1. Can we have some ideas on the reasons that made you this reputation?
Laparoscopic, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeon
Especially work and passion I would say with probably a certain openness. The desire to always learn and the need to constantly challenge oneself. A surgeon I think must be a permanent student open to the world and to others throughout his career. Afterwards it is what is being expressed by most surgeons in the world who have been and are my friends: I will mention in particular the inventor of the sleeve gastrectomy, the one that many consider to be the world leader in bariatric surgery or obesity surgery namely Pr Michel Gagner (Canada), Pr Brice Gayet (France) and Pr Guy Bernard Cadiere (Belgium) who are historical leaders in advanced laparoscopic surgery and many others. We are always working and comparing our ideas. And probably not being the worst…they welcomed me into this world team.
2. What motivated your choice or let’s say your decision to enter the faculty of medicine at the end of your secondary studies and why you then chose the field of surgery, and precisely bariatric surgery?
Medicine fascinated me and more particularly surgery since my adolescence. Saving lives, helping others, alleviating suffering, that was for me the probable reason for my existence. Then the transition from laparoscopic and digestive surgery to obesity surgery has been done gradually for more than 25 years. With an lmong stint in liver surgery and transplantation. Everything had to be invented and improved in bariatric surgery. Always this need to go forward guided me. Then patients suffering from obesity were often discriminated against and that was unbearable for me. Finally my skills in advanced laparoscopy were already an advantage to flourish there
3. Given my experience and my work for decades, it seems to me that any success requires a lot of effort, and even sacrifices. What were the hardest times you went through before becoming successful and having such a good reputation in your country and beyond its borders?
Surgery and medicine are a priesthood. The studies are very long (about fifteen years) but when you are passionate everything becomes simple. Like a top athlete, you have to make sacrifices in your life and in your lifestyle, but in the end the game is worth the effort. Tiredness is temporary and you recover quickly. Seeing a patient you follow for a particular cancer, leaving…is the hardest part. Understanding that you have had a surgical complication also prevents you from sleeping and is unbearable. And I would say that we never get used to it.
4. Why did you leave France to settle in the Gulf and more specifically in the UAE? Is it to bring your own experience in bariatric surgery in this region of the Middle East and why not elsewhere, in Africa or Asia for example?
In my personal life I had the chance to live from my childhood in different parts of the world. Whether in France of course, but also in South America, in the Indian Ocean. I was genetically and family predestined to travel and work elsewhere. A life for me has always been a succession of lives. In 2014 I decided to respond to requests from the Gulf and to choose the UAE first. Others came from elsewhere, but this region of the world fascinated me with its ability to evolve and change so quickly. I didn’t know this culture well, so I thought I had to take an interest in it. To say that I wanted to bring my experience might seem enough! I will avoid entering this field. Africa in its sub-Saharan part did not seem to me yet mature enough to develop these techniques; as for Asia, I had the opportunity to operate there for a few years, in North Vietnam in Hanoi. The Middle East was something else.
5. At present, to what extent are you satisfied with your work or I would say with your mission as a surgeon in the Gulf? and what do you expect now in this part of the world? Would you have contacts with officials in the Emirates or elsewhere for future projects?
I consider today that the Gulf is not just limited to Dubai and there are plenty of things to do there. All these countries are fascinating. Being independent of any hospital group is sometimes badly accepted by them in this region of the world in particular and unfortunately health like life in general is then exposed to political fights often useless in my eyes and finding their origins in the extra medical. When I consider that the balance is no longer positive, I continue my journey to other places. Medicine sometimes becomes too much of a business and my fear is to have to operate differently for purely material considerations. To date, I have had the chance to operate in 15 different countries, whether on a daily basis or during training sessions for local surgeons. Almost already in all the Gulf countries and in particular for new techniques. I am a citizen of the world, therefore a surgeon of the world.
6. To conclude, would you like to say a few words to the readers of this interview?
I will tell them that any surgery decision should be well thought out and not taken lightly. The competence of the surgeon and his team, the confidence that we have in him are the most important. Understanding that zero risk also does not exist and following post-operative recommendations are essential. Especially in bariatric surgery. Giving in to the mirage of low-cost surgery performed by inexperienced surgeons is risky. Some price differences can also be explained by a choice of equipment that can be low cost… Some patients point out to me that every week a new hospital, a new surgeon arrives in this region and obviously with a lot of publicity… announcing that they are all the best in the world. It is the most terrible. Despite everything, there are also very great health professionals here. As elsewhere
Reading the testimonials of people who suffered the consequences of their excessive weight feel several years younger and to whom you have given the hope of being much happier than before, thanks to the operation their having been operated on, we can only congratulate you and be encouraged to be really happy in their lives.
Testimonials
I had a sleeve gastrectomy a year and a half ago. It was performed by Dr. Patrick, for whom the procedure was very quick and easy. The next day I woke up with no pain or discomfort. Today I lost about 50 kg and I have never felt healthier. No matter how much I thank him, it will never make up for his kindness and professionalism.
– Malika, 22 years old
A month after my round, I look 10 years younger. I started at 100 kg and am now at 89 kg; I love my transforming body, it’s the smallest I’ve been in 7 years!
– Susanne,33 Years
