Thomas Cerabona Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

I was super impressed with Dr. Cerabona during our initial visit. He wasn't snobbish or aloof at all. In fact, he was genuinely concerned and made certain to cover all the details, good and bad. He was pleasant and did not rush me off. I felt comfortable and knew immediately that he was the 'one'! His assistant, Colleen, is super busy and sometimes I would have to wait a day to have my calls returned, but that's okay because I understand there are so many people that need them and this life-saving procedure. She was quick to work with my insurance company and always has a pleasant attitude and a super smile. I cannot say that I found anything to dislike about Dr. Cerabona or Colleen. In fact, while I was waiting on the operating table, I asked the nurse to ask Dr. Cerabona to visit with me before I went under. He came in almost immediately, held my hand and reassured me. I was blown away with his superior bedside manners! After I awoke, Dr. Cerabona visited with me again and told me that the operation was a success. (He worked with a robot and asked my permission to do so. I jumped at the opportunity knowing that robots are more accurate and precise than human hands.) He is gentle and kind. I could not ask for a better surgeon. Dr. Cerabona is a definite 10+ and I recommend him to anyone considering WLS. Honestly, I have nothing negative AT ALL to say about Dr. Cerabona or his staff.

My first impression of Dr Cerebona was that he is the most professional yet personable doctor. He made me feel like family. I had to wait two and a half hours to see him because one of his partners had an emergency so he took all his patients that day as well. I must say I was happy i waited because i got to talk to a lot of people about their experiences and it totally made me feel more informed. I was very impressed with Colleen who is his right hand in a very paper filled, very busy office. She really has wonderful patience of a saint. She handles everyone like she has known them for years and is very helpful to all. I sat there for awhile so i got to see how she was! I was happy to see that they all were very personable and professional at the same time. My husband attended my consult with me and he too thought that i was in the best care for this surgery.............He was very thorough about after the surgery as far as food, exercise, and vitamins. He also drew us a picture of what is was EXACTLY going to do to me. He gave me all the good and bad about the surgery as well as not having surgery. I rate them all a ten so far!!!!!!

Okay i go monday th 20th of august and i had the chance to meet with Dr. Cerabona once more before surgery and he still is sooooo patient and wonderful! i am in very excellant hands! He is gonna save me from having to watch everyone now i will join them!!!!!!!!Love ya Dr. C!!!!!!!!! Hi all i am now 8 months post op and i still have to say all is well and dr c and colleen are wonderful and i still feel like family with them! i feel so lucky to have them in my life..........I know his expertise is surgery but i must say i wonder if he realizes how much respect i have for him helping me get my life back and enjoy a new beginning......i know i have said thanks a million times, but really he has a gift and thankfully i was able to receive it!! i wish i had such passion at my job!!hahaha!!!!!!

My first impression of Dr Cerebona was that our personalities clicked right away and he talked to me like a person and let me ask a million questions and was very patient. He has an awesome bedside manner and always makes you feel like you are his only patient. Colleen is the office/nurse manager and she is so wonderful as well. They really do make you feel like family. I am now eight months post op and i still feel that same warm welcome feeling from them. We b.s. like we are old friends and that is so wonderful. I had a stomach virus and i was nervous about it because of all the throwing up and the new pouch, so i called dr cerebona after hours and he called me within seconds!! then he called me back a few days later to see how i felt!! i cannot express enough good about he and colleen. I feel so blessed to have them in my life!! As far as my opinion on his surgical competence. well i must say i felt and still feel very confident in his knowledge, he is very thorough and explicit. He was very helpful for all my after care, and i rate him a 12 on a scale from 1-10!!!!!!! He is also affiliated with a trauma team and that also helped me realize his expertise!!

I found Dr.Cerabona to be very competent and easy going(he wants to be called by his 1st name if that is any indication)I had a good impression of him from the very beggining and that never changed. His assistant Colleen is a very nice woman who always returns phone calls and is very up to date on the procedure she can answer many questions as well.Any future patient should be very comfortable with him. He does put a big emphasis on aftercare he wants to see me every 3 to 4 weeks for the 1st few months. He also explained thouroughly the risks of the surgery(both pros and cons.He also came to see me in the hospital both on saturday and sunday which to me was most impressive and when I got home I needed to call him on a weekend he was paged and called me back within 30 minutes and told me never to hesitate to call him. Overall I highly reccomend him he is honest,up front,and he truly seems to care about his patients well being those who go to him should be very pleased.

