Dr. Alexander Onopchenko, MD

I should have followed my instincts from the beginning many red flags..... I was not comfortable with the process from the beginning but kept thinking so many others said this was great and easy etc. etc. ...... it is not. I felt like cattle being led to the slaughter. Herd in as many as they can, do group (not personal) infommercials (best way to describe it) as its just a group of people being given basic info on what occurs with most people and what to not eat or drink with a bunch of handouts. So everyone (including people not even getting the same surgery are in this "class" together. no personal time....no more then a five minute whiz through with doc and out the door again he goes. I saw him like 2-3 times for maybe a total of 10 minutes for all visits combined where they checked weight and blood pressure and you will fill out a lil questionnaire that was it....the rest group visits with 15 other people and a dietician. The weight loss was not what I thought it… would be either. I've lost only 35 lbs (14 of which were from the diet you do two weeks prior to surgery) I'm happy to have off the weight yes....but not for the way I feel it was not worth it for me. I think it things had been gone over with me more and discussed about some of the things and side3 effects I would have chosen not to go through this. From the beginning I told them I am handicapped....I can not walk far or for long....I walk with a walker. I specifically brought this up due to the exercise they want you to do. I'm now told my fault I'm not eating right and that's why I'm not losing more which is not true. I eat the things on list they give me (yes I have eaten some I shouldn't on occasion but I'm usually very diligent about it) I had many concerns and not really wanting to discuss some of them in front of 12-15 other people in the group. I went through the process ....had the surgery and have not felt the same since. I've felt weak, most times I eat I feel nauseous and generally just not myself. Food when eating (you might think this is a good thing but its not believe me) does not taste the same....things I loved I now don't like or can't tolerate. Things I never really liked or ate I now crave (I was a foodie but not a junkie) I crave nothing but junk food which I never use to eat, now I want it all the time and its one of the only foods I don't feel sick from strangely enough. While this I don't blame on the doctor.....it was info that could and should be discussed with people that there is a possibility this could occur. I feel nauseous most times I eat ( I DID NOT HAVE GASTRIC BYPASS) this is sleeve I had done. Which again was not discussed with me that it DOESNT work for everyone....some people DO NOT LOSE or lose very little. They tell you that not everyone loses as much and give percentages but for many I've talked with its lower then that. Regardless, its a decision that is not to be taken lightly. This is just a sample of things so many more like two weeks after ended up in hospital and the doctor never even came in!! Just a warning.........THINK LONG AND HARD.....it can be life changing but not in a positive way.

I had gastric bypass with Dr O in 2004, looking at everything available to his gastric bypass patients today, I know I would have had more success. Sad this was not available back then.

once the surgery is done, he could care less on how you feel and doesn't even bother to hide it. the office staff cant figure out how to work a fax machine, let alone fill out forms correctly. save your time & money for a doctor that cares

I found Dr Onopchenko to be sincere, caring, friendly & professional.

He does NOT listen to the patient at all. I had a leak and restriction in my band. I paid and paid and lost 8 months of my time seeing him with him telling me I was just eating the wrong foods and that was why I wasn't losing weight. I switched to another surgeon who listened & immediately ordered and fluoroscopy (a fill under an Xray) and not only was there a leak, the port was completely flipped (upside-down) which means he was blindly stabbing me and putting the saline solution into my body instead of the port. He was rude and I should have sued him. He raised his voice at me on one of the appointments when I insisted I was not eating any starch or sugar. I stayed in touch with others from the seminar who since their surgery have also felt very insulted by Dr. O. They have also left.