MIchael A. Russo's Online Review Report Card

Update: after antibiotics, I healed right up. Dr Russo never reached out to this day (5 months post op).

Dr Russo is one of the best bariatric surgeons in the country he’s won multiple awards. He is so friendly and caring about you as a person. Any and all questions I’ve had thus far he has been able to answer. His staff is amazing and friendly they really work with you to do the best for you. Thank you Dr Russo for changing my life 😍Dr Russo is one of the best bariatric surgeons in the country he’s won multiple awards. He is so friendly and caring about you as a person. Any and all questions I’ve had thus far he has been able to answer. His staff is amazing and …More

Dr Russo specifically gave Mr the tools to change my life proof is in my pictured

Unbelievable treatment of an existing patient. I received surgery. I was followed for 3 months, then nothing. I tried calling the office and no return call for 4 months. In the meantime my Weightloss stalled. I needed direction. I am appalled at Smart Dimensions and DR Russo and their lack of patient care. Truly shocking after he was so careful to add how he treats patients like family. I have since reached out to my General Practitioner at Memorial Care to follow me as he is dedicated to my wellness.

I'm going to try and sum up my experience with Dr Russo and Smart Dimensions so others who go through what I experienced might benefit from it. My surgery was on 1/11/22, I spoke to Dr Russo maybe 5-10 minutes total before my surgery which was ok with me because Smart Dimensions has a whole program set up for prior to surgery that made me feel very supported. I was able to ask questions in the various online classes they had. Most of my issues with the Dr and Smart Dimensions come from post surgery. A few days after surgery, I noticed the glue wasn't staying on one of my incisions, and about a week post-op on 1/20/22, I noticed it was getting red and irritated. I should note that I am a registered nurse, so right away I'm thinking ok this could just be irritated, or this could be infected. Right away, I call smartDimensions on 1/20/22 and one of the on- call drs asks me to send him a picture. He sees the picture and sends me a week of broad spectrum antibiotics to my pharmacy to pick up. I take the antibiotic from 1/20/22 until 1/25/22 and I realize this antibiotic is not working for me because my wound at this point is completely open, inflamed, draining, and now it's smelling terrible (a smell an RN knows quite well).On 1/25/22 I decide I'm going to go to the ER. At the ER they do a culture and sensitivity test which means they swab my wound and they test to see what bacteria is infecting the wound, and what antibiotic will work best. This test takes a few days so fast forward to 1/28/22, when I once again, call the on-call dr at smart dimensions so I can have them look at the results on my culture and send me a new antibiotic that will work.Apparently, the fact that I had a culture went on deaf ears because the on- call dr sends the picture of my wound to Dr Russo and the drs and the PA decide amongst themselves, my would is not infected- from a picture. Lol. The PA calls me after this discussion amongst them and tells me (again just from seeing my would in a picture) that my wound isn't infected, it's just dehissed (basically, that it just opened back up) and even tells me that the location of my infected wound (I had 6 surgical wounds Post surgery) that one doesn't get infected (I died a little for her when she said this, because as an RN I know ANY surgical wound can become infected, location of the wound doesn't matter). Anyway, I had to explain that the ER did a culture and it came back POSITIVE for an infection and I just needed them to send me an antibiotic that worked. She eventually got a hold of the papers from the ER and I was put on the right antibiotic that day. The problems: 1. it's currently 2/25/22 and Dr Russo never once reached out to see if I was ok Post surgery or infection. I find this ironic considering his famous words are "my patients are family". In fact not a single soul from his office has reached out to see if I'm ok either. 2. This office never asked me to come in, never asked me to do a culture and sensitivity to see if there was an infection. If I left it up to this office who knows where I would be nowMoral or the story: I think Dr Russo knows what he is doing for the surgery and that's about it. Being a surgeon is so much more than just a surgery. It's about making sure your patient is ok pre and post surgery. I am still his patient, he is still responsible for the outcome of the surgery he performed. Be your own advocate, if you feel like you are not getting answers or support from this office or Dr, don't hesitate to see another one, get a second opinion!

Dr Russo made me feel great again! I cannot thank him enough. Turning 50 I kept gaining weight. I was referred to Dr. Russo at the end of March 2021 and was lucky enough to get the surgery on May 18, 2021. I have never felt better. I am down 80 lbs. and my diabetes is gone. Dr. Russo is so kind and compassionate. He takes time to listen to all of my concerns and answers all of my questions. . When people ask me how I lost this weight, I go on and on about him. My mom just had him do her surgery and I have two friends that are having it done this monrh by Dr. Russo.Dr Russo made me feel great again! I cannot thank him enough. Turning 50 I kept gaining weight. I was referred to Dr. Russo at the end of March 2021 and was lucky enough to get the surgery on May 18, 2021. I have never felt better. I am …More

I am very HAPPY that I chose Dr. Russo. It was so easy to talk with him. Dr. Russo always took time out to explain anything I wasn't sure of. Very helpful on how to stay on a positive path from beginning to end. Before photo and After photo

Dr Russo Performed the gastric sleeve on me. I had it done on May 18, 2021. I am down 80 pounds and I have never felt better. My diabetes is gone. Dr. Russo is the best surgeon. He is so kind and listens and answers all of my questions! Anyone who might need this surgery, I would highly recommend calling his office!! I have two friends that will be having the sleeve this month by Dr. Russo

There are no words to thank Dr. Russo for making me feel great again! I had the surgery May18,2021 and I am down 80lbs. He is so kind and answers all of my questions. My diabetes is gone! His entire office is so helpful. I have reccomended 4 people to him. My mom had the sleeve a month ago and I have two other friends that he will be doing the sleeve by Dr. Russo this month

Highly recommend Dr. Russo.  Best decision I ever made