Robert Marema Bariatric Surgeon

He is slightly reserved with a good sense of humor. I had my surgery
done two weeks ago(7/27/99) so I mostly see him at support group meetings
or he will call me back if I leave a message.

Most of his staff has had the surgery and can answer lots of questions. He has a support group meeting
every month with both he and his dietician present as well as some of the staff.

Dr. Marema has an informational meeting on Tuesday nights at 6pm. The phone is 954-351-7770 also 1-800-592-7546.
This may change so call the office for any updates. Also, check the website for updates http://www.usbariatric.com

U.S. Bariatric also has an office in Celebration, FL @ Celebration Health part of the Florida Hospital system.

I HAVE ONLY SEEN DR. MAREMA AT HIS INFO SESSION, I HAVE NOT BEEN TO MY PRE-0P YET , I HAVE THAT ON AUG. 20TH. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE PHONE FROM HIS OFFICE I CAN'T KEEP TRACK OF WHO I TALKED TO LAST. I KEPT GETTING PUSHED FROM ONE PERSON TO THE OTHER. THE PERSON DOING ALL THE INSURANCE WORK NEVER...I MEAN NOT EVEN ONCE RETURNED A CALL I MADE TO HER AND EVERYTIME I CALLED I GOT PUT TO HER VOICE MAIL.I HAD TO CALL MY INSURANCE CO MYSELF TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I GUESS I WILL HAVE MORE TO TELL WHEN I HAVE MY PRE-OP APPT. TILL THEN......

8/20/02 HAD MY PRE-OP WITH DR MAREMA TODAY ALONG WITH MY NUTRITION & WELLNESS MEETING (IT WAS AN ALL DAY AFFAIR!!) MY FEARS WERE REDUCED GREATLY AFTER MEETING DR. MAREMA. HE WAS THE NICEST DOCTOR I THINK I HAVE EVER COME IN CONTACT WITH. HIS STAFF COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE FRIENDLY. EVERYONE YOU PASSED IN THE HALL SAID HELLO AND SMILED. I FELT REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THE WHOLE STAFF.
THE AFTERCARE PROGRAM IS UNBELIEVABLE, THEY ARE THERE FOR YOU NO MATTER WHAT YOU NEED.
I RATE DR. MAREMA, AAAAAAAAAAA++++++++++++++.

I first heard of Dr Marema's office thru a friend who had the surgery. She insisted I only use him. Then I met a friend of my mom's who also had the surgery with Dr Marema. Although the both of them were in DADE county, they went to Broward to seek Dr Marema's help. I figured this guy has to be good ! So I went to the info meeting and I took off from there ! I went in November and had my surgery in Febuary. I lost 2 weeks of processing because my insurance company lost my file ! But the day I went to the info meeting, I filled out the paper work and the next day I had a nurse calling me. Well to make a long story short, I had my surgery with Dr MArema himself, on Feb 8th. ! As of today July 18, 2002, I have lost 80 pounds.
I can't feel any better ! I have had little problems, not anything we can't handle. Honestly I wouldn't have changed a thing. Except the hospital is too strict on family visiting procedures ! We lived far and I wanted my husband to stay, and they would not allow it ! The staff at the office were and have been nothing but wonderful !

Anyways, I would highly recommend him, and I love talking about my surgery. Email me or call me and we can chat !

Nilda

I have met Dr. Marema and I have complete faith that he would, in no way, shape, or form have someone on his staff that is not totally competent. These people are true angels.

Dr. Marema is simply the best. His bedside manner is great. He has a true calming effect. The staff of Imperial Point think the world of Dr. Marema and I do see why.

He followed up with me twice in the hospital and then had his collegue Dr. Perez do the rest. He too was great.

Dr. Marema and his staff are wonderful. I just wished I had lived closer to the office. Whenever I have a problem, I panic and ready to catch a plane to Florida. They have a structured aftercare program, once you do as he says, you see great progress. The only thing I didn't like was having to wait 12 hours before I actually get operated on. Imagine not being able to eat from 4 p.m. the day before, arriving to the hospital 5:30 a.m and not being operated on until 6 p.m. I was frustrated, and just tired of laying on my back. ANother thing is that after the surgery, I din't see Dr. Marema at the hospital at all, I saw Dr. Benitez everyday, eventhough he was good too, I just felt that since Dr. Marema was my surgeon, he was the one I should have been seeing at least once not his assistant.

