Ten years ago, the adjustable gastric band looked like an easy ticket to weight-loss freedom. Today, its long-term record tells a tougher story: a landmark study found that 17 percent of patients needed a follow-up operation to remove or convert the band. Revision isn’t a quick tweak—scar tissue and eroded hardware raise the stakes, so choosing a surgeon who tackles these cases every week is essential.
The good news? Douglas County punches above its weight with MBSAQIP-accredited programs in Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Rock, and Highlands Ranch, each staffed by surgeons who excel at LAP-BAND revisions.
Below, you’ll see how six local experts rank on experience, safety, patient satisfaction, cost transparency, and innovation—plus a side-by-side comparison, a buyer’s road map, and a plain-English FAQ to help you reboot your weight-loss journey with confidence.
How we hand-picked (and ranked) Douglas County’s revision experts
Choosing a revision surgeon is too important to leave to gut instinct, so we built a scoring model before a single name made the shortlist.
First, we gathered hard numbers—case volumes, years devoted to bariatrics, hospital accreditation records, and publicly posted complication data where available. Experience leads the pack at 30 percent of the score because seasoned hands manage scar-laden anatomy with fewer mishaps. Safety markers, including program leak and readmission rates, account for 25 percent. If a surgeon operates inside an MBSAQIP-accredited center, that quality seal boosts the safety tally automatically.
Next, we listened to the people who matter most: patients. We scraped every recent Google and Healthgrades review, then averaged the star ratings. Patient satisfaction weighs 15 percent, right alongside facility quality, because feeling supported is part of the outcome.
Money matters too. We awarded up to 10 percent for crystal-clear self-pay pricing and robust insurance help. Transparent numbers, like BMCC’s $5,400 flat fee for simple band removal, show confidence and respect for your wallet.
Finally, 5 percent goes to innovation. Surgeons who master robotic or endoscopic techniques earn bonus points; those tools can shorten OR time and speed recovery.
Each factor feeds a 100-point total. The six surgeons you’ll meet next top that leaderboard, giving you a data-driven starting point for your own consults.
1. Dr. Joshua W. Long, MD, Bariatric & Metabolic Center of Colorado, Parker and Lone Tree
Dr. Long blends Ivy-League training with Colorado approachability. The double board-certified surgeon and obesity-medicine specialist has logged more than 1,000 bariatric procedures, many of them tricky band removals or one-stage conversions. That experience matters when you consider that worldwide studies find 25–40 percent of bands ultimately require removal within five years, a failure rate his team unpacks in their LAP-BAND Surgery guide along with when conversion makes more sense than extraction alone. Patients arrive worried about scar tissue and leave with a clear plan and a direct after-hours number.
Healthgrades lists 147 verified reviews that average 4.9 of 5 stars, the highest in the county. Written comments praise his partnership style, noting that he sketches risks and benefits until every question feels resolved.
His team also leads on price transparency. The practice posts flat self-pay packages—$5,400 for band removal and $13,750 for a band-to-sleeve combo—saving thousands compared with national averages. Publishing fees in black and white shows confidence and spares you billing surprises.
Technically, Long favors laparoscopic or robotic tools that slip past dense scar tissue with less trauma. If the band has eroded, he adds advanced endoscopy skills without a second operation. Parker Adventist and Sky Ridge provide MBSAQIP-accredited operating rooms, so equipment, protocols, and backups meet national bariatric standards.
The result is shorter operating times, quicker recoveries, and consistently high satisfaction. If you want cutting-edge technique, transparent pricing, and easy access to your surgeon, Dr. Long tops the Douglas County shortlist.
2. Dr. Thomas R. Brown, MD, Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute, Parker
Experience is Dr. Brown’s calling card. After more than 30 years in the operating room and over 6,000 bariatric procedures, he brings a depth of perspective younger surgeons study.
Brown placed many of Colorado’s first LAP-BANDs, so he knows every quirk those devices can hide. That history now benefits patients who need removal or conversion. He often recommends a cautious two-step plan: remove the band, let swelling settle, then perform gastric bypass a few months later. The staged approach keeps complication rates low.
Mentorship runs through his practice. Brown founded Parker Adventist’s original Center of Excellence and trained several surgeons on this list. In clinic he pulls up charts, explains risks in plain English, and avoids marketing fluff.
Online reviews are fewer than at flashier practices, yet the tone is consistent. Patients call him calm and direct, “all business in the OR.” Colleagues still phone for advice on tough revisions.
