Update to my previous review: Due to my insurance, it took almost 24 months to qualify. I can say that the staff was patient, helpful and insightful. The wait was worth it as the surgery cost me very little out of pocket. Throughout the process, the staff could not have been better. When the day of surgery finally arrived, I felt calm, educated and prepared. Dr. Castro is a surgeon master. I was up walking within hours and sitting in a movie theater the next day. Since starting my adventure I have lost 56 lbs, 23 of which was within the first 14 days of post op. I am well on my way towards my goal of 85 total pounds. Thank you DFW Bariatric, Dr. Castro and the staff for your fine, professional services. read more

DFW Bariatric Institute - Weight Loss Centers Near Me - Dallas, Texas

DON'T EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME! I could not even get past the initial Consultation phase that started in June 2022 (it is now late August 2022) for the following reasons: 1). Initial paperwork was claimed to have not been received; Completed for a 2nd time but had to reschedule 2). TWO (2) appointments for the initial consultation was rescheduled and cancelled 3). I paid the consultation fee over the phone after my insurance was verified. I was contacted by "Janet" 1 week later and told: "You need to pay an additional $180 because I misquoted you the consultation fee" 4). 24 Hours before the 3rd consultation attempt, I was contacted and told that my original insurance had expired and that I needed to provide them with my new insurance. I stated I would call back in 45 - 1hour as I was at work going into a meeting. I called back in 20 minutes instead with my new insurance provided by my NEW EMPLOYER 3 TIMES AND LEFT MESSAGES EACH TIME FOR A CALL BACK - CALL BACK NEVER HAPPENED! NOTE: During my leaving messages, my appointment was cancelled and rescheduled within this time frame via TEXT MESSAGE 4). Day of my appointment (today @ 2:00pm), I am sitting in the virtual consultation waiting for Dr. Kukreja. At 2:15pm I received a TEXT MESSAGE FROM JANET asking to call the office. Janet (very aloof as always) stated that my appointment has been cancelled because of the expired insurance. I told her that I have new insurance through my new employe but I was very taken aback by sitting in the virtual room waiting for 15 minutes for the Consultation that I already paid for. I also explained to her that all she needs to do is check the office voicemail and she could then verify that I left 3 message. Janet stated (in her usual, could careless, ALOOF tone) that she "had no knowledge of the voice messages" and continued to ask for my new insurance information. Ultimately, I spent an additional 10 minutes asking Janet: "Why should I continue with the service if this is how a potential patient is treated during the consultation phase? What would change once I am a new patient? Janet's answer to me was to again ask me for my new insurance information; I just terminated the call; I refuse to throw away my hard earned money nor insurance to such a poorly ran from office. Absolutely NOT read more

