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

4/18/01 I have an appointment to see Dr. Cerebona on 5/22. He's a 3-hour drive from my home, but he's the only doctor in my CDPHP network that does Lap RNY. It was very hard to get through to his office on the phone [the phone number on the profile was wrong], but everything is set up now. I'm excited!

5/22 I met with Dr. Cerabona today. I liked him a lot! See my profile comment. He gave clear, concise descriptions of the surgery and drew pictures for me. He treated me as an intelligent person, who was making a serious decision about my health. He was totally non-critical of my appearance and weight problem. I felt VERY comfortable with him. He told me his exact statistics for his 14 years of experience (including 2 1/2 years of Laproscopic experience). He currently does about three WLS per week. He also does other types of surgery; his practice is not limited to WLS. I found him to be friendly and competent, but not arrogant. He has a support group for his patients. Since I live so far away, he and I spoke briefly about how I will need a support group in my local area. I have not met any of his partners yet. He did tell me that it takes 2 of them to do a LAP RNY and that my surgery would probably take about 3 hours, if there were no complications.

The only negative thing so far is having to wait so long for the surgery because of his very long waiting list.

DR. CERABONA WAS VERY CARING AND NOT PUSHIE. HE GAVE ME MY OPTIONS. VERY POLITE.
THE OFFICE STAFF IS VERY NICE, AND VERY BUSSY.
AFTER CARE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
HE WENT TO THREW GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THE SURGERY, WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT ARE ALL THE RISKS. WE WERE IN HIS OFFICE A GOOD HR. TALKING I WAS RUSHING , I FELT BAD I WAS TAKING UP HIS TIME, BUT HE DIDN'T CARE. HE EVEN TOLD ME TO BRING MY FAMILY BACK TO GO OVER THE SURGERY AND HE WILL ANSWER ALL THERE QUESTIONS.
I THINK HE IS A CARING MAN, DR. I'LL LET YOU KNOW AFTER THE SURGERY.


P.S. ILL TELL YOU WHAT I DONT LIKE ABOUT HIS OFFICE IS- MY SURGERY WAS DELAYED CANCELLED TWICE SO FAR, FIRST WAS APRIL 26, THEN MAY 4 AND NOW MAY 14. I WORK AND I CANT HAVE THIS.

Actually Dr Teixeira & Dr Cerabona work as a team and both will be my doctors.

1st impression: Competent enough. I certainly didn't have that WOW I've read that others got when meeting their surgeons.

I had met with Dr Inabet (Mt Sinai) the day previous and felt that he asked more questions and physically checked my body (scars etc) than Drs. T&C.

My impression really hasn't changed over time - I've seen Drs T&C a total of 2x. Dr T has a warm smile and a calming way about him. Dr. C.....I'm sorry to say, I really don't have a connection. While I would like very much to have that warm & fuzzy feeling I've read others have with their physicians...I'll settle with having 2 terrific physicians who are aces in their field! (And I believe they are just that).

Other patience of these Drs have had all wonderful things to say...and I believe them.

Colleen is their office manager. Again, unlike everything I've read in the past - the patient (rather than the dr's office) is now responsible for finding out about insurance exclusions and setting up the appts for the tests involved. Because she's the only office support staff (at least that I'm aware of) - calls don't get answered as quickly as I would like.

Dr. Cerbona and his staff were great. Especially hi nurse Collen she was alot of help. He can be a little clinical but he grows on him. My main concern was how many times he had performed the surgery and success rates and his were all better than satifactory. i didn't have that much structured after care with him. My primary doctor has been handling that since several of his patients have had the surgery. He keeps close tabs on me! Dr. Cerabona explained every aspect of the surgery both good and bad in detail! Overall I would highgly recommend him. The best thing was his surgical competence.

I was very impressed with Dr.Cerabona and Dr Artuso as they both explained the operation to me and their success rates....excellant dr's.

it took me about a year to really find the courage to call the dr's office and tell them that that i was ready to go ahead with the operation....i was very happy that it was going to be done lap., not being cut all the way open.

The doctor's assistant was very pleasent and positive.....and told me about the doctor's successes with his other patients that had already been through this operation.

I liked Dr. Artuso bed side manner.

Basically the visits to the dr's office after the operation are as follows:
1.You will see the doctor 2 weeks after you are allowed to go home from the hospital...and then every 2 weeks for approx. 3 months,
2.Then once a month for the first year,
3.Then once every 3 months for the second year,
4. Then twice a year for the 3rd year.

