Blossom Bariatrics has established an international reputation in its field. Patients from all over the US, Canada and further afield visit Blossom’s headquarters in Las Vegas. Founder Dr Thomas Umbach discusses the many benefits that bariatric surgery can have on his patients’ lives, the way personalised patient care attracts people to his practice, and why Las Vegas is the perfect spot for bariatric recovery.

The New Economy: Let’s start with your international reputation. What’s the key difference, do you think, that attracts patients here to Blossom?

Dr Thomas Umbach: They key difference is patient care. You have to have a foundation of good surgical expertise and experience, that’s just the foundation. But on top of that you have to have outstanding patient care.

Bariatric surgery is the most powerful operation out there

So, patients have to be able to get hold of you, they have to be able to contact you, they have to feel like they know you and trust you before they even leave their home town. And we provide that: we contact patients, I’m usually on the phone with them, talking to folks – and who knows, they may be in New Hampshire, they may be in the Marshall Islands. I call them ahead of time, let them know exactly what’s going to happen, so they have no concerns.

The New Economy: So what are the benefits that bariatric surgery brings to patients? How can it enhance their lives?

Dr Thomas Umbach: Well, bariatric surgery is the most powerful operation out there, which is why I’m passionate about it. I can help somebody not only get rid of one medical problem, but two, or three, or maybe even four.

It’s not uncommon, six months after surgery, for folks to come back, and they’ve lost their diabetes, their sleep apnea, their high blood pressure, their painful knees and ankles. We do surgery, they lose the weight, and then all these things get better and they finally blossom. And they start living and enjoying life. So that’s the most powerful surgery that I know, and that’s why I do it.

The New Economy: And you treat patients very much as individuals, especially if they need reassurance.

Our patients are able to enjoy all that Vegas has to offer

Dr Thomas Umbach: Absolutely. We have a very unique practice here. I actually give patients my cellphone number, I think that’s very important. Particularly if you’re going to be treating patients from afar. They need to be able to get in contact with you to answer any question at any time. So we provide that personal touch that you won’t find anywhere else.

When I meet with patients, I’m not a doctor looking down at someone wearing a gown, but I’m sitting across the table from them. We have a conversation. So we treat people like individual people.

The New Economy: Tell me about the range of post-surgery programmes you’ve developed here, and how they can help patients.

Dr Thomas Umbach: Okay, well we’re really excited about that. We have recently brought on a full-time nutritionist, and part of her task is to develop a programme for patients out of state, so she’ll be available on the internet, on the phone, for personal questions and consultations. And in addition to that we’re also developing support groups on the internet for patients as well, so they have the resources we have here out of state.

The New Economy: Of course recovery can be relatively quick, so, do some patients decide to combine treatment with a vacation right here in Las Vegas?

Dr Thomas Umbach: Absolutely. That’s why I’m here, because they’re able to have surgery, they’re able to recover virtually painlessly, and as a result they’re out enjoying the casinos, or out sightseeing at the Hoover Dam, or maybe even out shopping. So, absolutely: patients are able to enjoy all that Vegas has to offer.

We provide that personal touch that you won’t find anywhere else

The New Economy: Finally, what advice would you give to anyone considering bariatric surgery?

Dr Thomas Umbach: I think you have to do your homework. You really need to find a truly experienced bariatric surgeon out there, because our skills are different. You need to find somebody that’s done a lot of surgeries. And by lots I mean thousands, so they’ve seen everything.

You have to find somebody that’s able to sew with their own hands, because a lot of surgeons – although they’re bariatric surgeons – they still can’t sew laparoscopically, for example. So, once you’ve done all that, then you’ve found yourself a good surgeon.

The New Economy: Dr Thomas Umbach, thank you very much.

Dr Thomas Umbach: You’re very welcome. Thanks.