BEWARE! I have been in the office in 3 occasions, for 2 reasons - first, with my husband, he was the one interested. He was seen by doctor Bridget Holden. I was ok with her, but he really disliked her attitude. He is type 1 diabetic for over 20 years - all his results are very good according to his doctor, but losing weight would help him even more. Dr. Holden, in the other hand, not only she is not his doctor, but did nothing but criticized him, as having type 1 diabetes is a choice! How uneducated can she be? Don't she know type 1 is not the same as 2? After we searched her experience in google we noticed that one of her patients had to lose his leg because of poor decisions during a surgery, and we were glad not to go with her. Also, his BMI was 38 and insurance would only completely cover unless he would be 40 - so the recommendation was for him to GAIN weight. He decided against it. Months later I decided to go...my BMI is currently 36. They have a promotion on their website "get it for as low as $8995!" I scheduled my appointment and was seen by doctor Lee. She was brief, and then the story starts - I was seen by one of the "insurance advisers" - they all look so happy and excited when they meet you - but let that not fool you!!! In a very excited way, she tells that she checked my insurance and that they cover bariatric surgery! I have the bmi over 35 and all I need is another comorbidity. "All we need to do is send you to a sleep study!" "all will be great!". I said that I don't think I will qualify, and that I was interested in the promotion of the website. She talks to a manager and says, YES we can go that route. (Ps.: I did the sleep study, and as I suspected, I do no have sleep apnea) Their "promotion" - Pretty much what they do, is try to see if you have a problem with your gallbladder, and if you do, they tell the insurance that they are doing a gallbladder procedure and instead and they do the whole thing (take your gallbladder and do the sleeve in the same procedure). I think - "a place like this, must be legitimate!" I am excited! The first red flag came when they ask me to sign a paper saying that I agree that nothing will be shared with my insurance. I should have stopped there, that was a red flag, but again, I thought that they knew what they were doing and this place seems to be legitimate. Again I schedule time off work to do the gallbladder exam and they see I have a "problem" not stones, something else. Awesome!!!! We can move forward. I also did the sleep study (just to confirm I had or had not an issue). Then we schedule the cardiac test and nutrition class, the last 2 steps before the surgery, I already took time off work. THEN ... I receive a call - "we have decided to discontinue the affordable program". What?! I think... why??? And the response... "well, the insurance companies are finding out what we are doing and many of them are deciding not to cover the facility portion of it. If you want to proceed, the price is $12,995". I am flabbergasted. After ALL I went through, all the time off work, all their promises, they are pretty much committing insurance fraud! They say that they are discontinuing the program, and I ask how - if while I am waiting on hold for a manager, you are advertising this "affordable program", over and over again in your messages, but suddenly, you want me to pay almost 13K for the surgery. I also mention - your website, RIGHT NOW, as we speak, advertises the "affordable program". This company is all pretty, and nice and friendly when you get there. It is ALL a show. They you lose your time, play with your self esteem when you are the most vulnerable. All they want is to take the most out of you. Just bother to visit them if your BMI is over 40. I asked, after all this inconvenience, the least you could do is to provide me with a discount - and an extremely manager said - $12,995 is already a discount. It is not!!! And I did the research: Dr. Veninga - Bariatric Surgery Dallas: $10,695 (I am going with them now) McCarty Weight Loss: $11,999 Cernero Surgery: $12,000 Dr. Kirk Weight Loss: $10,500 Nicholson Clinic (very well known): $12,200 Bagshahi: $11,000 Dr. Nirmal Jayaseelan (best for several years in the D Magazine): $12,200 My Bariatric Solutions: $11,750 Avoid Kim Bariatric - they do not care about you, only your money (billboards everywhere?!) This is a sincere review of someone that truly believed them, and wasted much of my time and money. read more

I was super excited for my first appointment/consultation since my family doctor recommend Dr. Kim and a family friend had gotten the gastric sleeve procedure done with him, but I was soon to be disappointed. Every part about my experience there was great EXCEPT when I met my potential surgeon Dr. Hien Le. She was quite negative in our first conversation, did not try to build a connection or rapport with me and instead walked in the room and asked "what questions do you have for me?" Right off the bat in a condescending voice. I was taken a back. The rest of the time she spoke negatively about how people are non compliant and the surgery is not an easy fix. Which are all true, but her speech was more dissuading to the surgery than anything. I had visited TWO other bariatric facilities before this one and each surgeon or nurse built great rapport and trust with me so I decided to go with a different facility. I wanted to love this office but with a horrible experience with a surgeon, I didn't feel like I would trust with an important surgery, made me turn away. Maybe if Dr. Le showed that she genuinely cared about her patients as a human being and not a NUMBER walking through I would've chosen her to be my surgeon. Wish I could've met Dr. Holden but she was booked out pretty far, probably because she must be a nicer surgeon and is more experienced than Dr. Le. read more

After moving to TX from CA, I needed a new Bariatric Doctor to see for my lap bad fills. I had seen/heard the commercials back to back with True Results.... I chose to come to Kim Bariatric based off the 1st phone call to the office. The receptionist was incredibly helpful, was able to email me new patient forms and reach out to my previously Bariatric doctor for records on my behalf. I was able to get a consultation within 1 week (vs 1 Month with True Results). The office is beautiful, comfortable and all staff members are very nice. Kim Bariatric made it an easy and pleasant transition to help me maintain my Lap Band. Furthermore; with the proper guidance from my P.A, I was able to loose 15 LBS in less than 2 months!! (Proper fills & medication also helped) I highly recommend Kim Bariatric. read more

I contacted the office of Dr David Kim in January 2014. My consultation was very enlightening and informative. I didn't feel rushed or pressured. I did a lot of research before deciding to go to KBI for weight loss surgery and the vertical sleeve. The insurance prerequisites, my financial obligations and more were explained and laid out for me so I knew pretty much exactly what to expect. Also, my insurance covered Dr Bridget Holden to perform my surgery and this was done in July 2014. To date, I've lost several clothing sizes and inches, around 70 lbs (halfway to goal!), am no longer type 2 diabetic, my cholesterol labs are perfect and I also participate in 5 and 10Ks! At 53 I feel better than I have in the past 23+ years, no joke! I'm looking forward to being around for grandbabies! If I had stayed on the yo-yo diet track, I'm fairly certain none of the above listed achievements would have been possible at all. I highly recommend the offices of Dr David Kim and Dr Bridget Holden. Experience is key! read more

