Tiffany Jessee D.O. Bariatric Surgeon D.O.

I was impressed with Dr. Jesse right from the start. She is not only present at her seminars, but runs them. She talks about the benefits of weight loss surgery and does offer both gastric bypass and lapband but does not impose her own beliefs on her patients. Her staff is efficient but not as warm as I would like them to be. I'm a warm and fuzzy kind of person. Dr. Jesse's own mom has had the LapBand surgery! The aftercare is structured, but not enforced. What I mean by that is no one ever contacts me to see if I'm on task or why I haven't gone to a support group meeting, but then again, I live two hours away. Part of her fee also includes a gym membership but I can't really use it due to the distance from my home. Overall I would rate Dr. Jesse a 9 and she really seems to care about her patients.

I liked Dr. Jessee's personality and her attituted toward making sure I understood the surgery and what would be expected of me, myself in order to be successful.
I have only seen Dr. Jessee twice since my whole ordeal began with WLS, but she seems to still be a very solid doctor.
I could not indicate what I would like least about her since I do not really know her well enough to be critical.
Dr. Jessee is strong in her belief that each individual can achieve the maximum benefit of this surgery if they just apply themselves. I like that about her.
She has a very structured after program, heck a thousand bucks worth. LOL
The risks of surgery were very clear and understood. She goes into great detail.
I choose Dr. Jessee because she is personable and has a down-to-earth quality that I can relate to.
Surgical competence, bedside manner, are both a very important issue for me. I want to be taken seriously, no matter how silly the question might be;without feeling the question was stupid. Some doctors make a person feel that way. She does not make me feel like that at all.
The main problem I had was with how the office handles their pre-authorizations...
that is because they do not. Mainly because I live 300 miles away from her clinic, but my PCP's office thought that the office could do what their office does, which is call to find the specialist in need and the area. The tests that I had requested from my PCP,well,they could have been ordered through their office without having to call back and forth.
Another thing is that I have to have tests done before they will even send in the information just for pre-authorizations for surgery.
The thousand dollars was a lot to pay out of pocket for the consultation screening, but it balanced itself out by the year gym membership, and shakes for pre-surgery. Then they billed my insurance $260 for when I went to see her when the thousand was suppose to cover the visit(or so I was told).
My PCP had given me problems in the beginning, because they were use to a different method than what this office has. I love my PCP and how helpful he has been. It was an uncomfortable situation.
My PCP did not like receiving the information from the referral physicians, he thought they should go directly to Dr. Jessee's office. Because of this I have to wait longer than most if a paper mix-up occurs.(Ex: The referral sends info to PCP, and PCP office misplaces it or does not send it to Dr. Jessee's office.)
A "friend" thinks that they do not want to handle the paperwork on the referrals. Hmmm?
This is the problem I did not like about the office practices. I think it could be more streamlined I guess.
Overall the office staff is very nice and though I was given the wrong information once, they were always helpful and called back in a timely manner.
Update, Susan and Kathy have always been helpful and respectful of my journey.
On the other hand I would have to give the process a 3 rating when it comes to the insurance coordinator. When I started in February I was told by my insurance agency that it would be 2- 12 week diet history. I could not get the criteria sent to me, but the surgeon's office could. Well, they did not call for it. Then when I am almost complete with pre-op testing, the insurance changed the criteria, not once but twice in one month. Hmmmmmm, how could that have been avoided or addressed with backup.....
Update Jan.2005: I did not have the help I thought I would from the office. I never rec'd a phone call from Dr. J's office after my denial. No help from the office staff. I went with another Doctor and self-payed for surgery. Susan was always nice but now... I am looking for a new office for aftercare now. I don't like Joyce at all and it was obvious she didn't like me from the beginning and it stream-lined into the obvious when she started to argue with me in the office, then and there I told her I was not going to debate an out-of-date material she had with my current document sent by my insurer. I decided then and there I did not like her when before I thought she just had bad manners. I called the office about a refund or an exchange for a fill... never returned my call, Joyce always calls the opposite number I tell her to reach me at (ex. call me at home ###...and calls me at my cell phone number that I didn't even leave on the message.) We play phone tag from then on. I am waiting for a call back and it has been a week today. Again, I now live in Pinellas and have had nothing but problems with this whole process.
I am happy to read this is not a problem for anyone else. I just wish it was not me.

