U First Health

I cannot thank Dr. Tomas and the U First Health staff enough! I hope this review can help others like me that were nervous about the procedure to get it done and get back to feeling normal again! I did a ton of research about hernia operations after mine got to a point I wasn’t comfortable working as a 32y/o bricklayer and not able to get into surgery for 6+ month(central Illinois). I didn’t like the idea of mesh due to all the bad stories I had heard from talking to people over the last 3 years of dealing with my hernia. So I narrowed my options down to going to Canada or U First Health in Fort Myers. I’m so happy with my decision in choosing Dr. Tomas. They got me in before I was even able to talk to my local surgeons about a mesh procedure. I started with the intake processes over the phone and online with Debra who was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Still quite nervous, I got down to Fort Myers as fast I could in hopes of getting back to work in the spring. I made it to my pre op appointment and was greeted by caring and professional staff that truly make U feel First! It was still a lot for me to take in due to having a heart surgery as a kid so nerves were high but the staff and patients around made me feel better and better about the process. The next day I was back and there for surgery. My operation went great and I was back at the hotel in under 5 hours from when I walked in. I was lucky enough to be able to recover in Florida almost 4 weeks and stayed off of alico rd by the airport at the Homewood Suites due to the amazing breakfast and how great the location was with a gas station and numerous eating places across the street that I liked going to more but their recommended Marriott is also a good location and will be a little cheaper. The First few days were tough adjusting to things like getting in and out of bed and remembering to not lift anything heavier than 10lbs, but you just have to trust the process and do everything these professionals tell you! Walking, hydrating, and eating clean I felt was key to the recovery during the first weeks of recovery. Today is 6 weeks post op for me and I am now fully confident in leaving a positive review! all of my healing pains have subsided and I’m walking multiple miles at a time. I’m planning on cautiously going back to work as a bricklayer in 2 weeks. Dr. Tomas and U First Health have truly been a blessing for me! Thank you again!

I can't say enough about Dr Tomas and his brilliant crew. Definitely the finest surgeon and medical team I have ever experienced. I had a huge baseball/softball hemisphere presenting from a rt inguinal hernia. For the last 11 years I have endured pain between level 4 of 10 (hernia popped inside) and level 7 of 10 (hernia popped outside). I was literally terrified to get hernia surgery because of the deadly results of mesh implants. My mother has already had 3 failed mesh repair surgeries and my home doctor in PA said the mesh failure rate of recurrence is about 20%. I did my graduate research paper in educational research class comparing clinical trials of different hernia repair techniques and learned the Desarda non-mesh technique had an incredibly low recurrence of only 0.75-1.5% and decided that if I ever get surgery for hernia I would get Desarda method. Ten years later when my hernia pain jumped and my ability to pop it back in nearly went away I searched for a Desarda certified surgeon/clinic to repair my hernia and found the U First Health and Wellness center with Dr Tomas in Ft Myers FL. I entered a internet query and follow up phone call on Approx Dec 28 to set up appointment and received a callback the next morning. I was scheduled for a consult 6 Jan, surgery 7 Jan, and followup 8 Jan. Dr Tomas is completely a-typical for a surgeon. It is obvious he loves to serve people and be a surgeon. He is humble, friendly, knowledgeable, and warm and supportive. He also has put together a group of knowledgeable, friendly, supportive professionals for his office that are absolutely amazing. I went on Jan 6 for my consult, everything was explained in full detail including every step of the surgery, anesthesia, and financial details and follow up. The consult was about an hour. The surgery was about and hour. The followup was about 15 minutes. WOW! 24 hours after surgery and my pain level from the surgery, with no pain medications, excepting the occasional Ibuprofen for subtle pain increases of 1 to 2 of 10 that occurred two times during the period just prior to your scheduled Antibiotic in the evening) was only 0.5 to 1.0 of 10, literally 3-6 points below the chronic pain level I've endured for 11 years. Now I am 96 hours after surgery and still at pain level 0.5 to 1.0 of ten with mild to medium bruising and almost no swelling at all. Dr Tomas is literally the finest surgeon who is over-the-top of over-the-top of any surgeon I every had surgery with.. It is also nice to know he is also a plastic surgeon. Who better to cut and sew your insides than a surgeon who is also an expert at cut and sewing your outsides with precision suturing that leaves no scar. I need to thank his outstanding support staff as well. Miss Nancy was my dedicated patient liaison. I would call the office and Miss Nancy would answer the phone on the first ring and she is so nice. Miss Joannia at the front desk is so sweet kind and perky the face you see when you go in the door. She also immediately returns my calls makes me feel at ease and just makes you feel wonderful. Miss Terry in finance is totally nice and friendly and knows exact details on every item on your billing. Mr Esteban is the Doctor assistant who does your blood work and EKG and is a funny warm person. The whole staff operates like a well oiled machine, while being friendly, warm, understanding, and compassionate at the same time as being nothing less than an expert/consummate professionals. I really feel like they are my extended family and Wholeheartedly recommend You come here for your hernia surgery with NO-Mesh and nowhere else.The total cost for the entire process was $5035. That is with my $500 Medicare discount with my Humana Advantage USAA Hero Medicare advantage and Tricare for Life Supplemental Insurance. The cost breakdown is $5500 - $500 (medicare discount) + $30 (Heavy duty Hernia support Compression underpants) + $5 (My share of the prescription s copay).

I flew in from Houston Texas for Dr Tomas to do a repair of my completely blown out belly button. I was an iron worker for 20 years and many of my employees had mesh hernia repair done with little to no luck. The minute I met Dr Tomas and his staff I knew this was the right place to get the repair I needed. The staff was great and made me feel at ease. Dr Tomas made this a relatively pain free ordeal. The man is a true artist of his trade. My wife and I are in awe at how nice my stomachs looks. Dr Tomas has nurses available for your care if you travel alone. My caregiver Rosette was the best I have ever had. She provided the next level care that is hard to find. Thank you to Dr Tomas and his entire team. God bless! Scott Burger

After losing 120 pounds from GLP weight loss peptides, my hernias worsened and were extremely painful. I reached out to U First to investigate repair. The calls and email responses from Alina were so helpful, so informative, and quick. I couldn't be happier with my interaction with Alina. I arrived at my appointment informed and confident I had made the right choice. Dr. Tomas was quick to diagnose the issue and explain the entire repair process, differentiating stitches that dissolve and those that do not. Dr. Tomas put me at ease and relieved my fears about surgery. His PA / assistant took every possible measure to ensure I knew what was about to happen and investigate all of my concerns. Best team ever! I had surgery one morning, and a post-op checkup the next day. Pain is manageable and minimal, given medications. Overall, the staff here couldn't be any nicer, any kinder. The treatment in the clinic was so different than how I am treated at clinics up North. (Now I want to move to Florida...) 100% recommend this clinic for hernia repair.

Hello… Would like to give a raving review on the U-First. From the home feeling and the smiles. To the professionalism of all at U-First. I traveled to Florida from Wisconsin with a fairly large umbilical hernia, had surgery on Friday and feeling really well by the next Tuesday. Came to Florida, hired their recommended caregiver Pam Berkmeirer “who was great” I would not hesitate again if I had another issue with a hernia again to use U-First. U-First, Dr. Tomas and all the staff “I say Thank You” for bringing such a great service and value to those who enter your doors.. Also Thank you to the Marriot Bonvoy for a great stay during my surgery. Thank You Ken