Dr. Robin Blackstone

I have tried to get into see Dr. Blackstone for 4 months. She came highly recommended by a friend. After many calls and 4 months later I finally get her scheduler to call me. The scheduler had all kinds of excuses as to why I wasn't called back. After all that mess, she says I can not even get in for a consult until another 4 months from now!!!! Wow, some business this is. Either the Dr. is really, really busy or very selective. I just don't get it. It's very frustrating since she is one of the few doctors that my insurance will work with. Advice-if you don't hear back right away, look somewhere else, don't waste your time with her scheduler!

I had gastroparesis and Dr Blackstone did a gastric bypass on me and I’m very happy with the results

I had surgery several years ago with Dr. Blackstone and had (and still have) only positive things to say. My surgery was very complicated, but I trusted Dr. Blackstone and her team, and have never been disappointed. I especially appreciate all of the care from her nurse practitioner, Melissa, and dietitian, Jessica, too. They have really helped make my journey so successful. I highly recommend Dr. Blackstone and her wonderful, caring team.

She is number one the best surgeon she a damm good job ??????

Dr. Blackstone is very good at what she does is friendly, intelligent and highly charismatic. But she does not want you as a patient if you know anything about alternative health or natural nutrition, such as that saturated fat got a bad rap, or that Keto can be helpful, or that distilled diluted organic apple cider vinegar and/or probiotics can help prevent or treat GERD, or that beet root and/or ox bile can prevent or treat gallstones and prevent the need for gallbladder removal surgery. So if you do you know anything about natural nutrition or alternative health (IOW if you read it all...) do not mention anything about it to her, or her dietitians Jessica Arroyo or Megan. They will all probably erroneously decide that you will not follow the post surgical protocol, and they will probably decide to delay your surgery by six (6) months in order to indoctrinate you with one of their dietitians into their dietary philosophies. The problem with that is you cannot unlearn anything. … The alternative is to find another surgeon, which is probably fine with her, and probably what she actually WANTS you to do. (There are plenty of sheep standing in line behind you.) It is very strange, because Blackstone is very forward thinking in terms of the Sleeve surgery by doing a sew-over on the Sleeve staple line, not requiring a two week preop liquid diet, allowing patients to go from clear liquids to soft foods shortly after surgery, and prohibiting all artificial sweeteners. But evidently anything that clashes with Big Pharma’s agenda, or that would prevent you from “needing” a conversion to Gastric Bypass down the road, or that would prevent you from needing gallbladder removal surgery later on, is a no-no. Many Gastric Sleeve patients end up developing GERD and being put on a proton pump inhibitor such as (Prilosec or Omeprazole) for life, or need to be converted to Gastric Bypass to alleviate the GERD. So any indication by you that you are aware of such things as organic apple cider vinegar and probiotics as a prevention and treatment for GERD, thus eliminating the “need” for future conversion to Gastric Bypass will possibly constructively get you removed from her care because of roadblocks she will throw into your path toward Sleeve surgery, causing you to change surgeons/clinics. Many Gastric Sleeve patients also develop gallstones and need their gallbladder removed within a few months of Sleeve surgery. However do not let on to Blackstone or her dieticians that you are aware of such things as beet root or ox bile to prevent or treat gallstones, or you may likewise be constructively pushed out of her program. She doesn’t likely have the guts to tell you straight up that she doesn’t want to do your Sleeve. She will probably just delay your surgery for reasons that make little common sense, frustrating you and your goals, causing you to choose to find another surgeon. So if you want Dr. Blackstone to be your Sleeve surgeon, just PLAY DUMB to her and her dietitians. Then after surgery, follow her protocol, but if you wish, try to introduce Keto if you hit a protracted stall. Also, if you wish, quietly, carefully, mindfully and judiciously incorporate such things as organic distilled diluted apple cider vinegar and probiotics if you start to develop GERD symptoms. Also try taking beet root and ox bile to prevent gallstones, especially if you know that you had them prior to surgery. Some bariatric surgeons actually recommend these natural nutritional and alternative health remedies. However Dr. Blackstone is against them. It may be because she is simply closed minded about those things, or it may have to do with money in her pocket. In other words, if you develop GERD symptoms and are put on proton pump inhibitors, and your gut bacteria gets out of whack, and you start experiencing weight loss stalls as a result, and you get fed up, Dr. Blackstone may recommend that you get conversion to Gastric Bypass. Also if you do not take beet root and/or ox bile and you develop gallstones, you may need to have your gallbladder removed. Either way: caCHING caCHING for Blackstone.

It's taken me awhile to do this. I had to really think about how I was feeling. I now realize my feelings were justified. Suffice to say, when I needed her most, she abandoned me. She doesn't do well if things don't go her way or if you stray from the plan with legitimate concerns.

How do I even being such a review. I had searched high and low for a surgeon. I wanted someone who would know what they were doing, have book smarts as well as good bedside manner. My first meeting with Dr Blackstone I finally felt like I met the perfect surgeon! She was smart, seemed compassionate and understood. I felt like she would do a great job! Little did I know I would have some complications and that thats when she will run. My surgery went smooth, but one week post op I had some abnormal things start to happen, when I was re admitted into the hospital Dr B basically told me that it was "all in my head". When my CT came back abnormal and I found out I needed another surgery it was not Dr B that came to apologize , she sent the resident in. I never saw her again until the morning of the second surgery in which she never apologized for telling me it was in my head. Again, recovery was rough, and yet she dissapeared. No support, no anything. I've later learned that unless you… have a perfect case and perfect recovery this is common practice for her. If you get complicated she vanishes. I am beyond saddened that I entrusted my life with her, and she chose to run when it became hard. Thankfully another surgeon picked up her pieces and has helped fix her mess.

My daughter had suffered for many years when we thought we had found the answer to our prayers with Dr. Blackstone. She was very compassionate and optimistic. The surgery itself went fine but soon after the complications started and Dr. B became a totally different person. She became rude and insensitive which I can verify to first hand! It got to the point my daughter refused to see her anymore, My daughter had a horrible 5 months but finally with the help of other Drs she is getting better.

After reading mixed reviews I decided to meet with Dr Blackstone. She seemed nice and confident in my surgery. Her staff on the other hand was miserable to deal with. They lost paperwork or would give you wrong information. It was a nightmare. But I kept with it to stay with Dr B. The surgery went well. But I ended up having a few complications. You expect that if you have some complications your surgeons going to stick by you and see you through them. WRONG. It was as if she couldn't get rid of me fast enough. I didn't understand why until another patient mentioned I was messing with her "positive numbers". That made sense. I was so disappointed that a doctor would be concentrating on a statistic rather than their patients. It's been a horrible few months, and trying to find a new surgeon was hard but thankfully I did! Find a surgeon who is more into the patient than the numbers!

Great staff, Dr. Blackstone is a wonderful person and really cares about her patients.