His veteran staff handles insurance with precision, collecting documentation so approvals land on the first pass—helpful when GERD, slippage, or erosion already have you exhausted.
Bottom line: if you value a long track record and a conservative, safety-first strategy, Dr. Brown offers surgical insight earned over thousands of cases.
3. Dr. Frank H. Chae, MD, Sky Ridge Medical Center, Lone Tree
Dr. Chae combines technical skill with an endocrinologist’s understanding of metabolism. After 23 years and more than 6,000 bariatric operations, he brings a seasoned eye to complicated anatomy.
Many band patients present with severe reflux or persistent diabetes. His dual training supports quick, tailored choices: gastric bypass when GERD demands acid relief, or sleeve gastrectomy when restriction meets the goal. Each revision uses small laparoscopic incisions, often assisted by the da Vinci robot for precise work around scar tissue.
Patients feel the difference. Healthgrades lists a 4.5-star average across 32 reviews, with praise for careful follow-up and clear explanations. One reviewer wrote, “He fixed what another surgeon couldn’t and called me the next day to check my pain level.”
Sky Ridge Medical Center holds full MBSAQIP accreditation, so equipment, nursing protocols, and ICU support match national bariatric standards. Insurance approvals also move faster inside that integrated system, and his experienced office team manages the paperwork.
For anyone seeking a surgeon who understands the hormonal side of obesity and uses robotics for added finesse, Dr. Chae offers steady, evidence-based care.
4. Dr. Matthew A. Metz, MD, Denver Center for Bariatric Surgery, Englewood and Lone Tree
Dr. Metz blends Cleveland Clinic fellowship training with a relaxed Colorado bedside style. In 15 years he has completed thousands of bariatric procedures and built a niche for fast, single-stage band-to-sleeve revisions that average about 90 minutes of operating time.
Technical skill stands out. Metz was among the first in the region to adopt robotic bariatric surgery, allowing wrist-like precision through small incisions. Patients notice the benefit when they walk laps the same evening instead of resting in bed.
Reviews back the blend of technology and empathy. Healthgrades lists a 4.4-star average across more than 50 reviews, many praising that he “spent an hour answering every question.”
Insurance rarely delays care. As part of the HealthONE network, his office pre-authorizes revisions daily and offers hospital self-pay bundles when coverage falls short. Expect pricing in the mid-teens for a band-to-sleeve package, competitive for a major metro hospital.
Accredited operating rooms at Swedish and Sky Ridge, plus a support team of dietitians and psychologists, create a turnkey program that pairs advanced tech with whole-patient care.
5. Dr. Wanda M. Good, DO, Mountain View Surgical Associates, Parker and Castle Rock
Dr. Good pairs advanced laparoscopic and robotic training with a gentle bedside style. Her focus is single-stage band-to-sleeve conversions that relieve reflux while supporting weight loss.
Patients praise her empathy, noting she listened after years of band frustration. Healthgrades shows a 4.0-star average, modest in volume yet consistent in tone.
Skill matches sentiment. Certified on the da Vinci Xi robot, she can remove an eroded band and repair a hiatal hernia during the same operation. Castle Rock Adventist offers a modern bariatric suite, while Parker Adventist provides an experienced nursing team, giving you location choice without compromising quality.
Pricing remains competitive. Band removal runs about $5,000; band-to-sleeve packages fall in the mid-teens, similar to regional peers. Her staff pursues pre-approvals and appeals with persistence, reducing administrative stress.
For local residents who want flexible scheduling, Good divides clinic days between Parker and Castle Rock, saving the I-25 drive and adding convenience to compassionate care.
6. Dr. Jesse C. Conner, MD, SurgOne at AdventHealth Castle Rock
Dr. Conner represents the next generation of bariatric talent in Douglas County. After finishing a minimally invasive and bariatric fellowship at Houston Methodist in 2021, he returned to Castle Rock to build a local revision program from the ground up.
Because the service is new, his clinic keeps slots open for fast consults; most patients are seen within a week. Early Google ratings sit at a perfect five stars, with comments praising his rapid replies and personal follow-up after surgery.
Technique aligns with accessibility. Conner performs outpatient laparoscopic band removals when a simple extraction meets the need, yet moves to single-stage band-to-bypass when severe reflux or high BMI require a stronger metabolic lift. Fellowship training also hard-wired enhanced-recovery practices such as aggressive hydration, early ambulation, and minimal narcotics, helping patients regain energy sooner.