The every two weeks visits are very important to see your sucess and to have the doctor asnwer all your questions...and believe me you will have plenty of them.

DOCTOR CERABONA WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND CARING AS WELL AS HIS ENTIRE STAFF. IF YOUR HAVING THE SURGERY ANYONE SURGEON FROM THIS DEPARTMENT IS THE BEST. HE EXPLAINED ALL THE PROS AND CONS OF THE PROCEDURE IN FULL. ANY QUESTIONS I HAD WERE ANSWERED THUROGHLY. THE ENTIRE STAFF AND DOCTORS MADE THIS AN EXPERIENCE AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE.

.
My original surgeon (1/98) was Dr. Reinhold in New Haven, Ct.
When I had a problem of gaining weight and a lot of abdominal discomfort,
Iwent to him for a check-up, and was not satisfied. I decided to go to a
different surgeon -- one recommended by the plastic surgeon who had done
my panneculectomy.

Dr. Thomas Cerabona of Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. seems
to be a very caring, concerned person. His staff of one does all she
can to help with scheduling etc. Dr. Cerabona immediately sent me
for an upperGI to see what was going on. I'm very happy I went to him,
his personality makes it easy to talk with him and he does all he can
to put one at ease. As for his surgical ability --I've been told by
my plastic surgeon that he is "top notch".

My first impression of Dr. Cerabona was that he was a warm and caring person who definately felt "passion" for his work. My impression has not changed! I had surgery on 03/16/2000 and my first post-op appointment is on 03/29/2000. There is not much to Dr. Cerabona's office staff (only 1 person). I have found that when I call, my calls are always returned within the day and that my questions are answered. Unfortunately, I have not felt the same level of warmth with the support staff as I have with Dr. Cerabona. (I have to let you all know that I am the type of person who needs the "warm and fuzzy" reinforcements!) We have not discussed that much about after-care, (I did receive my protocol of nutrition instructions.) since things were not seeming so "real" to me until the actual surgery had taken place. I suspect we will be doing alot of talking at my first post-op appointment. Dr. Cerabona was very informative about all aspects of the surgery process and I never felt as if he was pressed for time. Once I got into his office, the time spent with me seemed like it was under my control. During my post-recovery days in the hospital, (I must be a record - surgery Thursday and home on Sunday!)I saw Dr. Cerabona's partners because he was off for the weekend. Even though I had not meet any of them prior to surgery, my confidence in Dr. Cerabona, left me with a trusted feeling. The only unpleasantness I have experienced so far was my post-recovery days at Westchester Medical Center. First off, my opinion stands strong that hospitals should only be for those having babies or near death! Since I had all my senses, this hospital got to me! The double rooms were clean but very run-down. Vistor passes did not seem to exist, as the person next to me had 7 family members by her side for long hours and they ate and drank in the room which was very upsetting to me! There is a severe nursing shortage and it is much too apparent at this hospital. My suggestion would be for patients to have a private duty nurse to meet their immediate needs for the first day out of ICU. (My ICU care was amazing!) Just to let you know, I was on no pain medication within 48 of surgery and I was okay....sore, but okay!

Dr. Cerabona and his staff is great.
Dr. Cerabona has a wonderful bedside manner.
I am the type of person who sooo needs that.
So far- 3months I have not been disappointed
with my care, or his services.
I don't think anyone would be.

MY FIRST IMPRESSION WAS HE WAS THOROUGH.

I WAS THE SAME ALL AROUND, I ALSO ASKED MANY
QUESTIONS OF PRIOR PATIENTS, A+

THERE IS ONE SECRETARY BUT SHE IS QUICK AND EFFICIENT
AND I LIKED THAT.

I SUPPOSE WHEN CALLING LONG DISTANCE YOU BECOME FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE YOU GET TIRED OF PHONE TAG.

HE IS WILLING TO HELP NO MATTER WHAT PRE OP. NOT YET KNOWN OF POST.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM HE STRESSES THIS.

YES SUPPORT GROUPS etc.

IN OUR ONE ON ONE CONSULTATION AND IN THE FOLLOW UP VISITS

WITH A 5. IF I COMPLETE ALL AND RECOVER WELL WITH WHAT IS TO BE EXPECTED POST OP
THEN HE WILL RECIEVE A PERFECT 10!

BOTH WHENEVER YOU DO SOMETHING AS DRASTIC AS THIS TO KNOW THE PERSON IS
REMARKABLE IN AND OUT OF THE SURGERY ROOM IS A PLUS.