FrankTalk.org

After many years of putting off surgery, I am finally ready to take the plunge. I've done my research about the surgery itself and the available products.
Now comes the major decision, choosing a surgeon.

I've read the positive reviews about Kramer and Eid. Although I would consider either one of these surgeons, I'd prefer to go to someone a lot closer.
I have to believe that there has got to be comparable surgeons in a major metropolitan area such as Philly.

There is one known surgeon in the area (last name begins with a 'G"). He appears to have a good rep, but I just don't get that 'warm and fuzzy' from him - plus he comes across as someone with an attitude.

If I'm going to have surgery done, I have to feel comfortable with the surgeon.

Would appreciate if anyone has any insight or opinions on this.

Thanks to all!

A friend of mine here on FT was implanted by Dr. Jaffe at Penn. I met with him, but we didn't "click" and I went with Kramer. PM me for the FT member's contact number.
Bob

Bucks County here. I've been beyond impressed with my urologist/surgeon here in the Philly 'burbs... Dr. A Michael Samaha Jr, MD. He did my implant April, 2015 at Abington Memorial Hospital, Montgomery County (now, Abington-Jefferson Hospital.) He has a wonderful and friendly bedside manner. He also went above and beyond in keeping my husband informed during my surgery as well as made him feel welcome at my follow-up appointment. I couldn't ask anything more of Dr. Samaha, and my implant experience has been absolutely perfect!

"Dr. A Michael Samaha Jr, MD is a urology specialist in Abington, PA and has been practicing for 32 years. He graduated from Boston University School Of Medicine in 1984 and specializes in urology."

His HealthGrades listing says he's accepting new patients. All contact info is also there. https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/ ... maha-2fsd9

As far as a doctor with a "G" last name... I have met a Dr. Gittens when my husband saw him once. I never knew him enough to comment one way or another. Last I heard, he had gotten out of ED treatment and was heading up the Department of Androgyny at Einstein.

Had I not met and loved Dr. Samaha, I probably would have checked out the Urology Department at HUP.

All the VERY best to you!
Colin

Don't mess around with just some doctor, go to one of the top volume surgeons as mistake don't go well. Eid or Dr. Kramer, I had Dr. Kramer and drove those 8.5 hrs. to get to him. Never had a problem.

CTR5000 wrote

As far as a doctor with a "G" last name... I have met a Dr. Gittens when my husband saw him once. I never knew him enough to comment one way or another. Last I heard, he had gotten out of ED treatment and was heading up the Department of Androgyny at Einstein.

Well I think the Doctor phillysub1 is referring to is Dr. Garber and not Dr. Gittens. I was a patient of Dr. Gittens years ago when I was still trying to solve my ED problem with anything but an implant. Dr. Gittens had me on his Tri-mix recipe and I had some success with it but like everything else, its effectiveness started to wane and he ended up leaving the practice to teach in NY.

Dr. Gittens was the last urologist I had seen, before stepping into Dr. Garber’s office last summer. Ironically before I made an appointment to see Dr. Garber, I had heard Dr. Gittens was back in Philly. When I called his office they said he didn’t take insurance and that was non-starter for me. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to do. Go back and try injections again?

Here I had made a decision that I was going to try to fix my ED again after years of suffering and no answers, but now I didn’t really know where to turn. I decided to go on-line and return this web site, Frank Talk. I had used it before when I was injecting. This time instead of looking at the injection area, I found myself looking at the implant section. This was a big deal for me as I was admitting I was willing to enter this realm of no return to cure my problem.

After reading for many hours, I knew I wanted to make this leap and finally put ED behind me and remove the stigma that goes with it.

I found Dr. Garber using the Frank Talk physician finder. When I went to his web site, I was very impressed with his education and experience. He has done over 3000 implants and has less than a 1% incident of infection for first time implants.

On my initial visit, Dr. Garber gave me something I didn’t have for a very long time. HOPE! I told him that I had been trying to fix my ED for many, many years and still hadn’t come up with an answer. He very confidentially told me he could fix it and I believed him.

Now I understand he doesn’t have the best bed side manner and he is not much for small talk but I quickly realize that was not what was most important for me. I wanted a surgeon that had LOTS of experience to give me the best chance to a have good outcome. I’m sure there are many surgeons out there with far better people skills that could have performed my surgery. Of those who among them have the education and experience of Dr. Garber? Not many. That is why I chose him. It has been almost 4 months now and I am very pleased with the result.

Good luck in your search for a surgeon!

DroptheMike wrote:

CTR5000 wrote

As far as a doctor with a "G" last name... I have met a Dr. Gittens when my husband saw him once. I never knew him enough to comment one way or another. Last I heard, he had gotten out of ED treatment and was heading up the Department of Androgyny at Einstein.

Well I think the Doctor phillysub1 is referring to is Dr. Garber and not Dr. Gittens. I was a patient of Dr. Gittens years ago when I was still trying to solve my ED problem with anything but an implant. Dr. Gittens had me on his Tri-mix recipe and I had some success with it but like everything else, its effectiveness started to wane and he ended up leaving the practice to teach in NY.

Dr. Gittens was the last urologist I had seen, before stepping into Dr. Garber’s office last summer. Ironically before I made an appointment to see Dr. Garber, I had heard Dr. Gittens was back in Philly. When I called his office they said he didn’t take insurance and that was non-starter for me. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to do. Go back and try injections again?

Here I had made a decision that I was going to try to fix my ED again after years of suffering and no answers, but now I didn’t really know where to turn. I decided to go on-line and return this web site, Frank Talk. I had used it before when I was injecting. This time instead of looking at the injection area, I found myself looking at the implant section. This was a big deal for me as I was admitting I was willing to enter this realm of no return to cure my problem.

After reading for many hours, I knew I wanted to make this leap and finally put ED behind me and remove the stigma that goes with it.

I found Dr. Garber using the Frank Talk physician finder. When I went to his web site, I was very impressed with his education and experience. He has done over 3000 implants and has less than a 1% incident of infection for first time implants.

On my initial visit, Dr. Garber gave me something I didn’t have for a very long time. HOPE! I told him that I had been trying to fix my ED for many, many years and still hadn’t come up with an answer. He very confidentially told me he could fix it and I believed him.

Now I understand he doesn’t have the best bed side manner and he is not much for small talk but I quickly realize that was not what was most important for me. I wanted a surgeon that had LOTS of experience to give me the best chance to a have good outcome. I’m sure there are many surgeons out there with far better people skills that could have performed my surgery. Of those who among them have the education and experience of Dr. Garber? Not many. That is why I chose him. It has been almost 4 months now and I am very pleased with the result.

Good luck in your search for a surgeon!

Thanks for this detailed post explaining how you came to your decision.

Larry