Castle Rock Adventist’s modern operating rooms supply fresh technology. If the da Vinci robot is available, he uses robotic wrists for scar-dense fields; otherwise, conventional laparoscopy keeps the case moving. Safety metrics remain clean, with no serious complications reported in his first year.
Cost transparency is evolving, yet preliminary self-pay quotes match Parker’s competitive packages. His team manages Medicaid and commercial approvals with equal persistence. For Castle Rock residents who want revision expertise minutes from home, Dr. Conner offers advanced skill and approachable care.
At-a-glance comparison
| Surgeon | Years in bariatrics | Estimated cases | Lap-Band revision focus | Primary hospitals | Avg. rating | Stand-out credentials |
| Dr. Joshua Long | 10 | 1,000+ | One-stage band → sleeve or bypass | Parker Adventist, Sky Ridge | 4.9 ★ (147) | Double board-certified; publishes flat fees |
| Dr. Thomas Brown | 30+ | 6,000+ | Two-step band removal plus bypass or switch | Parker Adventist, Castle Rock Adventist | 5.0 ★ (fewer) | COE founder; mentor to peers |
| Dr. Frank Chae | 23 | 6,000+ | Band removals; robotic sleeve and bypass | Sky Ridge, St. Joseph | 4.5 ★ (32) | Endocrine background; robotics |
| Dr. Matthew Metz | 15 | 2,000+ | Fast one-stage band → sleeve | Swedish, Sky Ridge | 4.4 ★ (53) | Cleveland Clinic fellowship; robotic pioneer |
| Dr. Wanda Good | 12 | 500+ | Robotic band → sleeve with hernia repair | Parker Adventist, Castle Rock Adventist | 4.0 ★ (HG) | da Vinci Xi certified; holistic focus |
| Dr. Jesse Conner | 5 | 200+ | Outpatient band removals; ERAS bypass | Castle Rock Adventist | 5.0 ★ (Google) | Houston Methodist fellowship; program builder |
Think of this grid as a quick reference. If cost clarity tops your list, Dr. Long is the only surgeon now publishing exact numbers online. Need the most seasoned operator? Dr. Brown holds that crown. Prefer metro-level tech without leaving Castle Rock? Dr. Conner delivers. Your best fit depends on the mix of experience, bedside style, and logistics that matter most to you.
Buyer’s guide: zero in on your best-fit surgeon
Scanning a ranked list is a solid start, yet the real progress comes when you match a surgeon’s style to your priorities.
Experience is the first filter. Revision cases carry higher complication odds than first-time sleeves or bypasses, so look for dozens, ideally hundreds, of similar operations in your doctor’s history. The study cited earlier showed that 17 percent of band patients needed a second surgery, and seasoned surgeons keep that journey as safe as science allows.
Next, confirm credentials. Board certification in general surgery is the baseline. Fellowship training in bariatrics and privileges at an MBSAQIP-accredited hospital raise the bar. All six surgeons above clear those marks.
Soft skills matter. High patient-satisfaction scores often signal clinics that answer phones quickly, schedule timely follow-ups, and treat you like a partner. Dr. Long’s 4.9-star average across 147 Healthgrades reviews is one example. Look for similar proof, ideally 30 or more ratings with authentic comments.
Cost clarity counts, too. Some programs publish exact self-pay packages, such as the $5,400 band removal at BMCC, while others provide only a range after a consult. Transparent numbers show confidence and help you budget without guesswork.
Bring a focused question list to your consult:
- How many LAP-BAND revisions have you completed in the past year?
- Do you remove the band and perform the new procedure in one surgery or two, and why?
- What is your leak or serious-complication rate for these revisions?
- Which procedure—sleeve, bypass, or switch—best fits my anatomy and health goals?
Conclusion
Clear, confident answers reveal the surgeon who earns your trust. Whether you prioritize Dr. Long’s transparent flat-fee pricing, Dr. Brown’s three-decade track record, or Dr. Conner’s Castle Rock convenience, every surgeon on this Douglas County shortlist clears the MBSAQIP, experience, and satisfaction bars that turn a risky revision into a confident reset. Use the scoring model and consult question list above to match the surgeon’s strengths to your priorities, then book the visit that turns research into a real recovery plan.



