Choosing Bariatric Surgeon – Mexico Bariatric Center

Choosing bariatric surgeon may seem difficult to deal with, but it doesn’t have to be. Asking the right questions and knowing what to look for in a bariatric surgeon can make it easier.

If you are considering weight loss surgery, it is important to take the time to research the doctor who will perform the surgery. Weight loss surgery is major gastrointestinal surgery and should be performed by a doctor who is a specialist in that field.

Bariatrics is a specialized field of medicine that deals with the treatment, causes, and prevention of obesity. Doctors who specialize in weight loss related surgeries are bariatric surgeons.

A Qualified Bariatric Surgeon

The task of choosing bariatric surgeon can seem a bit overwhelming, but there are several good ways of approaching this search.

Physician Referral – ask your primary care doctor if they can recommend a doctor who specializes in weight loss surgery.
Word of Mouth Recommendations – ask friends and family members if they know of a good bariatric surgeon.
Internet – visit the website of doctors who perform weight loss surgery to find out about the doctor’s practice.

A surgeon’s experience and level of post-operative care can make a big difference in the outcome of the surgery. Bariatric surgeons who are skilled in all aspects of surgery and experienced in the specific type of procedure have less surgical complications and better recovery outcomes with their patients.

Surgeons who provide a full level of aftercare including nutritional (diet) counseling and behavioral (why you eat) therapy have more patients who have successful weight loss results in both the short term and long term.

Bariatric Surgeon Training

When interviewing a potential bariatric surgeon, it is important to ask about the doctor’s level of training and experience. Legally, any medical doctor can perform an operation of any type, even without specialized training or experience in a particular field of medicine.

If you are undergoing bariatric surgery, choose a doctor who is board-certified. Board-certification indicates that the doctor has gone through a specialized training program and has met certain standards in the field of surgery.

In addition, choose a doctor that has completed a residency or a fellowship in bariatric surgery. A weekend course is not enough training to become a qualified bariatric surgeon.

What You Need To Know

How many years have you been a bariatric surgeon?
What training have you had in bariatric surgery?
Are you a board-certified surgeon?
Are you a member of ASBS (American Society of Bariatric Surgery)?
How many and what type of weight loss surgeries do you perform each year? (Shows overall skill level)
Based on my personal health and weight, what surgery do you recommend for me?
What are the advantages of this procedure?
What are the disadvantages of this procedure?
What are the risks of weight loss surgery?
What are the risks of this procedure?
How many of my type of surgery (lap-band, gastric bypass, DS) have you performed? (An experienced surgeon should have done at least 250 of your procedure)
Do you perform the surgery laparoscopically or open? (If possible, laparoscopic surgery has a quicker recovery)
Will you perform the procedure, or an assistant?
Will you be in the operation room during the entire procedure?
Where will the surgery be performed?
Is the hospital or clinic a Center of Excellence?
How many people on the entire medical team?
Is everyone of the medical team licensed?
What pre-op testing will be done?
What post-op testing will be done?
Why don’t you recommend the other procedures for me?
What changes will I be expected to make with regards to diet and exercise?
Do you have an insurance and/or financial coordinator available to patients?
Do you have a nutritionist available to patients?
Do you have a psychologist available to patients?
Do you have a support group for patients?
Do you have someone I can call if I have a question during non-office hours?
What is expected weight loss?
Ask for specific statistics regarding complications and outcomes with your particular type of surgery.
If lap band surgery, what type of band?
Are you certified with that type of band?
Regarding lap band surgery, what is rate of infections? (should be less than 1%)
Regarding lap band surgery, what are your slip statistics? (should be less than 3%)
Regarding lap band surgery, what are your erosion statistics? (should be less than 1.3%)
Regarding lap band surgery, are fills included in post-op care? If not, what is the cost for a fill? (many doctors provide fills for the first year if they perform the surgery)
Do you have patients who are willing to share their experiences with me?

Surgeon Fees vs Expertise

When choosing a bariatric surgeon, it is important for prospective patients to take into account the doctor’s level of skill and experience. The fee paid to the bariatric surgeon is one of the primary cost factors, yet your decision should not be based on cost alone.

The bariatric surgeon you choose will affect more than your budget, it is one of the key factors determining successful results.

In most cases, you will pay more for a highly qualified bariatric surgeon, however, you can also expect better surgical outcomes and lower complication rates.