aftercare program they have set up is the best I have seen anywhere. You have it laid out exactly for you what you should choose from and when, and what exercises to do and when. They are very concerned that you keep progressing with the fewest complications possible. The support group meetings are great and we learn even more great information from the speakers.rnrnDr. Raja is, in my opinion, a very skilled surgeon, and he has great bedside manner. He is willing to joke with you or listen to your concerns and worries. If I had to choose a surgeon again, he would be the one I would pick, in a heart beat. I would and have recommended him and the Wish Center to several of my friends.rnrnI wish they did the plastic surgery at the Center as well, but they don't, so I will be finding and going through with that procedure next.

'The first time I saw/met Dr. Raja was at a WISH Center seminar. At that time

What can I say about Dr Raja? He is wonderful. I feel like he's saved my life. I feel healthier already.. When i met him my first impression was wow, he is really knowledgeable. He is so funny too....wicked sense of humor! I'm very happy with the surgeon that i chose.

Dr. Raja was very nice, personable, and took the time to explain my surgery in terms that I would understand. I only met him twice before my surgery on 1/5/06. Post-op, I didn't see him but I did see his partner Dr. Rincon. Because of a mix up in my paperwork and insurance coverage, my procedure type had to change at the last minute. This was not a problem and Dr. Raja called me before I went into surgery to explain the problem. I had to have my gall bladder removed and had an open procedure. Dr. Raja explained the entire procedure to me. I have 23 staples and a 7.5 inch verticle scar. Dr. Raja is very competent and answered all my questions. I have no complaints about Dr. Raja at this time.

However, I wish to write about the following. I did not receive any follow up or phone calls from the Wish Center after my surgery. Surgery date was 1/5/06 and my first post op appointment was 1/19/06. The Wish Center does not take up an entire floor at the hospital the Wish Center uses. It is only a few rooms on the second floor mixed with other non-Wish Center patients. I was not thrilled with physical location of the hospital. The day nursing staff was not responsive at all. When I complained, I was told that my "support person" was there to assist me. My support person left when visiting hours were over and at no time was I told that they HAD to be there 24/7. I was told that they COULD stay, not that they HAD to stay. I was very upset at the level of attention I received post-op on the first day of surgery. The evening shift nurse was very attentive. I was told by Dr. Rincon that the support person was supposed to be with me in the hospital. I told him that at no time was I told this up front, that it wasn't written down in my paperwork, and I asked what was I paying for. He and the nurse manager heard my concerns about the day nursing staff but I didn't get any positive feedback. I was told that the support person was responsible to get me water and ice but the ice machine was broken. I was also told that the support person was responsible to help me in and out of leg pressure cuffs but there was no instruction on this or the machine. My support person was in my room 5 hours during my surgery and no one told him what he was expected to do. The evening nurse explained how to use a pillow as a splint if I caughed and arranged for my respiratory treatments. My respiratory treatments were supposed to start around 5pm but they didn't show up until 10:45pm. When the the respiratory person showed up, she didn't explain the equipment, turned it on, handed me the mouth piece and walked out. The night nurse asked me what happened and she asked the person to explain the procedure. The evening nurse came in at regular times and took my vitals where as the day nurse didn't. This experience left me feeling like I was in a self-help program.

When I first met the Dr. I was very confident about his abilities and his attitude towards me and my family. However, after my surgery, I felt like a piece of meat that needed to be rushed off a conveyor belt so that my space could be filled by another paying customer. I was running fever in the hospital, yet was released. I later complained of infection and was just given antibiotics and told to go home. When things got so bad that my PCP actually called Dr. Raja to see what could be done about my continued infections, I was basically just given more antibiotics. Even when I finally was given a surgical date the Dr. still didn't feel the need to remove the infection (he did though). I requested wound care and was given the flipped answer of "well, I would like a massage everyday but we don't always get what we want." I did in the end receive wound care and got better. I have been disappointed with my aftercare and feel that once they got the money from my insurance they didn't really care what happened to me. I am sure that no two surgeries are alike. I am sure that there are 100's of satisfied customers out there. I am just not one of them. I can honestly say this, if you are 100 + lbs over weight, get help. Get the surgery, at the wish center or somewhere else but get the surgery. I am so much better of a person because of the surgery. I'm a better mother, wife, child because of the surgery. I am so much more active then I think I've ever been. I love the way I've turned out. I still have 67lbs to reach the wish centers goal for me, but my person goal is to be a healthy normal weight, which is 117lbs away (150lbs). What ever happens, I know I am living much healthier today then I was just under 10 months ago, and for that I will forever be grateful to the wish center.

My first impression of Dr. Raja was...dang he is tall, nice teeth, and not bad looking at all, in fact, he is kind of hot. <g> Dr. Raja was very down to earth and sensible regarding goals. We did not talk a much as I would of liked, due to time on my part. I plan to take a crew of people with me when I go back, and I will have lots of questions at that time as well. The Wish Center staff was wonderful, knowledgeable, friendly, and and very helpful. Like many have said that have gone through this The Wish Center that the appointments take 4-5 hours. I arrived at 10 AM and left at 3 PM, so make sure you plan to be there that long. I would advise future patients to not be afraid of asking questions, in fact, take a list of any and all questions. Dr. Raja stresses that in order to have the surgery you must be willing to make a lot of changes, and the changes should all be done before your Pre-Op. Dr. Raja also encourages you to have a strong support system not only after your surgery but before as well. The Wish Center has a structored program to follow Pre-Op and Post-Op and they strongly suggest that you follow the programs, and they are not afraid to inform you that if you do not follow these programs that is when complications are at a higher risk. We spoke briefly about the risk, I know we will discuss all of that at my Pre-Op. Overall I rate Dr. Raja as a knowledgeable, compentent, good bed side manner, and down to earth. I would say that Dr. Raja is both surgically compentent and great all around.

My first impression of Dr. Raja is that he is very nice and concerned about my feelings.

Dr. Raja is still caring and a very knowledgeable surgeon.

Dr. Raja's office staff was very kind and knowledgeable.

I feel Dr. Raja is not one for change.

He will make bandsters adhere to RNY protocol.

Aftercare is very important to the WISH center.THey do have a structured aftercare program but, it is tailored for people going through RNY. Also the support groups are also geared for RNYers.

Dr Raja discussed all of the risks and they were scary but I had great confidence in him and came through the surgery with ease.

My first impression was he is a lot taller than I expected. His online photo at the Wish Center web site made me think he was a little guy. But, after I got over that shock.. I was impressed. He is very to the point, very clear about goals. Some things he said sounded a bit rehearsed, kind of mechanical. However, he did not rush through our meeting and answered all of my questions. This appointment lasted 5 and half hours, and the room I was in was cold... I would recommend bringing a sweater. The staff was kind, professional, and well organized.

Oct 20, 2004
PRE-OP appointment. Today was the appointment where I met again with the dietitian, psychologist, exercise physiologist, and the surgeon. A great group of people really. Dr Raja wasn't at all 'robot' like this time. He was very 'human'..LOL. Again, he made sure I had met the goals they had set up for me, and answered all my questions, including if he has had any patients develop complications or any fatalities. The only complications he has seen in the hundreds of procedures he has done were minor, and he has had no deaths. (thank God) The whole thing was very reassuring. The appointment wasn't as long this time, done in about 3 and a half hours and I was cleared for surgery!!! The Wish Center of San Antonio is fantastic!! The entire staff works together like a well oiled machine!