I am now 8 months post op. I am having great rsults, I haven't seen Dr. Marema for a while because of where I live, but I am doing just as he said to do and I will be seeing him soon.
Dr. Marema is a great surgeon his office staff is also great.

My first impression of Dr. Marema was that he was a laid back easy going doctor. I still feel this way. The staff has been very helpful to me and they usually call me back within a day. Dr. Marema has a nice sense of humor and makes you feel comfortable. I think that surgical competence is more important than bedside manner, but I'm glad he is good in both!!!

I have yet to meet Dr. Marema, but I attended the info session at Lee Memorial in Fort Myers. Dr. Benitez was there, and although he was under the weather, he was really nice, funny and most importantly informative. My husband, who was very reluctant about me going forward with surgery, found the session fascinating, and now supports my decision to go forward. I thought that I was over a few hurdles--changed my insurance, went to the info session, filled out the required paperwork. But I was just informed today that Dr. Marema is no longer an Aetna provider. They had a contract last year, but not anymore. Seems strange to me that a bariatric surgeon would choose to end his contract with one of the few insurers who PAYS. Sigh. Anyway, I'm either going to have to find a new surgeon (Aetna will not help direct me to one) or jump through a few more hoops. They sure don't make this process easy. Guess they want to make sure you really want it.

Only saw him once at an orientation meeting in Orlando. Seems to be very nice and personable. Others I have met who have had WLS, like him very much. So far, his office staff seems very nice and helpful. He had a very informative meeting and covered just about everything. I guess what I like best about him is that he has had the surgery and so has his wife. So,he not only has knowledge from a doctor's perspective but also from a patient's perspective. He definitely has a structured aftercare program. He told everyone that no surgery comes without some risk but that the risk (if we followed all aftercare instructions) could be minimal. At this point I cautiously, would rate him a 9. I guess surgical competence would be more important but certainly a doctor should be able to have some kind of a rapport with his patients. To me, a good doctor knows how important it is to have a good, open, honest relationship with his patient. I realize that I haven't had enough imput from the doctor to me personally to make a credible judgement call, so my opinions at this point are just that, my opinions.

I went to a general meeting held at the Holy cross hospital auditorium where about 200 others like myself attended.He was very direct.Had a dry sense of humor. He did stress the seriousness of the surgery and how it is a tool not a cure all.He was very passionate about the solutions he had to offer,especially since he himself had the surgery.So has 1/2 his staff.His staff is very well trained and can answer most any question you have.Sometimes they can be a little slow returning a call.They give you a packet that has all the info you need to proceed with the surgery.They took care of submitting to my insurance which was a huge burden off my back.It took 1 day to get approved! He has a very large practice and has taken on 3 other surgeons under his wing.I only saw Dr.Marema at the seminar ,my consultation and the day of surgery. All follow up has been done by his associates and nursing staff.(boo hoo)I thought he would see me again for the first follow up or maybe in the hospital.(I guess thats why he's called the surgeon.)He has a well defined after care program where you get lots of support not to mention is included in your inital surgical fees.You can go as often as you like to any of the classes offered at no xtra charge.I had no complications or infections during or after surgery.I would rate my over all experience a 10.

My first impression of Dr Gonzalez was that he is very direct, to the point, and he is flexible.
When I went to the one on one with him he seemed to have you as his main concern at that point.
They have been thru alot of changes and are very overwhelmed but all in all I guess they are doing the best that they can do with what they have to do it with.
Dr Gonzalez teaches at Jackson Part time he also attends the seminars and is the most seen. He is board certified in all the areas for this kind of surgery and others.
He emphasizes the whole package.
He spells out the risk of this surgery.
I rate him a confident 9 after surgery we shall see!! I have changed Surgeons I now have Dr Marema I felt I had to change Dr's for my own personal reasons. Dr Gonzalez is good but now I have the master surgeon!!!
May 28th
I met with Dr Marema and boy am I glad I changed to him he is so well mannered and calm. He made me feel very comfortable and I have no doubt that he is the surgeon for me. I have no doubt as to his competency at all, believe me when I say if you want a good surgeon its him: and the staff at the office are so professional and have got it together like no other office I have seen in Broward or Dade. When you go there its not just an office visit its a package worth every penny. I highly reccomend this Group.