I love Dr. Kim and his staff. They are and have been taking great care of me. I have lost about 50 pound since I went to Dr. Kim. I had the gastric sleeve on September 26, 2011. I have since told one of my best friend to have the surgery by Dr. Kim and she meet with him and look like he will be taking care of her as well. Dr. Kim is the best and I will keep telling my friends and family that Dr. Kim is the one to get the job done right the first time.......Thank you Dr. Kim and staff for all that you do. Ms. LAM read more

I love this clinic. Jennifer was great getting my insurance approval within 2 days . Summer was awesome getting my surgery date within 3 weeks of approval. read more

This is the worst place. I had surgery on 07/25/19. First while in the hospital the Dr didnt come in after surgery to let me or my fiance know how things went,didnt check on me not once. No one checked my incisions while I was there. I asked 2 different nurses how my surgery went,I was told the Dr would explain or already did and I was probably still out of it. The day I was released to go home,some Dr I never met came in my room,looked and my chart,my chart the I was keeping for liquid intake,and walking. And stated I am doing great and could go home. Never checked my incisions,nothing... Once I got home,over the weekend I text Henry the PA from Arlington location,he reploed back. I was still having concerning issues as of Mon so I called the Arlington location. As I was speaking with Henry and explaining to him what was going on,he laughed,litteraly laughed at me. At that point I was done talking with him. I phoned the Rockwall location,spoke with a very nice woman,she asked me to expalin to her what was going on,so I did. She assured me the PA would call me to discuss this. Well she called,but I must have been sleeping. So I called right back,and didnt get her but told them I was returning the call. Next call I got was to confirm my post op,and that if I have any issues to please call. Umm I did, and yet I am still waiting. So I called again today,and I am still waiting...... horrible. read more

I had WLS (gastric sleeve) in 2011. Dr Kim was my surgeon. He was amazing. He cares about his patients. The aftercare is amazing. They have monthly support groups. I think it's the amazing friends that I have made in the support groups that have helped me maintain my weight loss. I have ran 5k's with them and they are always so encouraging read more

don't go here unless you completely want to waste your time. I waited 1.5 hours AFTER my appointment time until they finally told me what was going on. they stated they had a "clinical scheduling issue" but couldn't give an estimate of how much longer it would be. I spoke with another lady that was there and she said in the last year this place has changed a lot. the waiting room felt very cold and unfriendly...lots of TVs but none of them were on. by the time I decided to leave there were 8 people in the waiting room with appointments ranging from 9:30-11:30. every single patient including myself left with not even an apology from the staff. read more

I had lap band surgery with Dr. Kim about 8 years ago and I was very happy with the results. I really liked Dr Kim and the staff. I was not a candidate for insurance coverage so I paid out of pocket, but my insurance did pick up the fills when I needed them. After about four years I had a minor problem and needed the fill taken out to give the band a rest. When I called for an appointment, I was told that they could no longer treat me because now I was on Medicare. I have very good supplemental insurance but they said they were sorry they still could not treat me. ( Let me say on their behalf that they did take the fill out, but said I would have to find another doctor to get a refill ) I offered to pay out of pocket, but was told they could not treat me. They gave me a couple referrals but other doctors do not want to take you on if they did not do the surgery. I think this should have been explained when I went for my first consultation. Nothing was mentioned that they would stop treating me when I reached a certain age. So needless to say, I am very disappointed with them. read more

I wouldn't recommend Dr. Kim's office for your post-op onging needs. I have been unsuccessful with the lapband. Its been about 3 years and i have gained back 30 of the 40lbs I lost. This puts me about 10lbs less than my starting weight. I went into the office to get a fill. I only get 1 fill a year, sometimes every couple years. After paying a $60 copay and a 40 minute wait, I wasn then informed that I would not be given a fill. It took all of about 5 minutes. She provided some papers for meal ideas and told me I could pay $50 to see the dietician so she can provide me with a meal plan. I think that it's completely absurd to not offer some type of other assistance. If I could follow a meal plan then I wouldn't of needed the surgery nor would I be back in the office overweight. Why not offer the meal plan for free, you have already taken $60 for a 5 minute visit. How about offer some advice about support classes. It was no questions added to get to the root of the issue. They only want to line thier pockets and could care less about your long term success. I suggest that anyone having surgery be prepared to have a huge support system because it will be important. I'm very disappointed with Dr. Kim's office and will try to assist myself on my weightloss journey. Hoping for long term success this time around. read more