I met with Dr. Cerabona at Westchester Medical Center on October 2, 2001. His office staff had lived up to everything I had heard about her. I had spoken to her at length prior to my meeting with Dr. Cerabona and found out what his requirements were so I went in to the meeting with medical clearance from every Doctor he required.

Dr. Cerabona was wonderful. My husband liked that fact that he pulled no punches. He told it like it was and held nothing back. He answered all my questions and made sure that I understood exactly what I was getting myself into.

I am so thankful for this website and the support I have received from everyone. If it wasn't for the constant encouragement, I really think i would have given up. Now I am charged as ever and can't wait for my new life.

12/29/2001 - YIPPEE! Everything has fallen into place just as I prayed it would! My surgery date is March 14, 2002. On that day I will begin a new life! The days pass by quickly now that I have a surgery date. So much to do, so little time!

as of 11/19/2001
I'm patiently, okay - NOT so patiently waiting for a surgery date. (smile)



My first impression was Dr. Cerabona was thorough and kind. My impression has not changed over time. His office staff is nice.

The one thing I don't enjoy is waiting for a surgery date. Of course I had to go see specialists first. All my tests were completed by Sept. 2001.

Now each day that passes seems like an eternity. But if you want the best, you have to wait.

He addressed the risks and the projected outcome of surgery. Aftercare is important and I will attend group meetings. Rated him a 10 so far!

Surgical competence is most important to me but his patient manner also helps.

He is a wonderful person. He is kind and understanding and really takes the time out for YOU on a one on one basis. He answers all and every question you have. His secretary Collen is the best. Together these two people make a great team. I love them both because they have changed my life forever!!!!

a kind, thoughtful, overworked but very capable man. I still feel the same, now post operative. His office is a lunatics asylum with a grand central type atmosphere, but that's ok... his nurse is top notch with insurance companies. For future patients, make the phone calls, don't believe when they say they'll call you... make the calls... they're very busy, but I actually got scheduled a month in advance because I called and there was an opening. The secret is to be well informed of the process and ask the right questions. The risks were presented with the necessary levity and generally i would rate him top-notch... he has beautiful, genius hands and that's what counts in the long-run. His bedside manner is fine... all-in-all he rates a 10 in my book... and when there was a problem with a drug reaction, he make sure I was kept in the ICU for 4 days where HE wanted me, not where the hospital wanted me. In the end, that's all that counts.

Dr. Cerabona was warm and terrific and took plenty of time with me. Colleen his nurse is very busy, but took time with everyone she dealt with.Unfortunately, I live in Manhattan and don't have a car so aftercare up there is really not practical, but I'm hoping to be allowed into one of the Mt. Sinai or St.Lukes's Roosevelt aftercare program. I really have alot of confidence with Cerabona, this is the main reason I'm going to go with him. Honestly, I made app't with a couple other surgeons, but found their offices too difficult to deal with, I really need the human touch to go ahead and put my life in this person's hands.
I think his bedside manner is top notch, and I asked about his stats with problems, he's been doing this operation for a long time, I forget 7 or 10 years, and has not had any major complications. This is very important to me.
The only problem I have is the number of preapproval testsfor insurance they require. It seems to be standard proceedure, but it seems excessive. I've had a cardiac stress test, a psych eval, not a problem, I have a therapist, I'll be getting a endocrinoligist, nutritionist and pulminary consult. Is this overkill for someone like me who is in good health?

My Doctor is Dr. Artuso. He and Dr. Cerabona work together. My first impression of him was cool...very professional and answered all my questions and put me at ease about certain things. I have read a few profiles where people are bashing their surgeons...that is ok if you have a legitimate beef...but a Doctor is a human being and cannot and will not be wherever, whenever you want them to be. At best...you are looking out for different changes in your own life. They can't be nurse-maids to what you knew you had to expect going into the procedure. The risks include everything.