First off, Dr. Jessee is WONDERFUL! The office staff was hard at work getting approval from my insurance company. I was first told that I had to attend a seminar-which was fine with me-I figured that it would let me know more about her. The contents on her speaking were general until she started with the risks. She was VERY candid. She told it how it was and what to expect before and after surgery. Then my first appointment was set and before we proceeded any further she wanted to speak with my husband. Another appointment was set for the two of them to meet. She was open and honest and made damn sure HE understood the risks. The date for my WLS was set and everything went well. Dr. Jessee was in my room 2 to 3 times daily. Dr. Jessee did my surgery laposcopically and she did a GREAT job. I don't think I could have gotten a chance to have a better surgen.

DR. Jessee is a wonderful very up front and to the point doctor. She is very caring and she means business and tells you just how it is going to be and what you have to do. She goes to all of the support group meetings along with Joyce her office and hosptal assistant. The staff at the office is very nice and make you feel welcome when you come in or even when you call they are always concerned and caring about how you feel. The other Doctors at Suncoast Surgical are great and very good. The whole staff treats you like family.

So far I am happy

Dr. Jessee was very matter of fact, she tells it like it is. I would have preferred a little more tenderness but I wasn't totally disappointed.
Her office staff was allright, nobody really seemed to go out of their way to be overly friendly except Susan. It was all business.
She charges a thousand dollars upfront, I am not sure I agree with that since alot of people can't afford it.
I like the fact that she is straight forward and doesn't candy coat things. She lets you know upfront that alot of work is required by you to get results.
She emphasizes after care and committment to followup.
She made it quite clear that this surgery is not risk free.
I believe she is a competent surgeon and has performed many successful surgeries.
I would rather have a competent surgeon than one with great bedside manors, however I think a mixture of both makes for a much better overall experience for the patient. I must say that Dr. Jessee and her Staff were fantastic during and after my surgery. My hospital experience was great. She and her staff were very caring and visited me more than once a day while I was in the hospital.

She seems to really care for the needs of the obese person. When you go in to her office the first thing you notice is the extra wide seats there, which you can actually sit in without hanging over the edge. Her office staff is really nice, I can't say that there's anything I don't like about her I met with her first patient here and she can do nothing but high praises and I must say we have become very close friends she's really praying my day will come soon. Her office and waiting room are very comfortable and accommodating. She makes sure you see everyone and have complete knowledge of what you are to expect before, during and after surgery. She is very open and honest about the risk she will not sugar coat it. The support groups are very good, I think both surgical and good bedside manor is very important.i had my surgery on thurs sept 16th and i would recommend dr jessee to all my friends she is so wonderfull and caring, she truly cares for people. btween god and dr jessee i feel like they gave me a whole new life she was very open and upfront about the dangers and problems that could happen to me. her staff became like family to me.they calle me 2 days after i got home to see how i was doing and i have an appointment to hopefully get the tubes out on monday.i think surgical,and bedside manor are very important and dr jessee is all that and more

Dr. Tiffany Jessee is a gift from God. She is a very concerned, loving and helpful doctor. I am very grateful that she has come into my life. She has gone above and beyond to help me before, during my surgery and the last 8 months.

Met with Dr. Jessee. She was very imformative. Her office staff is nice and easliy accessible.

SHE WAS VERY SWEET AND NICE AND VERY UP FRONT.
HER OFFICE STAFF IS VERY CONSISTENT AND ALWAYS ON TOP OF THINGS.
SHE REALLY WAS HER PATEINT TO BE EDUCATID ON WHAT THE SURGERYS ALL ABOUT. YOU EVEN HAVE TO TAKE A TEST.
SHE HAS A AFTERCARE PROGRAM WHICH CONSIST OF LEARNING TO EAT PROPERLY AND EXERCISE PROGRAM.
I WOULD RATE HER A 10!!!