Dr Kim and his staff has changed my life!!! They made me feel so comfortable and was always smiling. I would do the surgery again today... I can do things I could not do before losing the weight. Dr. Kim saved my life. They are awesome!! read more

Do not trust these people. They called us the afternoon before the surgery, after three weeks on a very hard to do liquid diet and cancelled saying that it was because of something that they had known since we started the liquid diet three weeks ago. At best their people don't pay attention to the medical records and tests that they do, at worst they outright lie, this feels like they overbooked and then cancelled on us at the last minute because they couldn't get to everyone. I base that on a lot of incidents including overhearing their employees saying that they overbooked when we went in for a test and that there were not places to sit down in the waiting room. These people are unprofessional and untrustworthy. Do not take the chance that they will cancel on you at the last minute. If they are so sloppy on reading medical records that they don't catch something for three weeks, assuming they are telling the truth, do you really want people like that performing surgery on you? read more

Great surgeon, but highly questionable staff. One nutritionist actually told a client that the fat we lose "turns to muscle." That would be nice, if only it were true. I found that they were very happy to take my money but not so happy to answer any questions. The answers I received were mostly direct quotes from the brochures. The price started at $5k but quickly changed to 10k. I was shocked to hear that he routinely removes gall bladders "because most people need it." Meaning of course, bariatric candidates, but EVERYONE? Without asking if we want it done? I was too scared and decided that I should not trust KBI with my life. I'll stay fat. read more

Was really surprised and disappointed. I have been struggling with my weight for years and it made it even worse when I suffered a back injury. After having double fusion and trying to find adequate exercises to control my weight, I considered bariatric surgery. My BMI is close to 37. I do not have some of the co-morbidity markers, but haven't been tested for sleep apnea. I made an appointment with Dr. Kim, paid my $20, and waited. After discussing the situation with a nurse, a PA, and one of the other physicians I finally met with Dr. Kim. As he heard of my back pain and that I am on narcotics to control the pain, he dismissed me. He felt he wouldn't be able to control my pain after surgery and didn't want to be involved. It shocked me. I take hydrocodone as needed and not even on a daily basis. Even as I tried to explain this to him, he suggested I meet with his dietician and showed me the door. Wow. The whole reason I am considering bariatric is because I am struggling with activity because of my back pain. If you are going to see him and are on any narcotics, say nothing seems to be the best course of action. read more

Dr. Kim was a horrible experience. There were a series a errors, at my expense and worst of all the surgery experience was horrible. I went to Dr. Kim in May 2015. He was charming and very easy to talk to. I have a couple of medical issues, including a heart attack in March 2015. Dr. Kim was very ok with it and said it did not concern him as long as my tests were fine. So I went through the series of tests. The first being a stress test. I did the stress test only to find the orders from Dr. Kim were wrong. Which meant I had to do it again. I had to pay another copay and go see another cardiologist. NOT FUN! Then I go to see Dr. Kim and they say they see a concerning mark on my xray. This was on a Friday. They stated I needed a ct scan. The entire weekend I worried because they made it appear to be concerning. My mother died of lung cancer. Monday I had the scan. There wasn't even a mark. $200 more dollars. They also make you go to his sleep study clinic, The Destiny Center. I was made to to do 2 sleep studies and then was given a sleep pap machine. They sent me home with no mask. It took 4 weeks to get them to respond to me to get me a mask. When I finally got it, it was wrong. Finally the day of surgery. I am so excited. They put me under and cut me with 6 incisions and set me up for surgery. Everything was fine. Apparently my blood pressure dropped and they couldn't control it. Something went very wrong. My blood pressure was fine minutes before the surgery. They stopped the surgery and sewed me up. I woke up to find they did not do the surgery due to my blood pressure dropping. I met with Dr. Kim that following Friday. He said he would not touch me and would not do the surgery. He was rather cold to me. He felt it was too soon to my heart attack. He new of my heart attack right from the beginning. I say what makes the difference. He had no answer. Only to tell me he did not know what when wrong and would not work on me. Now I have 6 scars and no surgery. I am in EXCELLENT health and have had numerous surgeries exceeding 3.5 hrs. This was only a 45 minute surgery. I personally believe they did something wrong and wont admit it. When you go to Dr. Kim. It looks like patient are being herded like cattle. You should see the recovery area, patients walking all around to get the gas out from the surgery. I trusted Dr. Kim and he let me down horribly. All I know now, is I have a fear for another surgery and I have scars and nothing to show for it. Not only check out the Dr., but check out the Anesthesiologist as well. read more