Dr. Stephen Boyce/Knoxville, TN

[southernlady]

First let me say, I ended up with Dr. Boyce after two other surgeon's...one was Dr. Boyce's partner, Dr. Kerry Williams, who also does the DS but only on those a 50BMI or higher. . Dr. Boyce just recently, in the last 3+ years started doing the DS on lightweights on a case by case basis.

Not sure how long ago Dr. Boyce started doing the DS itself but I do know that it has only been since early 2009 because a good friend said he wasn't doing the DS when she had the RNY.

I will say my experience with him as a surgeon was excellent. He's an excellent cutter. His pre-op information for the DS and the aftercare is typical of most...aimed at the RNY not the DS. When I had my surgery, he has a hefty program fee but that covered all visits for the first year afterward. My fee was $3000.

For those in this area who need a COE (and yes, I know that means nothing except getting it paid for), he's one to consider, esp if you are a lightweight.

Liz

 

[kennyK]

what is a COE?
Center of Excellence?
Kenny

 

[southernlady]

Yes, and some insurance companies require that to pay for the surgery.

 

[BrianChesteen]

I agree, great cutter and knows how to get you home safe. My surgical experience with him was awesome. Also agree that all his NUT's and program info are warmed up RNY. I wish he would stop promoting the all in one vits. As of 10/3/13 his reported numbers for surgeries were LAGB: 285, RNY: 2525, DS: 379, Revision: (did not break this down) 217, Sleeve: 389, LGCP: 10, total of 3806. I am certain that these numbers were a bit dated since at my pre-op class on 12/23/13, they said he was now well over 4000 surgeries.

 

[shann]

I agree that he is a great cutter, and I had an excellent hospital experience. He does many operations per day (I think I was #6 on my day) and he's not too much for personal connection. However, my nurses were great and the experience was very good overall.

His program fees are high, and I didn't find much value in my follow-up appointments. The NUTs that I saw were not interested in understanding the requirements of DSers and the exercise physiologists were quite unrealistic for me. I found myself mostly taking on the "smile and nod" tactic. There is a 24 hour nurse line, and while I never needed it, I was glad to know that it was there if necessary. The requirements for vitamins and supplements were extensive and I was glad when I was no longer "required" to use his products. I find surgeons selling their own line of vitamins to be a conflict of interest, just my own personal opinion.

 

[jjordan8130]

Hey guys! I'm totally new to Bariatric Facts, but wanted to post on this discussion. I'm waiting on my final insurance approval and am having DS with Dr. Housten in Nashville, TN. I had to "talk" him into doing DS on me. He really doesn't like doing them anymore, but he and Dr. Spaw are the only two in the area that do them. My BMI is 48, and he felt like that wasn't high enough. My terms were DS or find a new surgeon. He tried to act like no one was doing DS anymore, but quickly changed his tune when I laid out all my research. So there are surgeons in Knoxville DS'ing lightweights? (What is considered lightweight) I'm scared because this is my first surgery. I really feel like DS is the right surgery option for me though. Thoughts? Advice??

 

[southernlady]

Welcome jjordan8130...

A lightweight...someone between a 35 and 45 BM with less than 150 lbs to lose...of course that is different for each surgeon but that is how the LW's "define" ourselves. Most of us are under a 40 BMI with comorbids.

Yes, there is a surgeon in Knoxville doing the DS on LW's but it's a case by case basis...I had to have NSAIDS and was on an insulin pump as a type 2 diabetic. And from what I understand, he and Dr. Williams (who would NOT consider a DS for a LW) are making the sleeve part larger on all DS'er's than when I had my surgery...

Boyce is an excellent cutter.

Good luck with what you decide.

 

[BrianChesteen]

Hey guys! I'm totally new to Bariatric Facts, but wanted to post on this discussion. I'm waiting on my final insurance approval and am having DS with Dr. Housten in Nashville, TN. I had to "talk" him into doing DS on me. He really doesn't like doing them anymore, but he and Dr. Spaw are the only two in the area that do them. My BMI is 48, and he felt like that wasn't high enough. My terms were DS or find a new surgeon. He tried to act like no one was doing DS anymore, but quickly changed his tune when I laid out all my research. So there are surgeons in Knoxville DS'ing lightweights? (What is considered lightweight) I'm scared because this is my first surgery. I really feel like DS is the right surgery option for me though. Thoughts? Advice??

I was at a 47.5 BMI with other comorbid conditions and Dr. Boyce did not hesitate to recommend the DS. I am also required to be on aspirin the rest of my days and the DS allows this. If you have any other issues, most likely you will qualify. Dr. Boyce made my CC 120cm vs the typical 100.

The DS is becoming more and more common, not the other way around. Make sure your surgeon is not talking about the old BPD....that surgery is not common anymore. Make sure you get the modern DS. Don't assume, make sure!

I have heard of LW people getting the DS just to resolve diabetes.

One thing for sure, you don't want an inexperienced cutter doing a DS on you. Dr. Boyce is experienced and has a great track record.

 

[Sarah D]

Brian, what is the difference between the BPD with DS and just the plain DS?

 

[BrianChesteen]

I am no expert but this is my take on it:

There used to be a procedure called the BPD which is not done much anymore due to several issues with it. Then along came the modern DS. Many people and surgeons call the modern DS a BPD-DS. The modern DS and the new version of the BPD-DS are the same thing in most cases.

I know it is confusing....

The original BPD was sort of like the RNY as it had a pouch and no pyloric valve very different from today's procedure where we have a sleeve and a fully functioning pyloric valve. There were some other differences as well.

Here is some info on the history:
http://www.dsfacts.com/history-of-duodenal-switch.html#.UvBCW_ldV8E

 

[Sarah D]

Thanks I understand that. I asked cause Dr. Boyce always called the surgery BPD with DS and I thought maybe I had the old surgery last year. But I didn't thank goodness.

 

[BrianChesteen]

I think most of the vets call it a DS just to eliminate the confusion that the BPD part of it has created. Many times PCP's and some other doctors will freak out when they hear that term as the BPD has a bad rep.

 

[BrianChesteen]

Thanks I understand that. I asked cause Dr. Boyce always called the surgery BPD with DS and I thought maybe I had the old surgery last year. But I didn't thank goodness.

Yep. Dr. Boyce does the modern DS and does call it the BPD-DS most of the time.

 

[southernlady]

What is even MORE frustrating are his patients who refer to the DS as the BPD!!! That is why IF I respond in his group and even back when I did go to support groups he ran, I referred to MINE as the DS...no BPD in front of it.

 

[Sarah D]

I've always just called it the DS. But I know on my surgery report he put BPD with DS. I didn't know he had his own group.