Robert Marema Bariatric Surgeon

3/5/01
I considered three different surgeons and decided to go with Dr. Marema because he had the best, TOTAL PROGRAM. He was the only one that required a 3 1/2 hour class attendance to completely explain every step of the procedure, pre-op, and post-op. I am not happy about the additional $2000 he charges to perform the surgery laproscopically. (I was told by his office that he charges this as an additional charge above my deductible and what the insurance company pays to offset the additional time necessary and the cost of the equipment.) I have accepted the old adage "You get what you pay for." He and his staff seem very personable and professional. As stated above, HE OFFERS A COMPLETE PROGRAM. He seems much more thorough than any of the other Surgeons I have been able to find in this area.

I've completed the psych evaluation, the h-pylori bloodwork and all or my paperwork on my health and diet history. So, now it should be going to the insurance company for approval.

3/9/01 Karen at his office told me my file would be submitted for insurance approval today or Monday.

I was very impressed with Dr. Marema. I want to have the best surgeon working on me and I feel so fortunate to have someone with as much experience and personal first hand knowledge as this guy! He is very open and has shared with our support group the story of how he came to have WLS himself with Dr. Fobi....need I say more, I feel very comfortable in his hands. The down side is that everyone else wants him to do their surgery too, so the wait is long and one tends to feel like just another number at times...but I want the best and I truly believe I have him! Karen (ins.lady) is absolutely wonderful! I feel he has a well thought out program, the aftercare is the best! His program and protocal are focused on behavior modification....he wants this to work long term...and his program is designed to help his patients be successful for LIFE! I needed that!

I found Dr. Marema to be very informative far back as my first meeting which was the orientation. Overtime even though we have not had our visit yet, I find him to be very open and very real about what to expect after the surgery. He is very down to earth and I believe that can only come from having been there yourself, which he has -- he is a patient of Bariatric surgery as well as his wife, had the procedure performed by Dr. Fobi himself.

Patients should know that you can check his qualifications on line at his sight at Browardobesitysurgery.com and also with the Bariatric Association whcih lists all of the surgeon qualified in each state to perform this surgery. Dr. Marema's patients have formed a group on Yahoo which can be accessed by signing on to Yahoo for free and you can actually talk to people who are waiting to have the surgery, people who have had the surgery recently and as far as 7 years ago. You can also meet some of them as Dr. Marema conducts 2 groups a month at Holly Cross Hospital. He attends these and answers all kinds of questions regarding the surgery, regarding mortality, sucess as well as failure about the surgery.

Dr. Marema's "Program" is by far the best one I found. I searched other surgeons in other states and found his program to be the most complete bar-none. He tackles daily living, not fantasy. He is very clear about what life is like after surgery, dos and don'ts, etc. His staff is awesome and there to help you every step of the way.

I would rate Dr. Marema to be a 9, just becaus no one is perfect. He is a skilled surgeon, no doubt. All of his qualifications can be confirmed, and best of all has walked in our shoes. He doesn't look like if he was ever obese. He is living through an experience with his 8 yr old son who is also overweight and hopes to address youth and obesity sometime in the future. What more can we ask of this man.

I have not yet met my doctor. I will be traveling out of town so I will meet him just days before surgery. I am getting nervous and excited. My surgery is scheduled for feb. 24th. Over the phone his office staff is very helpfull and kind
I have read great things about Dr. Marema
from his patiants and it helped me to choose him.

I met Dr. Marema on 2/19/01 he has a very informative program and a friendly and helpful staff,they all seem to care for each induvidual and not treat you like your just another case. Dr.Marema has had the surgery him self and relates to my feelings well.
A number of his staff has also had the surgery also. His program covers all your options and risks they want to make sure you know as much as you can about the surgery and risks and life changes before you have the surgery. My surgery is in two days and I feel as if I am in the best of care.

Good looking, nice smile and very down to earth. One of us ,if you know what I mean. He had the surgery about 2 years ago.The office staff is also very down to earth ,in fact a few of them have had the surgery also. The support is awsome. He is stricter than other doctors on the diet but the results are better with his way. No carbs atall until 75% weight loss gole is achieved.I find with all the above and beyond staff he has the support is endless and they wont fail you or let you fail eather.Its a hard road ups and downs but when I weigh myself and feel a little better each day I find the choice was worth it. I am adding to this now 2 monthes after surgery. I have been to meetings and to the office afew times now and I still love him and all the staff.

Dr. Marema is a great Surgeon there are rnpigh people on this web site to say how great he is.

My first impression of Dr. Marema was a great one. He caught my attention from the moment he started speaking. I haven't formally met him yet. That will take place at my pre-op appointment. I am looking forward to meeting him though. My impression hasn't changed yet. I sincerely don't think it will. From what I have heard, he is a great doctor. I will form my own opinion once I meet him. One of the nurses, Debbie Cox, is a great motivational speaker. She was very thorough in her educational class and information session. She let us all know that we were expected to get up out of bed and not complain about pain. After all, "no one has ever died from pain". She made no bones about what was expected before and after surgery and that all paperwork had to have every "t" crossed and every "i" dotted. These people do not take any chances with lives. They will make sure completely that surgery is the best answer for you before going through with it. The only thing that I did not like was the length of time it took to finally get the ball rolling. It took 4 1/2 half months to go through all of the testing and classes and 3 weeks to get approved and almost 3 weeks to get a surgery date. I know his office staff is very busy, but this could seriously discourage someone going through it. I don't know if maybe more help is needed, but it sometimes seemed as if the paperwork was just sitting on someone's desk. The whole process from the first visit with my PCP to pre-op has been 6 months. A long time to wait, but definitely worth it.

Dr. Marema and his nursing staff explained in great lengths the risk of surgery. He explained the importance of aftercare surgery and will only perform surgery with the promise that you will follow his program aftercare for life.

I can't really rate him yet. I better wait until my pre-op appointment.

I truly believe that both surgical competence and bedside manner are important.


1/29/01 - Well today I had my pre-op appointment. Needless to say I was a little disappointed. I expected Dr. Marema to spend a little more time with than he did. I've waited 6 months and have gone through all these tests and I saw him all of 10 minutes. I was comfortable with him and his bedside manner is great. Wish he spent a few more minutes with me. I am nervous!!!!

i used robert marema, md. i investigated him thoroughly and checked out his reputation with people in the medical field. i liked the fact that he was board certified and operated out of an excellent hospital. at the time i approached him, he did not do a lot of the bariatric surgeries. he was a general surgeon. i also liked the fact that at the time he had a weight problem himself and wouldnt just tell me to control myself. i absolutely adore him. he is one of the finest human beings i have met in addition to being a great surgeon. he loves all people and has a loving way of approaching people. he is the only surgeon that i would let touch any of my family or anyone that i cared about. i cant think of any doctor that i hold in higher esteem and i would not hesitate to recomend him to anyone. he himself has had the surgery and knows what all his patients go through. i originally had a vbg which was a failure. i later had a revision. i have not had any trouble related to the surgery other than the occassionaly "dumping"

Im really looking forward the Support group on Monday. Ill be there!

I have only been to the group information session but found him very personable.